The patterns of life

‘Performance Today’ has selected performing-arts advocate Deborah Borda as the 2024 Classical Woman of the Year. This annual award recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the classical music art form and have inspired our listeners. Find out more!

Indian-American composer Reena Esmail works between the worlds of Indian and Western classical music. In 2017, Esmail drew inspiration from the words of Rumi, a 13th-century Sufi poet: "Religions are many, but God is one. The lamps may be different, but the light is the same." On today's episode, we'll take you to a concert at the University of Georgia to hear the Imani Winds play Reena Esmail's 'The Light is the Same.'

In 2017, Composer Hannah Kendall wrote a piece inspired by a poem about women who worked in match factories in the 1800s. The piece, aptly titled The Spark Catchers, is full of kinetic energy and driving rhythms. On today's show, we'll hear The Spark Catchers by Hannah Kendall.

Last year, the legendary film composer John Williams hinted that he might retire. Reasonable thought, given that he's now 92 years old, but now he's walking that back and says he's very much still in business. On today's show, we'll hear a Trumpet Concerto by John Williams from a concert at the Grand Teton Music Festival.

Every four years, the American Pianists Association holds a competition for emerging classical pianists. Angie Zhang is one of five finalists for the 2025 awards—we'll hear her play music by Enrique Granados on today's show.

Beethoven loved going for long walks in the countryside around Vienna. He once told a friend that the birds they saw on their hikes helped him write his Symphony No. 6. Tune in today—we'll get the story and hear Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony No. 6 from a concert performance featuring conductor Marin Alsop and the National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic.

When violinist Ilya Gringolts was a kid in the USSR, his first teacher told him to quit the violin because he had no talent. Fortunately, he didn't let that stop him. Now, he's THRIVING. On today's show, we'll take you to a concert in Switzerland to hear Ilya Gringolts play Pablo de Sarasate's Spanish Dances.

We're pleased to introduce our next 2024 PT Young Artist in Residence: harpist Jane Yoo. On today's show, Jane joins Fred Child for music and conversation at our Saint Paul studio. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week’s Piano Puzzler!

In 1948, American composer William Grant Still was inspired by some poems about the natural beauty of the American South. On this episode of Performance Today, take a break with us and hear Wood Notes, William Grant Still's work of quiet musical contemplation.

Harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1984. He studied at Stanford University and has been a leading scholar and performer of harpsichord music for the last dozen years or so. If you find harpsichord music harsh or brittle, we have a performance that might help change your mind. Hear Mahan Esfahani play music by C.P.E. Bach on today's show.