Poster Ani Kavafian
Ani Kavafian
Bob Handelman
Performance Today®

Ani Kavafian

Back in the 1980s, Ani Kavafian had the opportunity to play one of Arno Babajanian's trios with the composer himself, and she came away with some secrets. On Wednesday's Performance Today, Kavafian shares a few of those secrets with Fred, and we'll hear a concert performance of Babajanian's "Trio in F sharp minor for Piano, Violin and Cello."

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Manuel de Falla: Ritual Fire Dance
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra; Kenneth Jean, conductor
Essential Ballet Music
Naxos 550174

Erich Korngold: Suite from Much Ado About Nothing, Op. 11
James Ehnes, violin; Orion Weiss, piano
Seattle Chamber Music Society, Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA

Piano Puzzler: This week's contestant is Bob M. from Houston, TX

Manuel de Falla: Nights in the Gardens of Spain
Jorge Federico Osorio, piano; RTE National Symphony Orchestra; Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor
National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland

Hour 2

Frederic Chopin: Preludes Op. 28 No 2, 7, 16
Rafal Blechacz, piano
Chopin: The Complete Preludes
DG 10870

Frederic Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21
Xiaoxuan Li, piano; Canton Symphony Orchestra; Gerhardt Zimmermann, conductor
Cleveland Intern'l Piano Competition for Young Artists, Maltz Performing Arts Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Arno Babajanian: Trio in F sharp minor for Piano, Violin and Cello
Mihai Marica, cello; Ani Kavafian, violin; Gloria Chien, piano
Late Night Rose, Rose Studio at Lincoln Center, New York, NY

Ludwig van Beethoven (arr. Brandon Ridenour): Fur Elise
Canadian Brass
University of Georgia, Hodgson Concert Hall, Athens, GA

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

The GLISS Composition Residency

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David Lai

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PT Young Artist David Lai plays the Piano Puzzler

PT Young Artist David Lai plays the Piano Puzzler

PT Young Artist David Lai is a devoted fan of our weekly game, the Piano Puzzler. He submits his guesses every week and has even written Piano Puzzler-style pieces of his own. On today’s program, pianist David Lai joins Bruce Adolphe (in person!) at our St. Paul studio to see if he can guess this week's Piano Puzzler.

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Inon Barnatan and Summerfest La Jolla

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Pianist Inon Barnatan keeps busy as a musician, playing on the most prestigious stages around the world. He's also the Music Director of Summerfest La Jolla in California. On today's show, we'll hear a stunning performance at a stunning location—Inon Barnatan and violinist Augustin Hadelich play a piece by Camille Saint-Saens at Summerfest La Jolla.

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Composer Viet Cuong

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PT Weekend: Meet Victor Ni

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We're pleased to introduce you to clarinetist Victor Ni, our next 2025 PT Young Artists in Residence. On today's program, Victor joins Fred Child for music and conversation in our Saint Paul studio. Plus, Bruce Adolphe joins us for this week’s Piano Puzzler.

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Julio Medaglia

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Young Artist in Residence: Victor Ni

Young Artist in Residence: Victor Ni

Clarinetist Victor Ni is the next of our 2025 cohort of PT Young Artists in Residence. Victor recently joined Fred Child in our St. Paul studio. You can hear Victor’s music and the entire interview here.

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Victor Ni

Victor Ni

We're pleased to introduce you to clarinetist Victor Ni, our next 2025 PT Young Artists in Residence. On today's program, Victor joins Fred Child for music and conversation in our Saint Paul studio.

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About Performance Today®

To find a station near you on our Stations Listings page, click here.

American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.

Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

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