Performance Today®

Composer Bruce Adolphe writes our weekly Piano Puzzler. But on Friday's Performance Today, he'll tell us about "Chopin Dreams" - a big new piece he's written, imagining Frederic Chopin in 21st century New York.

The New York Philharmonic has been in existence since 1842, and their very first concert featured music by Beethoven. They still love to play Beethoven, and they do it so well! On Thursday's Performance Today, we'll hear conductor Alan Gilbert lead the New York Philharmonic in Beethoven's Symphony No. 1.

In 1791, the clarinet was still a work-in-progress; it hadn't fully been accepted as a member of the orchestra. Mozart's Clarinet Concerto helped change that. On Wednesday's Performance Today, we'll hear it from a concert in Zurich, Switzerland.

Listeners and radio hosts share stories about their favorite Christmas and winter songs.

Felix Mendelssohn had been reading about Italy and was so excited to travel there for the first time. On the day he arrived, he wrote home to his family, saying: "Ahhhh, Italy at last! ...and I am basking in happiness!" In addition to great happiness, his trip inspired something else: his Italian Symphony, which we'll hear on Tuesday's Performance Today.

When Jeremy Denk plays a Mozart Piano Concerto, he never repeats a melody the same way. He likes to add flourishes as he goes. On Monday's PT, we'll hear Jeremy Denk improvising his way through Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20.

Every week on our Piano Puzzler, composer Bruce Adolphe re-writes a familiar tune in the style of a great composer. Then, one of our listeners calls in and tries to guess two things: the tune, and the composer whose style Bruce is mimicking. Play along with our weekly musical game, on this weekend's Performance Today.

Wherever you are, and whatever you happen to be doing, let us take you to a musical journey Lincoln Center in New York City. On Friday's Performance Today, Pianist Emanuel Ax joins the New York Philharmonic to play a Keyboard Concerto by Bach - and we've got front row seats.

On Thursday's Performance Today, Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of The Splendid Table, joins us for a musical and culinary Thanksgiving. She and Fred talk about the powerful memories that come from great food and music, and share things the things for which they feel especially grateful.