Performance Today®

Fred Child reflects on Performance Today’s visit to Moab Music Festival in southern Utah.

In 2015, the Syrian civil war forced violinist Shalan Alhamwy and his family into a perilous journey of exile. Alhamwy says "I cannot face a tank with my violin, but music is a way to say no to war." On Tuesday's Performance Today, hear Shalan Alhamwy's "Two Images from Aleppo," from a concert in Cologne, Germany.

On Monday's Performance Today, cellist Raphael Bell plays music by Bohuslav Martinu... music that Bell didn't like when he was younger. Tune in to find out more about Bohuslav Martinu, and why Raphael Bell now loves his music.

Fred Child says hello from the Moab Music Festival in southern Utah.

The Isle of the Dead is a painting of a dark, forbidding island. After viewing it, Sergei Rachmaninoff was inspired to write a symphonic poem; a musical depiction of the journey of a newly departed soul. On the weekend edition of Performance Today, we'll hear Rachmaninoff's Isle of the Dead from a concert in Nashville.

Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara was 28 years old when he wrote his Symphony No. 1. It's a fascinating piece that is simply not played often enough. And so... on Friday's Performance Today, we'll hear the Buffalo Philharmonic play the Rautavaara's Symphony No. 1

In 2007, Imani Winds flutist and composer Valerie Coleman wrote a suite inspired by the poem "In time of Silver Rain" by Langston Hughes. On Thursday's Performance Today, Valerie Coleman joins us to talk about her work, Langston Hughes, and life-changing moments.

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. Learn more about Iva Bittova and hear a performance of her composition "Divna Slecinka," on Wednesday's Performance Today.

Johannes Brahms told Anton Bruckner that he just didn't understand his symphonies... and Bruckner replied: "I have the exact same problem with yours." On Tuesday's Performance Today, we'll hear the New York Philharmonic play music by the often misunderstood Bruckner - the gorgeous slow movement from his Symphony No. 8.