Performance Today®

Composer Edvard Grieg found tremendous inspiration in Norwegian history and folklore. His Lyric Pieces for piano are expressions of his country's places, stories, and people. On this episode of Performance Today, Joyce Yang brings those colorful works to life, from a concert in Seattle.

If you're ready to step into a different world, follow us through medieval gates into a storybook world created by composer Anton Bruckner. On this episode Performance Today, Marek Janowski conducts the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in concert performance of Bruckner's Symphony No. 4.

Composer Matthew Jackfert spent six months in the seaside city of Qingdao, China. Memories of the waves and wind and local culture stuck with him. On this episode of Performance Today, tune in for On the Shores of Qingdao by Matthew Jackfert, from a concert by the West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra.

Pianist Daniil Trifonov has a unique warm up and practice routine. He "goes through the motions"... underwater. On this episode of Performance Today, hear Daniil Trifonov describe this unique method, and hear him play Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra.

When Addison Maye-Saxon was in the 7th grade and choosing what to play, he didn't like cello or trumpet, so his teacher picked his instrument (and his future) for him. On this episode of Performance Today, we're proud to introduce you to our first brass playing Young Artist in Residence, trombonist Addison Maye-Saxon.

Trombonist Addison Maye-Saxon is Performance Today's current Young Artist in Residence. Addison recently joined Fred Child for conversation and music at our studio in Saint Paul. You can hear it all here!

Arnold Bax was an English composer, but when he went to his beloved Ireland, he adopted the persona of poet Dermot O'Byrne. He tried to keep his alter ego secret but his music betrayed his love of all things Irish. Music by Arnold Bax (aka Dermot O'Byrne) on this edition of Performance Today.

The great pianist Clara Schumann truly loved music by her husband, Robert Schumann. In 1853, she took one of Robert's songs and composed a set of seven variations. On this episode of Performance Today, hear the surprise birthday gift that Clara Schumann wrote for her husband's 43rd birthday.

Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles has a pipe organ with a distinctive look. It has the friendly nickname...the "French Fries." We'll hear those french fries in action, in a world premiere of a new concerto by Nico Muhly. On this edition of Performance Today, Organist James McVinnie and the L.A. Philharmonic present Register, for Organ and Orchestra.