In his mid-20s, Ludwig van Beethoven was aspiring to be a composer, but he was known mostly as a pianist... he was still searching for his own musical voice. On Wednesday's Performance Today, hear wonderfully accomplished music by the young composer, before he became the Beethoven we know today.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto for Bassoon & Orchestra in B-flat Major: Movement 3
Willard Elliot, bassoon; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Claudio Abbado, conductor
Album: Mozart Horn Concerto No. 3, Bassoon Concerto, Oboe Concerto
DG 415 104

Henry Purcell: Suite from King Arthur or The British Worthy, Z. 628
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; Richard Egarr, conductor
Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie, MN

Piano Puzzler: This week's contestant is Ted Fisher from Belgrade, Serbia

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Duo in G major for Violin and Viola, K. 423
Ida Kavafian, violin; Yura Lee, viola
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York, NY

Hour 2

Carl Schimmel: Roadshow for Otto: Movements 2 & 4
Alex Sopp, flute; Romie de Guise-Langlois, clarinet; Sumire Kudo, cello; Steven Beck, piano
Roadshow: Music of Carl Schimmel
New Focus 167

Alexander Scriabin: Five Preludes for Piano, Op. 16
Wu Han, piano
Franklin College Chamber Music Series & The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Hodgson Concert Hall, University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, Athens, GA

Henri Du Mont: Allemanda Gravis
Sonnambula; Elizabeth Weinfield, Artistic Director
Baruch Performing Arts Center, Baruch Performing Arts Center - Engelman Recital Hall, New York, NY

Henri Du Mont: Symphonie en Re
Sonnambula; Elizabeth Weinfield, Artistic Director
Baruch Performing Arts Center, Baruch Performing Arts Center - Engelman Recital Hall, New York, NY

Ludwig van Beethoven: Septet for Winds and Strings in E-flat major, Op. 20: Movements 2-4
Romie de Guise-Langlois, clarinet; Peter Kolkay, bassoon; Stewart Rose, horn; Ani Kavafian, violin; Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, viola; Jakob Koranyi, cello; Jeffrey Beecher, double bass
Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, Bridgehampton, NY