Performance Today®

Pianist Stephen Hough describes the music of Federico Mompou as: "the music of evaporation." Hough says, "The notes are too simple and the soul too complex for conventional analysis." On today's show, we'll hear Stephen Hough play the Magic Songs by Catalan composer Federico Mompou from a concert presented by Spivey Hall at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia.

In 1922, Danish composer Carl Nielsen was working on a wind quintet when he had an idea. He turned a simple hymn tune into a theme with a wide variety of variations, one of which even imitates the sound of bagpipes. On today's show, experience the dynamic moods and sounds of Nielsen's Wind Quintet from a concert presented by Camerata Pacifica.

Augusta Holmès and her music were celebrated in Paris during her life. She wrote quite a few large-scale orchestral works, and in many cases, she surprised critics who expected a woman to write more diminutive music. Holmès compositions are being rediscovered and appreciated for what they are: the work of a talented composer. We'll hear music by French composer Augusta Holmes on today's show.

Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho died in June 2023 at the age of 70. Her compositions explored themes of nature, spirituality, and human emotions, captivating audiences with their evocative and atmospheric soundscapes. On today's show, we'll hear a concerto for flute and orchestra that was inspired by the flight of birds: Aile du Songe (Wing of the Dream) by Kaija Saariaho.

Tessa Lark played a Stradivarius violin for several years, but that violin was on loan, and she had to give it back. Now, she has a different violin; it’s not a Stradivarius, but she loves it even more. On this episode of Performance Today, we'll hear Tessa Lark play that violin at a concert presented by the Seattle Chamber Music Society.

When Nikki Chooi Opens his violin case, he sees a picture of two circles. The small circle is labeled "your comfort zone," and the bigger circle says "Where the magic happens." On Today's show, we'll hear Nikki Chooi make magic with the Buffalo Philharmonic and conductor JoAnn Falletta.

Paul Sacher was a Swiss-born conductor who founded the Basel Chamber Orchestra in 1926. His wife inherited a fortune from her family's pharmaceutical business, and with that money, Sacher began to commission music from some of the great composers of the time. In 1939, Sacher invited Bela Bartok to stay at his family's Swiss chalet while Bartok composed. Bartok was given a month of luxury accommodations, a live-in chef, and blissful solitude. We'll hear what Bartok came up with on today's show, his Divertimento for Strings.

The Ekstasis Duo loves to play the "secret jewels," lesser-known works they feel deserve to be heard. Today we'll hear them play a work that was lost for nearly a century: Three Pieces by Austrian composer Alexander Zemlinsky.

When Nikki Chooi Opens his violin case, he sees a picture of two circles. The small circle is labeled "your comfort zone," and the bigger circle says "Where the magic happens." On Today's show, we'll hear Nikki Chooi make magic with the Buffalo Philharmonic and conductor JoAnn Falletta.

Vijay Venkatesh is a pianist of exceptional artistry and technical prowess, and he's one of our 2023 PT Young Artists in Residence. Vijay joins Fred Child in the studio for music and conversation on today's show.