My Name Is: Nokuthula Ngwenyama
Violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama is an artistic force.
For some people, summer begins Memorial Day weekend, or when the kids are out of school. But astronomically speaking, summer begins with the solstice, so we've selected music to inspire daydreams on this summer day filled with daylight. Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Samuel Barber, Max Richter, and more, on Thursday's Performance Today.
Flute, trumpet, clarinet, and three strings. The ensemble yMusic has that unusual combination. Their signature sound and their interest in all kinds of music has had quite an impact on contemporary composers. On Wednesday's Performance Today, yMusic plays a piece by Son Lux, recorded live at Classical KING FM studios in Seattle.
Conductor Thierry Fischer says working with violinist Augustin Hadelich is "...a revelation. He's more than impeccable, he's inspirational." On Tuesday's Performance Today, hear Augustin Hadelich in concert, playing Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 with the Utah Symphony.
On Monday's Performance Today, we learn about a musician's journey from metal rocker to classical composer. Then take a seat for a Nashville Symphony performance of "Conversations with Nijinsky," by Kip Winger.
Composer and pianist Aldo Lopez-Gavilan has twin daughters. He wrote a little tune for their birthday, inspired by a beautiful place. Now he's expanded that tune into a full concerto. On this weekend's Performance Today, hear Emporium by Aldo Lopez-Gavilan, in a performance from the Classical Tahoe festival.