At a time when armed conflicts are flaring across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, the very idea of an International Day of Peace might seem absurdly idealistic. But maybe that's exactly what we need. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll mark the International Day of Peace with music by Beethoven, Bach, and more.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

William Byrd: Psalm 126: Turn our captivity, O Lord
Boston Camerata; Boston Shawm and Sackbut Ensemble; Joel Cohen, conductor
L'Homme Arme: Music of War and Peace Music
Erato 88168

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (attrib.): Sinfonia Concertante In E Flat, K 297B: 3. Andantino con variazioni
Mohamed Saleh, oboe; Kinan Azmeh, clarinet; Mor Biron, bassoon; Sharon Polyak, horn; West-Eastern Divan Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim, conductor
Cultural Palace in Ramallah
Live In Ramallah
Warner 62791

Rene Clausen: Peace I Leave With You
National Lutheran Choir; Larry Fleming, conductor
Tree of Glory
National Lutheran Choir 132

Gustaf Nordqvist: Wonderful Peace
National Lutheran Choir; David Cherwien, director, conductor
Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis, MN

Johann Sebastian Bach: Mass In B Minor, BWV 232: 27. Dona Nobis Pacem
Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Gachinger Kantorei; Helmuth Rilling, conductor
Mass in B minor
Hanssler 92070

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: 4. Finale
Anna Samuil, soprano Waltraud Meier, mezzo-soprano Peter Seiffert, tenor Wolfgang Koch, bass Wokalensemble Kolner Dom; West-Eastern Divan Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim, conductor
Beethoven For All
London/Decca 16871

Hour 2

Frederic Chopin: Nocturne No. 4 in F Major, Op. 15, No. 1
Daniel Barenboim, piano
Chopin Nocturnes Music
Deutsche Grammophon 453022

Gustav Holst: The Planets, Op. 32, H 125: 2. Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
Chicago Symphony Orchestra; James Levine, conductor
Holst The Planets
DG 429 730

Benjamin Britten: War Requiem, Op. 66, Movement 2: 1. Dies Irae, Dies Illa; 5. Recordare Jesu pie; 7. Be Slowly Lifted Up; 8 Move Him Into The Sun; Pie Jesu, Domine
Thomas Hampson, baritone; Anna Netrebko, soprano; Ian Bostridge, tenor; Coro e Voci Bianche dell'Accademai nazionale di Santa Cecilia; Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (Roma); Sir
Britten War Requiem
Warner Classics 15448

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: 3. Allegro; 4. Allegro
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim, conductor
Cultural Palace in Ramallah
Live In Ramallah
Warner 62791

Edward Elgar: Enigma Variations Op. 36, Nimrod
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim, conductor
Cultural Palace in Ramallah
Live In Ramallah
Warner 62791