Performance Today®

Sir Neville Marriner died this past weekend, on Oct. 2, at the age of 92. In 1958, he founded the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, one of the world's premiere chamber orchestras. He began as a violinist, but is best known for his work as a conductor. It is truly a challenge to imagine a more prolific musical career. On Thursday's Performance Today, Joshua Bell, current Musical Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, reflects on the legacy of Sir Neville Marriner.

Sir Neville Marriner, one of the stalwart legends of today's classical scene, passed away on Oct. 2, 2016. Recently, Fred spoke with Joshua Bell about Marriner's legacy.

If you're a regular PT listener, or simply a lover of chamber music, you'll likely have heard of Alice Tully Hall, home of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, in New York City. Who was Alice Tully? Her life is a story of character, performance, and philanthropy. Find out more about Alice Tully's life and legacy, and hear a performance from her namesake, Alice Tully Hall, on Wednesday's Performance Today.

At the age of 19, Franz Schubert wrote the following in his diary: "O Mozart! Immortal Mozart! You have impressed upon our souls countless impressions of a brighter, better life!" On Tuesday's Performance Today, hear some of these impressions reflected in Schubert's Symphony No. 5, performed at the Windham (NY) Chamber Music Festival.

As a kid, Orion Weiss played the piano simply because he loved playing. Practice wasn't a chore -- there wasn't a 30-minute timer ticking away in disagreement with a metronome. He simply liked to practice, to play the piano. That continued into his teenage years, then through his studies at the Juilliard School in New York City. Even then, he says, he was only playing piano because he loved it. The idea of becoming a professional musician hadn't really crossed his mind. You'll hear Orion Weiss play music by Brahms on Monday's Performance Today.

The notes that a musician plays may have been written down by the composer, but an infinite number of decisions are involved in creating the music that reaches your ears. Listen in as Joshua Bell and pianist Jeremy Denk discuss the omnipresence of improvisation in their lives as performers, on Saturday's Performance Today.

The notes that a musician plays may have been written down by the composer, but an infinite number of decisions are involved in creating the music that reaches your ears. Listen in as Joshua Bell and pianist Jeremy Denk discuss the omnipresence of improvisation in their lives as performers, on Friday's Performance Today.

Melody Parker loves to dance. When she wrote the music for her album "Archipelago," she didn't start with a catchy tune, or harmonies, or rhythm. She started with movement.

The right music can make a film great, even iconic. Where would Frozen be without a singing snowman? How would the orbital desperation of Gravity feel without the music of Arvo Part? Can you imagine Star Wars without John Williams' pulse-raising compositions? On Thursday's Performance Today, we'll hear this music and more, as we explore unforgettable movie music.