Performance Today®

Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concerto de Aranjuez" may be the most popular guitar concerto of all time. Even if you don't think you know it, there's a good chance you've at least heard some of it. On today's show, hear guitarist Chaconne Klaverenga play Rodrigo's concerto with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra.

A sheet music store in New York City used to separate music with dividers, one of which was labeled "Women Composers." Composer Missy Mazzoli simply removed that divider. She says that if she writes an opera, she wants it to be shelved with the operas, not in the "Ladies' bin." On today's show, the Aeolus Quartet performs the 'Quartet for Queen Mab' by Missy Mazzoli.

On today's show, learn more about Lady Jess, a freelance violinist living in New York City. We'll hear selections from one of Lady Jess's recent projects - a recording of The Prison, by Ethel Smyth.

Composer Jennifer Higdon wrote Blue Cathedral in 2000. It was inspired by an imaginary vision of a glass cathedral in the sky. On today's show, The Orchestra Now (TON) takes us on a journey through that cathedral. Blue Cathedral by Jennifer Higdon, from a concert in upstate New York.

The pandemic has profoundly affected the musical world, with concerts and festivals having been cancelled worldwide. There is hope though...in some places, concerts with audiences are safely back underway. On today's show, hear a highlight from a concert presented just last month by the Taipei Music Academy & Festival.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor wrote his Nonet in London in 1893, when he was only 18 years old. On today's show, hear this remarkable work, a piece that deserves to be played and heard so much more.

In 1878, Johannes Brahms dedicated his first (and only) violin concerto to his friend, violinist Joseph Joachim. Joachim loved it, calling it one of the four great German violin concertos. On today's show, hear violinist Vadim Gluzman play that Brahms concerto in concert with the Oregon Symphony.

The pandemic has profoundly affected the musical world, with concerts and festivals having been cancelled worldwide. There is hope though...in some places, concerts with audiences are safely back underway. On today's show, hear a highlight from a concert presented just last month by the Taipei Music Academy & Festival.

In 2014, composer Jonathan Bailey Holland was grappling with profound sadness about the number of Black Americans killed by police. He couldn't express his feelings in words, so he turned to music. On today's show, hear the world premiere concert performance of Dream Elegy by Jonathan Bailey Holland.