Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis are classical superstars. But when they wanted a pianist for a European tour, they decided to choose a pianist whose playing they loved, but who isn't famous - yet. His name is Denes Varjon, and on Monday's Performance Today we'll hear Bell, Isserlis, and Varjon play a Chopin piano trio in concert in Poland.
Lots of unusual instruments on the way on this weekend's Performance Today, including a 21st century concerto for Pipa and Orchestra, and a Grand Grand Overture for Vacuum Cleaners, Floor Polisher, and Concert Band.
The Chinese lute, or pipa, has been around for more than two thousand years. On Friday's Performance Today, we'll hear a 21st century composition for pipa performed by Wu Man and the Buffalo Philharmonic.
On Thursday's Performance Today, Lawrence Foster conducts the Houston Symphony Orchestra in a glorious performance of music from Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations at Jones Hall in Texas.
The story of Don Juan has all the makings of a gripping melodrama -- love, betrayal, and death. On Wednesday's Performance Today, we'll hear the Munich Philharmonic perform Richard Strauss's explosive tone poem based on the legend.
After a holiday weekend, there's often a big clean-up that has to take place. So on Tuesday's Performance Today, we'll help out with a special piece by Malcolm Arnold; his Grand Overture for Vacuum Cleaners, Floor Polisher, and Concert Band.
Long before we became aware of conserving the environment, Johann Sebastian Bach was hard at work conserving his own output: his musical ideas. On today's show, we'll hear Bach's music as he reworked and finessed his favorite melodies in a variety of performances.
On this weekend's Performance Today, composer Bruce Adolphe joins us with our weekly musical game. Play along; see if you can name the hidden tune and the composer whose style Bruce is mimicking. Plus, we'll hear musical highlights from concert halls around the world.
Pianist Martha Argerich has a devoted following; fans who will literally follow her from one concert to another. On Friday's Performance Today, we'll take you to a concert in Switzerland to hear her perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2.
