Ravi Shankar, the great Indian sitar player and composer, is 90 years old today. Still composing, still playing, still touring, even. He just wrapped up a tour of New Zealand and Australia. We'll celebrate his birthday by revisiting the world premiere performance of his newest sitar concerto, featuring daughter Anoushka Shankar as the soloist, along with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
Pianist Mitsuko Uchida's playing has been described using all the usual superlatives, but the word that seems to crop up most often is "poetic." Uchida shares her poetry with conductor Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, in a performance of Beethoven's second piano concerto. And she'll be back again on Thursday's show for Beethoven's third concerto, from the same concert.
Venezuela's Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra does a great job playing big, high-energy pieces. But at the recent Lucerne Easter Festival in Lucerne, Switzerland, they were able to show off their sensitive side as well. They gave a rousing performance of Tchaikovsky's sixth symphony, under the baton of conductor Claudio Abbado. Known for its mix of energy and pathos, Tchaikovsky's final symphony got its nickname "Pathetique" from the composer's brother Modest, at breakfast one Sunday morning.
Pianist Murray Perahia's playing has been described using words like "flawless" and "transcendent." In today's show, Perahia joins host Fred Child for an in-studio conversation about Bach and Chopin. He shares his thoughts on Bach's music ("full of emotions, but not Romantic"), and the ways that Bach influenced Chopin. He'll play part of a Bach partita and two Chopin works.
Two of the world's major religions are in the midst of major holidays today, the Jewish Passover and the Christian Good Friday. In observance of Passover, Sergei Prokofiev's "Overture on Hebrew Themes" from Music@Menlo. And in observance of Good Friday, we'll go to a performance of Handel's "Messiah" in Berlin. Plus, our weekly 21st century work is a world premiere from Down Under.
Critics were divided over Maurice Ravel's string quartet when it premiered. Some hated it. One critic said it had "about as much emotional nuance as an algebra problem." But Claude Debussy wrote to Ravel saying: "In the name of all the gods of music, and for my sake, don't change a note of what you have written." Luckily, Ravel listened to Debussy, and didn't change a thing. In today's show, PT's artists-in-residence, the Parker Quartet, plays Ravel's controversial masterpiece.
We began March with a tribute to Frederic Chopin on his 200th birthday, and we've been bringing you great Chopin (and Chopin-inspired) performances all month. Today, we wrap up the celebration. Pianist Rafal Blechacz performs Chopin's second piano concerto with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra in Warsaw, Poland. And pianist Garrick Ohlsson plays the first concerto at a gala concert on Chopin's birthday in Warsaw.
We've been celebrating Frederic Chopin's 200th birthday all month with great performances of his music. In the first hour, nothing by Chopin himself, but a full hour of music inspired by him. Plus, the Pittsburgh Symphony got rave reviews for their performances on a recent European tour. We'll hear them in Dvorak's 8th Symphony, from Bonn, Germany. Manfred Honeck conducts.
Pianist Murray Perahia's playing has been described using words like "flawless" and "transcendent." In today's show, Perahia joins host Fred Child for an in-studio conversation about Bach and Chopin. He shares his thoughts on Bach's music ("full of emotions, but not Romantic"), and the ways that Bach influenced Chopin. He'll play part of a Bach partita and two Chopin works.
Simon Rattle has been Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic since 2002. Despite some ups and downs in his relationship with the orchestra, the players recently voted to extend his contract through 2018. The Berlin Philharmonic is sounding as lush and sweet as ever under Rattle, as we'll hear from a concert they gave last month in Berlin. Rattle conducts the Symphony No. 3 by Jean Sibelius. Also: Bruce Adolphe has a brand new Piano Puzzler. This week's caller is from San Antonio, Texas.
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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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Since 2000, Fred Child has been the host of Performance Today, the most-listened-to classical music radio show in America. He also is the commentator and announcer for Live From Lincoln Center, the only live performing arts series on television. He also hosts musical events on stages around the country, working with major orchestras and festivals, and connecting with audiences coast to coast.
Kathryn Slusher is the senior producer of Performance Today, where she leads programming and production for the show. In her spare time, she enjoys the vibrant Twin Cities music and theater scene, and loves to read, hike and spend time with her family.
As a Producer for Performance Today, Meghann chooses music to broadcast on the show, writes web articles and scripts, facilitates, conducts and edits interviews, creates video content and manages PT’s social media pages. She created Performance Today’s Black History Spotlight Series and the My Name is Series to highlight Black classical musicians. Meghann is also the producer for the PT Young Artist in Residence Series. In her free time, she is a mom, a part-time actress and fashion lover. Meghann also created and hosted “Wondrous Strange”, a national radio program about uncommon musical instruments, she is the official underwriting voice for ‘The New York Times’ The Daily, and she can occasionally be heard guest-hosting Performance Today.
As an Associate Producer for Performance Today, Kathleen Bradbury writes scripts and assists with external communications. In her spare time, she likes to read fiction, lift heavy weights at the gym, and frolic about in nature. But above all else, Kathleen loves to sing Broadway showtunes--much to the delight of her wife, her infant son, and her rescue dog.
Jon Gohman is an associate producer for Performance Today. He is responsible for various behind-the-scenes functions, including liaising with artists and creating materials for national distribution. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, playing the guitar, and thinking about Langrange points.
Craig Thorson is the Technical Director for Performance Today. In addition to mastering the live music recordings that are programmed for each daily program, he records guest performances and interviews. Craig enjoys skiing, tennis, and bicycling, and boating.
Jeanne Barron is the technical producer of Performance Today.
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