Performance Today®

Two of the world's major religions are in the midst of major holidays today, the Jewish Passover and the Christian Good Friday. In observance of Passover, Sergei Prokofiev's "Overture on Hebrew Themes" from Music@Menlo. And in observance of Good Friday, we'll go to a performance of Handel's "Messiah" in Berlin. Plus, our weekly 21st century work is a world premiere from Down Under.

Critics were divided over Maurice Ravel's string quartet when it premiered. Some hated it. One critic said it had "about as much emotional nuance as an algebra problem." But Claude Debussy wrote to Ravel saying: "In the name of all the gods of music, and for my sake, don't change a note of what you have written." Luckily, Ravel listened to Debussy, and didn't change a thing. In today's show, PT's artists-in-residence, the Parker Quartet, plays Ravel's controversial masterpiece.

We began March with a tribute to Frederic Chopin on his 200th birthday, and we've been bringing you great Chopin (and Chopin-inspired) performances all month. Today, we wrap up the celebration. Pianist Rafal Blechacz performs Chopin's second piano concerto with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra in Warsaw, Poland. And pianist Garrick Ohlsson plays the first concerto at a gala concert on Chopin's birthday in Warsaw.

We've been celebrating Frederic Chopin's 200th birthday all month with great performances of his music. In the first hour, nothing by Chopin himself, but a full hour of music inspired by him. Plus, the Pittsburgh Symphony got rave reviews for their performances on a recent European tour. We'll hear them in Dvorak's 8th Symphony, from Bonn, Germany. Manfred Honeck conducts.

Pianist Murray Perahia's playing has been described using words like "flawless" and "transcendent." In today's show, Perahia joins host Fred Child for an in-studio conversation about Bach and Chopin. He shares his thoughts on Bach's music ("full of emotions, but not Romantic"), and the ways that Bach influenced Chopin. He'll play part of a Bach partita and two Chopin works.

Simon Rattle has been Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic since 2002. Despite some ups and downs in his relationship with the orchestra, the players recently voted to extend his contract through 2018. The Berlin Philharmonic is sounding as lush and sweet as ever under Rattle, as we'll hear from a concert they gave last month in Berlin. Rattle conducts the Symphony No. 3 by Jean Sibelius. Also: Bruce Adolphe has a brand new Piano Puzzler. This week's caller is from San Antonio, Texas.

Yesterday, we brought you Part I of Mahler's 8th Symphony, known as the Symphony of a Thousand. Today is the conclusion. Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas leads the massed forces of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Pacific Boychoir, and the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Tilson Thomas calls the work an "allegory of the distressed soul finding its way through trials to...blessedness."

Gustav Mahler's monumental Symphony Number 8 (the "Symphony of a Thousand") is ambitious in almost every way. Not just its size (intended for an amassed orchestra and chorus of 1,000 people), but in its emotional and intellectual content. Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony have just completed a massive recording project, recording all of the Mahler symphonies. We'll feature Tilson Thomas and San Francisco in part one of the Symphony of a Thousand in today's show. Look for part two on Friday.

Simon Rattle has been Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic since 2002. Despite some ups and downs in his relationship with the orchestra, the players recently voted to extend his contract through 2018. The Berlin Philharmonic is sounding as lush and sweet as ever under Rattle, as we'll hear from a concert they gave last month in Berlin. Rattle conducts the Symphony No. 3 by Jean Sibelius. Also: Bruce Adolphe has a brand new Piano Puzzler. This week's caller is from San Antonio, Texas.