Performance Today®

After studying the many ways people play music by Bach, violinist Hilary Hahn has concluded: "You can play it however you want, as long as you can make it convincing...that's up to the audience to decide." On today’s show, hear Hilary Hahn play a Bach violin concerto with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

Concert halls across the country and around the world are once again filled with music and audiences! On today's show, we'll hear a recent performance of Leonard Bernstein's Divertimento from a concert in Belgium.

Iva Bittova is a Czech violinist, singer, and composer. Her work these days is mostly focused on playing violin and singing, but she is still strongly influenced by her background in acting and dance. On today's episode, learn more about Iva Bittova and hear a performance of her composition "Divna Slecinka."

During the height of the pandemic, American composer Missy Mazzoli read about the history of medieval healing rituals, which was the inspiration behind a new piece of music. Join us today to hear Procession, a violin concerto by Missy Mazzoli.

In the 1940s, Composer John Harbison grew up in a musical family in New Jersey. The Harbisons would gather around the piano and sing together. John Harbison had those memories in mind when he wrote a set of pieces called "Songs America Loves to Sing." On today's show, we'll hear it from a concert in Athens, Georgia.

Iva Bittova is a Czech violinist, singer, and composer. Her work these days is mostly focused on playing violin and singing, but she is still strongly influenced by her background in acting and dance. On today's episode, learn more about Iva Bittova and hear a performance of her composition "Divna Slecinka."

The rich, deep tone of the bass trombone makes it part of the backbone of a brass section, but it rarely gets a moment in the spotlight. Now, it's time to shine. On today's show, hear a new concerto by Kenneth Fuchs, featuring George Curran on bass trombone.

Join us this Independence Day for a multimedia piece that highlights the unifying words of George Washington, set to dramatic music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. The Sphinx Symphony Orchestra plays "An American Rhapsody" by Aaron Dworkin on this episode of Performance Today.

Pianist Michelle Cann works to make classical music accessible for everyone. She sees it as an honor to be in a position to have some impact, and we here at PT are honored to feature her work. Join us today to hear Michelle Cann perform a concerto by Ernest Chausson, along with violinist Jinjoo Cho and the Verona String Quartet.