Performance Today®

Grammy-winning violinist Hilary Hahn loves Eugene Ysaye's collection of solo violin sonatas. They're wonderfully witty and inventive, but they're not well known outside of violin circles. Recently, Hahn recorded the complete set — it's an absolute treat for violin lovers. On today's show, Hahn joins Fred Child in our New York studio to discuss her recording of Ysaye's Solo Violin Sonata No. 2 (Obsession).

Violinist Hilary Hahn recently joined Fred Child in our New York studio to discuss her latest album, Eugene Ysaye: Six Sonatas for Solo Violin, Op. 27. In this extended interview, Hahn unpacks her theory about light and redemption in the Dies Irae theme found throughout Ysaye’s Sonata No. 2, “Obsession.”

Composer Joel Thompson made one rule when he began work on a piece in 2019. He would go through the major news stories each day before working on his composition. Hear the results on this episode of PT: "In Response to the Madness" by Joel Thompson.

In 2020, Rodney Maddock commissioned composer and pianist John Novacek to write a trio in celebration of his wife Marleny Gonzalez's 70th birthday. Novacek came up with a piece with a nod to one of her musical favorites, the 20th-century Colombian clarinetist Lucho Bermudez. It's a birthday gift meant to be shared with the world. Join us today to hear a gift for all of us: Trio Marlenita by John Novacek.

When orchestras work without a conductor, they read each other with eye contact and body language—they know and trust each other. On today's show, we'll take you to a concert in Houston to hear members of the ensemble ROCO play Dvorak's String Serenade...without a conductor.

Sometimes the original is great, but the reboot is even better. Maurice Ravel wrote a stunning piece for solo piano, but it went from black and white to technicolor in his later version for full orchestra. We'll hear Ravel's Alborada del gracioso on this episode of Performance Today.

Pianist Marc-André Hamelin loves music by French composer Gabriel Faure. Hamelin says "[Faure's music] …is subtle, sophisticated, but also very sensuous." On today's show, we'll hear Hamelin play music by Gabriel Faure and French composer/educator Nadia Boulanger.

When Pablo Ziegler was growing up in Argentina in the 1960s, he hated tango. But, to his surprise, he wound up playing in one of the most innovative tango bands of the 20th century—he's been a creative force, blending tango and classical and jazz ever since. We'll hear Muchacha de Boedo by Pablo Ziegler on today's show.

French composer Louise Farrenc grew up in Paris in the early 1800s. She had a great career as a pianist and composer, and she was hired as a professor...but at half the pay as men doing the same work. Louise Farrenc fought for equal pay, and she GOT it. Join us to learn more about Louise Farrenc and hear her Sextet for winds and piano.