Poster concert pianist
Pianist Angie Zhang
Courtesy of the artist
Performance Today®

Angie Zhang

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.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Reena Esmail: Varsha (Rain)
Claire Bryant, cello
Album: Whole Heart
Bright Shiny Things 178

Kaija Saariaho: Aile du Songe Concerto for Flute and Orchestra
Lorna McGhee, flute | Minnesota Orchestra | Osmo Vanska, conductor
Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, MN

Piano Puzzler
Eric Ebbenga from New York City, NY

Reena Esmail: The Light is the Same
Imani Winds
University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Athens, GA

Hour 2

Duke Ellington: Black Beauty
Elmira Darvarova, violin | Howard Wall, horn
Album: Music from Five Centuries
Affetto Recordings 1902

Alma Mahler: In Meines Vaters Garten
Elise Caluwaerts, soprano | Marianna Shirinyan, piano
Album: Alma - Meine Seele. Complete Songs of Alma Mahler
Fuga Libera 796

Enrique Granados: Goyescas, Op. 11: Movement 1 Los requiebros
Angie Zhang, piano
American Pianists Awards 2025 Sneak Preview, Steinway Hall, NY

Grazyna Bacewicz: Piano Quintet No. 1 Movement 1 Moderato molto espressivo
David Fung, piano | Verona Quartet
Lillian & Robert Utsey Chamber Music Series 36th Season, Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, Clemson University, Clemson, SC

Duke Ellington: Cotton Club Stomp (encore)
Verona Quartet
Lillian & Robert Utsey Chamber Music Series 36th Season, Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, Clemson University, Clemson, SC

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About Performance Today®

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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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