Performance Today®

Composer Florence Price was also an excellent organist. In the 1930s, she played organ for silent films and radio shows in Chicago—and she wrote for the organ as well. We'll hear a Passacaglia and Fugue for organ by Florence Price on today's show.

What does an anthem for the 21st century sound like in today's multicultural environment? In 2014, composer Jessie Montgomery attempted to answer that question when she wrote a piece in tribute to the 200th anniversary of “The Star Spangled Banner.” On today's show, we'll hear the group A Far Cry play "Banner" by Jessie Montgomery, from a concert at the beautiful Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, Massachusetts.

Dalia Stasevska was born in Kyiv. Her career as a conductor is taking off, and she's also devoted to providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine...even driving supply trucks into the country herself! Dalia Stasevska: her music and her story on this edition of PT.

In 2022, the Apollo Chamber Players commissioned a work by composer Wang Jie. Wang Jie, also trained as an organist, wrote the piece for the unusual combination of pipe organ and string quartet. On today's show, we'll hear the Apollo Chamber Players and organist Daryl Robinson play the world premiere of The Night When You See Again by Wang Jie.

What does an anthem for the 21st century sound like in today's multicultural environment? In 2014, composer Jessie Montgomery attempted to answer that question when she wrote a piece in tribute to the 200th anniversary of “The Star Spangled Banner.” On today's show, we'll hear the group A Far Cry play "Banner" by Jessie Montgomery, from a concert at the beautiful Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, Massachusetts.

At the age of 35, English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams went to Paris to study with Maurice Ravel (who was younger than Vaughan Williams). They worked together intensely for several months, after which Ravel gave him a great compliment. He said Vaughan Williams was his only student who didn't try to write exactly like Ravel himself. On today's show, we'll take you to the most recent Spoleto Festival USA to hear the Piano Quintet by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Plus, we’ll have the story of a musical hoax!

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.

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, violinist Augustin Hadelich, and cellist Efe Baltacigil play the Piano Trio by Maurice Ravel at Summerfest La Jolla.

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.

Christian Zacharias began his stellar career as a solo pianist. He then became a conductor, leading orchestras around the world. But Zacharias also wants to do the occasional tour as a solo pianist again. On today's show, we'll hear how Christian Zacharias balances his life as a conductor and soloist, and we'll hear him play Haydn's Piano Sonata No. 62 at a concert at Spivey Hall in Morrow, Georgia.