Performance Today®

with host Valerie Kahler

American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.

All Episodes

Joshua Bell, conductor

Joshua Bell, conductor

Joshua Bell has been among the great violin soloists for the past 25 years. Now, he's taking up the art of conducting. On Thursday's Performance Today, we'll hear Bell solo in and conduct Max Bruch's Violin Concerto at the 2015 Verbier Festival.

The Piano Puzzler

The Piano Puzzler

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 Wednesday's Performance Today.

Coach Slatkin

Coach Slatkin

According to conductor Leonard Slatkin, leading an orchestra is a bit like being the coach of a football team. On Tuesday's Performance Today, Coach Slatkin will tell us more about the curious art of conducting; plus, we'll hear from a recent concert featuring Slatkin and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

A Russian gem

A Russian gem

Sergey Taneyev's Symphony No. 4 is a great piece of Romantic Russian music, and it's not played nearly often enough. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll hear the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra play it in concert in Rotterdam.

Deep territory in the human psyche

Deep territory in the human psyche

The story of Don Juan taps a deep territory in the human psyche: love, betrayal, excess, and death. On this weekend's Performance Today, we'll hear Richard Strauss's explosive tone poem based on the story of Don Juan. Plus, a stunning performance of three traditional Chinese songs arranged for string quartet.

Don Juan

Don Juan

The story of Don Juan taps a deep territory in the human psyche: love, betrayal, excess, and death. On Friday's Performance Today, we'll hear Richard Strauss's explosive tone poem based on the story of Don Juan. Plus, a stunning performance of three traditional Chinese songs arranged for string quartet.

A four day project

A four day project

Twenty-five talented pianists competed in this year's National Chopin Piano Competition in Miami. On Thursday's Performance Today, we'll hear dazzling performances from three of the contestants. Plus, a half hour of music that took Mozart four days to write -- his Symphony No. 36.

The National Chopin Piano Competition

The National Chopin Piano Competition

Every five years since 1975, the American Chopin Foundation has held a National Chopin piano competition. On Wednesday's Performance Today, we'll hear from this year's winner, 17-year-old Eric Lu. Plus, composer Bruce Adolphe joins us with this week's Piano Puzzler.

American music institutions

American music institutions

On Tuesday's Performance Today, we'll hear two great American music institutions in concert. First, the New York Philharmonic plays Ravel's Mother Goose Suite at Lincoln Center. And then, the U.S. Marine Band plays music that honors President John F. Kennedy in Virginia.

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