Today, the four women of Anonymous 4 join Fred Child for music and conversation. They tell the Christmas story of the Cherry Tree, a bit of a marital tiff between Joseph and Mary. They'll also sing selected English and American carols. Also in the show, Bruce Adolphe with the Piano Puzzler, and the hauntingly beautiful "Pastorales de Noel," by Andre Jolivet.
On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 1914, German and British soldiers in Belgium had their own informal cease-fire, sang Christmas songs together, and even traded gifts. We'll remember the remarkable Christmas Truce of 1914, as the male vocal ensemble "Cantus" sings highlights from their show "All is Calm."
For many people, Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without a performance of Handel's "Messiah." We'll bring you one of the best, a recent concert by Boston's Handel and Haydn Society Chorus and Orchestra, with Harry Christophers conducting. Handel's "Messiah" has been a hit ever since it premiered in Dublin in 1742. So much so that, in early performances, ladies were asked not to wear hoop skirts and men were advised to leave their swords at home, in order to accommodate more concertgoers in the hall.
"Time for another Piano Puzzler!" Every Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe tickles the PT ivories with one of his keyboard conundrums. Bruce re-writes a familiar tune in the style of a classical composer. One of our listeners calls in and tries to guess the tune, and the composer whose style Bruce is imitating.
There's some debate about whether to clap between movements or not. But everyone agrees you should applaud at the end of a piece of music. Trouble is, how do you know when it's over? Haydn put several false endings into his Symphony Number 90, just to fool us. We'll hear a London audience fall for the joke in a performance by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
Several musical highlights today, among them: an elegant performance of Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 2 from the 2009 Aspen Music Festival. Gil Shaham solos, David Zinman conducts the Aspen Festival Orchestra. An athletic performance of Three Movements from Petrushka, the finger-twister for pianists by Igor Stravinsky. Alexei Volodin in concert at the Ernen Festival in Switzerland. And the Georgia Guitar Quartet plays their version of Vince Guaraldi's Christmas classic, "Linus and Lucy," in concert in their hometown of Athens, Georgia. Fred also throws in a quick examination of the bizarre "Jews Harp" concertos, by Johann Albrechtsberger.
"Time for another Piano Puzzler!" Every Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe tickles the PT ivories with one of his keyboard conundrums. Bruce re-writes a familiar tune in the style of a classical composer. One of our listeners calls in and tries to guess the tune, and the composer whose style Bruce is imitating.
The PT debut of an innovative recorder quartet from Germany: "Quartet New Generation." They proudly proclaim that the recorder is suitable for *any* kind of music, from Renaissance madrigals to Euro techno dance music. We'll hear "QNG" play a smoky tango on four of their biggest (and lowest) recorders, in concert at the 2009 Ojai Festival. We'll follow that with a tango for trumpet and orchestra, from soloist Tine Thing Helseth and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra in Oslo, as they play Astor Piazzolla's "Oblivion."
Aside from a roaring lion, what is a "lion's roar"? It's an unusual percussion instrument, and it roars in Patrick Dunnigan's bold arrangement of Renaissance dances. Fred Child explains what makes the lion roar, and we'll hear a full-throttle performance by the Dallas Wind Symphony, with drummers and brass players unleashed, and...the roaring lion.
Can an Austrian orchestra swing? We explore that question, as the Bruckner Orchestra of Linz, Austria, gives a performance of the Symphonic Dances from Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story." Bernstein's music is jazzy, raucous, not the least bit tidy or controlled. We'll see if the Austrians can get into the American spirit of the music, in this performance from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Plus, a new Piano Puzzler with Bruce Adolphe.
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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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