Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
MPR

Performance Today®

with host Fred Child

All Episodes

"Azul" by Osvaldo Golijov

"Azul" by Osvaldo Golijov

In 2006, Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov wrote a cello concerto for Yo-Yo Ma. A few years ago, we aired a much-loved performance of the piece (a PT listener favorite) but a recording of the concerto wasn't commercially available until 2016. On Tuesday's Performance Today, hear the anticipated recording of Osvaldo Golijov's "Azul", performed by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and The Knights.

The start of something big

The start of something big

In 1994, Irish composer Bill Whelan wrote a few minutes of music for a TV song contest. A couple of Irish dancers did some choreography to go with it and a massive global hit was born. On Monday's Performance Today, hear the Symphonic Suite, from "Riverdance" by Bill Whelan, performed by the RTE National Symphony Orchestra.

Houston's Apollo Chamber Players

Houston's Apollo Chamber Players

On Saturday's Performance today, we speak with the Matthew Detrick, Artistic Director of the Houston-based Apollo Chamber Players, about the resilience of Houston's artistic scene in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Then hear the Apollo Chamber Players perform music by Darius Milhaud, from a concert recorded in Houston earlier this year.

Houston's Apollo Chamber Players

Houston's Apollo Chamber Players

On Friday's Performance today, we speak with the Matthew Detrick, Artistic Director of the Houston-based Apollo Chamber Players, about the resilience of Houston's artistic scene in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Then hear the Apollo Chamber Players perform music by Darius Milhaud, from a concert recorded in Houston earlier this year.

The Houston Symphony

The Houston Symphony

Every orchestra is part of a community, so, how does an orchestra respond when a natural disaster affects everyone and everything around them? On Thursday's Performance Today, join us for updates and music from the Houston Symphony, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

Rossini's 'terrible' sonatas

Rossini's 'terrible' sonatas

In his later years, Giaochino Rossini scribbled notes on his old manuscripts. On one piece, he wrote, "Six terrible sonatas composed by me at a most youthful age..." On Wednesday's Performance Today, hear one of Rossini's "terrible" sonatas, which ISN'T terrible... composed when he was just 12 years old.

Love and loss

Love and loss

Czech composer Bedrich Smetana married his childhood sweetheart; they had four beautiful daughters together... but over the course of two years, three daughters and Smetana's wife all died from illness. On Tuesday's Performance Today, hear dramatic music inspired by Smetana's tragic loss.

The ANCIA Saxophone Quartet

The ANCIA Saxophone Quartet

The ANCIA Saxophone Quartet is dedicated to the creation and performance of new works for saxophone quartet. On Monday's Performance Today, tune in to hear ANCIA perform from "Quatuor de Saxophone" by French composer Ida Gotkovsky.

Valerie Coleman's inspiration

Valerie Coleman's inspiration

On Saturday's Performance Today, we celebrate female composers, musicians and conductors. Hear a brand new composition by Valerie Coleman named "Portraits of Josephine"... inspired by the life and times of one of the most famous entertainers of the 20th Century: Josephine Baker.

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