Performance Today®

Danny Elfman may be most famous for writing the theme for The Simpsons. So how did he go from there to writing music for a symphony orchestra? Hear the story, as well as Elfman's concerto Eleven Eleven, on this episode of Performance Today.

The string quartets by Caroline Shaw are ethereal, deeply personal, and utterly captivating. On today's show, Attacca Quartet cellist Andrew Yee and composer Caroline Shaw join us to talk about their unique collaboration, and we'll hear music from their organic, open, and reflective album "Orange."

When Maurice Ravel wrote La Valse, he was imagining a swirling Viennese waltz, which slowly unravels into near chaos. The tension that makes it impossible to dance to, is what make La Valse incredible to listen to. On today's episode, hear pianist David Fung unwind Ravel's La Valse, from a concert in Athens, Georgia.

There used to be a bustling entertainment neighborhood in Detroit called Paradise Valley, with a lively music scene. It was plowed under, and lost to new construction. An today's show, hear the Akropolis Reed Quintet play a musical homage to Paradise Valley, and we reflect on the nature of change.

The young Jean Sibelius had one dream in life: to be a professional violinist. After he auditioned and failed to win a place in the Vienna Philharmonic, he was heartbroken. But he turned his love for the violin into creative energy. On today's show, hear Finnish violinist Elina Vahala and the Buffalo Philharmonic in a stunning performance of the Violin Concerto by Jean Sibelius.

When Gustavo Dudamel conducts, it's like his body is inhabited by the music; his physical expression of the music often has a energizing effect on the orchestra and the audience. On today's show, feel the energy as Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic play Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

There used to be a bustling entertainment neighborhood in Detroit called Paradise Valley, with a lively music scene. It was plowed under, and lost to new construction. An today's show, hear the Akropolis Reed Quintet play a musical homage to Paradise Valley, and we reflect on the nature of change.

Here on PT we love great performances of the classics AND innovative new sounds from today's composers. On today's show, we invite you to discover new music by Paul Dooley. "Northern Nights" is a piece for orchestra and percussion, plus the sounds of birds and rainstorms and more.

In 1933, Florence Price became the first female African American composer to have her work performed by a major symphony orchestra. When she died, boxes of music remained in her house, which was then abandoned for almost 50 years. Recently, a trove of works by Price has been rediscovered. On today's show, hear about the remarkable discovery and revival of Florence Price's music.