Solo hornist and arranger Michael Atkinson was recently browsing YouTube and stumbled across some music he'd never heard before—Romanian Christmas Carols, piano music by Bela Bartok. He loved it so much that he arranged it for the orchestra he is part of, The Knights. And we get to hear it on today's show!
When pianist Ingrid Fliter plays a specific concerto, she imagines the characters of an opera coming together for a celebratory feast over the course of the piece. On today's show, hear Ingrid Fliter play Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major with Thomas Sondergard conducting the Minnesota Orchestra.
Today we’ll hear a piece of music by a composer that just doesn't get played often enough. It's a piece that French composer Florent Schmitt wrote in 1918. Conductor JoAnn Falletta leads the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of Légende by Florent Schmitt. We’ll also hear a fascinating new concerto for saxophone quartet and wind ensemble by Roger Briggs.
As an avid rock climber, Composer Wang wrote a new piece inspired by a 12th-century poem about a mountain...and an adventurous climb in Colorado. Join us today to hear the story and the music: Flying on the Scaly Backs of Our Mountains by Wang Jie.
The jota is a rhythmic Spanish dance that often features the clacking sound of castanets. Today we’ll hear a jota by José White Lafitte (1836-1919), with violinist Samuel Nebyu playing the tune and percussion at the same time.
The Horn Trio by Johannes Brahms is a gorgeous piece for French horn, violin, and piano. Brahms said that, in a pinch, a cello could play the horn part, so let’s go to a concert in New York City to hear Brahms's Horn Trio…with cello instead.
As an avid rock climber, Composer Wang wrote a new piece inspired by a 12th-century poem about a mountain...and an adventurous climb in Colorado. Join us today to hear the story and the music: Flying on the Scaly Backs of Our Mountains by Wang Jie.
Twenty years ago, classical guitarist Jason Vieaux was one of our Young Artists in Residence. At the time, he'd never met his hero, guitarist Pat Metheny. Now they're friends. On today's show, Jason Vieaux plays a new piece written for him by his hero and friend: Four Paths of Light by Pat Metheny.
It's a portrait painted with music, an incredibly colorful and inventive picture of the sea: La Mer by Claude Debussy. On today's episode, we'll hear a chamber orchestra performance of La Mer at a concert presented by ROCO in Houston, Texas.
Composer Michael Kurth's sense of humor shines in nearly everything he does. Join us today to hear a thoughtful, playful piece of 21st-century music by Kurth: the Sonata for English Horn and Piano.
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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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