She may be just turning 20 this year, but French pianist Lise de la Salle has skill and interpretive depth far beyond her years. We'll hear her in concert in Metz, France, performing Camille Saint-Saens' Second Piano Concerto with conductor Jack Martin Handler and the Luxembourg European Soloists.
This English pianist is regarded as one of the world's great Schubert interpreters. And she says that one of the keys to her success is thinking of each Schubert work as a song. Last month in London, she gave voice to a pair of Schubert Impromptus at a recital in Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Our first hour is devoted to music designed for dancing, including a dance-friendly "Piano Puzzler" and a slice of Ravel's ballet, "Daphnis and Chloe," from Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Disney Hall. And our second hour features music that's played a starring role in such films as "The Red Violin,""The Pianist,""The Piano" and "Amadeus."
The male vocal ensemble from Minneapolis stops by the town where they first formed - Northfield, Minnesota - to chat and sing music of Bobby McFerrin and Thomas Tallis, as well as a traditional gospel tune.
Christian Zacharias was an award-winning pianist before he became a conductor. And now he's among the best at pulling double duty, conducting an orchestra while also acting as piano soloist. He'll do that in St. Paul, performing Chopin's Second Piano Concerto with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
Two weeks ago, the Beaux Arts Trio concluded its final North American tour with a concert in San Francisco. We'll take you there for pre- and post-concert conversations - thanks to our correspondent, violinist Daniel Hope -- as well as their performance of Dvorak's "Dumky" Piano Trio.
We'll celebrate Mothers Day by checking in with Vivian and Alisa Weilerstein, a mother and daughter who make up two-thirds of the Weilerstein Trio, then hearing them play Dvorak. The mother of violinist Danielle Belen Nesmith talks about watching her daughter win the Sphinx Competition by playing William Grant Still's "Mother and Child." And soprano Dawn Upshaw talks about music's place in her family's life before singing Ravel's "Three Poems of Stephane Mallarme" in St. Paul.
What happens when an orchestra known for a big, intense sound is launching a new organ in its home hall? They play a piece on which the organ' sound is as big as the orchestra's. Olivier Latry joins conductor Christoph Eschenbach and the Philadelphia Orchestra for Saint-Saens' large-scale masterwork at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.
After saying "Happy birthday" to Brahms and Tchaikovsky, we'll spend our second hour forging a connection between classical-era composer Christoph Gluck and the present day's Nico Muhly. The composers acting as links in this chain are Wagner, Mahler, Shostakovich and Britten. Among the performers are pianist Louis Lortie and Sinfonia Varsovia.
Two weeks ago, the Beaux Arts Trio concluded its final North American tour with a concert in San Francisco. We'll take you there for pre- and post-concert conversations - thanks to our correspondent, violinist Daniel Hope -- as well as their performance of Dvorak's "Dumky" Piano Trio.
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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.
