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

May 15, 2015: Retro and radical, all at once

May 15, 2015: Retro and radical, all at once

Retro enough to call for Roman trumpets, but radical enough to call for a tape recorder playing alongside the orchestra. On Friday's Performance Today, we'll hear the New York Philharmonic in concert, performing Ottorino Respighi's retro and radical Pines of Rome.

May 14, 2015: 'He made me love music'

May 14, 2015: 'He made me love music'

Peter Tchaikovsky didn't like many other composers, but he loved Mozart. He once said, "It was... Mozart who inspired my first efforts, and made me love music above anything else in this world." On Thursday's Performance Today, we'll hear Tchaikovsky's homage to Mozart, a piece called "Mozartiana," from a concert in Warsaw, Poland.

May 13, 2015: Playing Chopin, 55 years strong

May 13, 2015: Playing Chopin, 55 years strong

In 1960, Maurizio Pollini won the top prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition. More than half a century later, Pollini hasn't lost his love for Chopin's music. On Wednesday's Performance Today, we'll drop in on a concert in Lucerne, Switzerland to hear Pollini perform Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1. Bruce Adolphe joins us as well, with this week's Piano Puzzler.

May 12, 2015: Symphonic Revolution

May 12, 2015: Symphonic Revolution

The Symphony No. 5 by Beethoven was revolutionary when it was first played in 1808. When it's played well, it still packs a tremendous emotional punch. On Tuesday's Performance Today, we'll take an epic thirty minute journey from darkness to light. Conductor Louis Langree leads the Cincinnati Symphony in Beethoven's Fifth.

May 11, 2015: Double up on Barenboim

May 11, 2015: Double up on Barenboim

Listen to Daniel Barenboim as both pianist and conductor. On piano, he'll join baritone Thomas Quasthoff for highlights from Schubert's Winterreise. As conductor, we'll hear Barenboim leading a remarkable concert on the West Bank, with music of Mozart and Elgar.

May 9, 2015: Hilary Hahn: violinist and radio host

May 9, 2015: Hilary Hahn: violinist and radio host

On this weekend's Performance Today, Fred Child is joined by a special co-host --violinist Hilary Hahn. Since her professional debut at age 16, Hilary Hahn has been counted as one of the very best classical violinists in the world. She's curated a special playlist for PT listeners that includes performances that influenced her as a young violinist and ones that she admires today.

May 8, 2015: Jarrett at 70

May 8, 2015: Jarrett at 70

We're celebrating the 70th birthday of Keith Jarrett. He's legendary as a jazz pianist, and over the course of his 50 year career, Keith Jarrett has made some remarkable classical recordings as well. We'll hear him improvise and play Bartok's Piano Concerto No. 3.

May 7, 2015: Hilary Hahn: violinist and radio host

May 7, 2015: Hilary Hahn: violinist and radio host

On Thursday's Performance Today, Fred Child is joined by a special co-host --violinist Hilary Hahn. Since her professional debut at age 16, Hilary Hahn has been counted as one of the very best classical violinists in the world. She's curated a special playlist for PT listeners that includes performances that influenced her as a young violinist and ones that she admires today.

May 6, 2015: The Piano Puzzler

May 6, 2015: The Piano Puzzler

Composer Bruce Adolphe joins us with this week's Piano Puzzler. We'll hear members of the Vienna Philharmonic literally getting up and walking away as they play Haydn's Farewell Symphony. And it's off to Warsaw, Poland for a set of Chopin Mazurkas played as folk music. Tune in to today's show to hear it all.

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