Performance Today®

In his "Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra," George Gershwin wanted to show that his signature sound, infused with jazz, could fit the world of classical music. On this episode of Performance Today, hear Conrad Tao play Gershwin's Piano Concerto, from a concert with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

A few years ago, composer Osvaldo Golijov was in Israel and witnessed the effects of a wave of violence. A few weeks later, he found himself viewing images of our blue planet at a planetarium show in New York City. On this episode of Performance Today, hear music inspired by contrasting perspectives: Tenebrae, by Osvaldo Golijov.

Warm up with a memory from the Moab Music Festival. We were lucky enough to go on a hike with the violinist Tessa Lark. Here’s a look back to a different season, with music that Tessa played just for us!

When violinist Alexi Kenney was a boy, his aspirations were modest; he wanted to play the tambourine or the triangle, but his mother got him going in a different direction. On this episode of Performance Today, we travel back to 2015 when Alexi Kenney was our PT Young Artist in Residence. Hear Kenney perform a Mozart sonata in our "big room" - the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser recording studio.

Composer Julia Perry suffered a stroke in 1971 which left her right side paralyzed. Being right-handed, she lost her ability to write... until she taught herself to write with her left hand. On this episode of Performance Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Julia Perry.

Pianist Conrad Tao believes that George Gershwin was trying to prove himself when he wrote his Piano Concerto. Gershwin wanted to show that his signature sound, infused with jazz, could fit the world of classical music. On this episode of Performance Today, hear Conrad Tao play Gershwin's Piano Concerto, from a concert with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

For years, Jaakko Kuusisto has been meaning to write a concerto that would show off his skills on the violin. He hasn't done that quite yet, but he has written a piece for his friend, violinist Elina Vahala. On this episode of Performance Today, Elina Vahala, backed by the Minnesota Orchestra, play the fiery Violin Concerto by Jaakko Kuusisto.

Composer Lowell Liebermann was haunted for years by a Bach fugue that spun around and around in his head. Then he was asked to write a new piece for a concert that just happened to fall on Bach's birthday. On this episode of Performance Today, we'll hear Liebermann's twist on Bach's Fugue, from a concert in Colorado Springs.

Years ago, pianist Jeremy Denk was a PT Young Artist in Residence. Since then, he's gone on to have a stellar career, including receiving a MacArthur Genius Grant and concert appearances around the world. On this episode of Performance Today, we take you to a concert in Minneapolis to hear Jeremy Denk play the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D Minor by J.S. Bach.