Pianist Conrad Tao believes that George Gershwin was trying to prove himself when he wrote his Piano Concerto. Gershwin wanted to show that his signature sound, infused with jazz, could fit the world of classical music. On this episode of Performance Today, hear Conrad Tao play Gershwin's Piano Concerto, from a concert with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition Movement 2 The Old Castle
Conrad Tao, piano
Pictures
Warner Classics 08256464056941

Giovanni Battista Viotti: Duetto for Solo Violin
Adam Barnett-Hart, violin
Music@Menlo, The Center for Performing Arts at Menlo-Atherton, Atherton, CA

Michel-Richard Delalande: Chaconne Les Fontained de Versailles
Sonnambula; Elizabeth Weinfield, Artistic Director
Baruch Performing Arts Center - Engelman Recital Hall, New York, NY

George Gershwin: Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra
Conrad Tao, piano; The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY

Hour 2

Clara Schumann: Two Lieder from "Liebesfruhling
Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo
Reflection
DG 690402

Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
Nurit Bar-Josef, violin; GTMF Festival Orchestra; Donald Runnicles, conductor
Grand Teton Music Festival, Walk Festival Hall, Jackson Hole, WY

Clara Schumann: Three Romances, Op. 22
Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin; Max Levinson, piano
Seattle Chamber Music Society, Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA

Samuel Barber: Summer Music for Woodwind Quintet, Op.31
Lorna McGhee, flute; Chengwen Lai, oboe; Anthony McGill, clarinet; Seth Krimsky, bassoon; Jeffrey Fair, horn

Edvard Grieg: Anitra's Dance
Donald Lambert, piano
Recorded 1951-61
Storyville NA

Donald Lambert: Pilgrim's Chorus (after Wagner's opera 'Tannhauser')
Jeremy Denk, piano
Ted Mann Concert Hall, Minneapolis, MN