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

Irrepressible choral energy

Irrepressible choral energy

On this weekend's Performance Today, we'll hear recent concert highlights from Copenhagen, Texas, and Los Angeles. Plus, the irrepressible energy of the Young Peoples' Chorus of New York City as they join Fred in the PT studios.

The Young Peoples' Chorus of New York City

The Young Peoples' Chorus of New York City

On Friday's Performance Today, we'll hear recent concert highlights from Warsaw, Seattle, Virginia, and Los Angeles. Plus, the irrepressible energy of the Young Peoples' Chorus of New York City as they join Fred in the PT studios.

Beethoven's Symphony No. 1

Beethoven's Symphony No. 1

This year marks the 215th anniversary of the premiere Beethoven's Symphony No. 1. On Thursday's Performance Today, we'll hear it from a concert in Houston. Plus, the Vienna Philharmonic plays waltz by Josef Strauss -- his Music of the Spheres.

Visions from Another World

Visions from Another World

Inspired by a set of drawings by 19th century French caricaturist and cartoonist J.J. Grandville, Canadian-American composer Karim Al-Zand wrote a fantastical piece called "Visions from Another World."

Steven Osborne

Steven Osborne

Pianist Steven Osborne practices, of course. But he also believes in sometimes getting away from music, in order to broaden his life and avoid impoverishing his musical voice. On Wednesday's Performance today, we'll hear Osborne give a live performance of several etudes by Rachmaninoff.

Rudolf Buchbinder

Rudolf Buchbinder

Rudolf Buchbinder grew up in a house with a piano -- despite the fact that no one in his family played music. But that piano became a source of inspiration for Buchbinder, who has grown up to have a tremendous career as a pianist. On Tuesday's Performance Today, we'll hear him play music by Beethoven.

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Conductor Daniel Barenboim created the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra to create a forum where young musicians from all over the Middle East could come together to make music. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll hear Barenboim lead the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in concert at the BBC Proms in London.

A musical puzzle

A musical puzzle

Every week on our Piano Puzzler, composer Bruce Adolphe re-writes a familiar tune in the style of a classical composer. Play along on this weekend's Performance Today to see if you can guess the tune and the composer whose style Bruce is mimicking.

A musical aviary

A musical aviary

On Friday's Performance Today, we're exploring music inspired by bird song. First, we'll head to this summer's BBC Proms in London to hear Maurice Ravel's imitation of a sad blackbird. Then, we'll hear the sounds of doves, hens, nightingales and cuckoos from a concert in Los Angeles.

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