Performance Today®

St. Nicholas Day, celebrated on December 6th, commemorates the life of Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop known for his generosity and kindness. The holiday is the traditional start of the Christmas season in many countries, including a few pockets of the United States. We'll commemorate St. Nicholas Day on this episode of Performance Today.

Christian Zacharias began his stellar career as a solo pianist. He then became a conductor, leading orchestras around the world. But Zacharias also wants to do the occasional tour as a solo pianist again. On today's show, we'll hear how Christian Zacharias balances his life as a conductor and soloist, and we'll hear him play Haydn's Piano Sonata No. 62 at a concert at Spivey Hall in Morrow, Georgia.

27-year-old Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason is having a banner year. She released her third major-label solo album and had her solo debut at the BBC Proms... and that's just scratching the surface. On today's show, we'll hear Isata Kanneh-Mason play a piece that many writers and critics felt was the highlight of her Fall tour: the Piano Sonata No. 3 by Frederic Chopin.

Navajo pianist and composer Connor Chee recently wrote a piece inspired by the Navajo Code Talkers. Chee’s new work traces the brave journey of the Code Talkers through eleven minutes of music. Join us today to hear 'Unbroken' by Connor Chee.

After 47 magical years together, with only one change in personnel, the Emerson Quartet has brought down the curtain on their illustrious career. We’ll bid a fond farewell to the Emerson Quartet on today’s show.

The rich, deep tone of the bass trombone makes it part of the backbone of a brass section, but it rarely gets a moment in the spotlight. Now, it's time to shine. On today's show, hear a new concerto by Kenneth Fuchs, featuring George Curran on bass trombone.

Navajo pianist and composer Connor Chee recently wrote a piece inspired by the Navajo Code Talkers. Chee’s new work traces the brave journey of the Code Talkers through eleven minutes of music. Join us today to hear 'Unbroken' by Connor Chee.

Gloria Chien and Anthony McGill are both as busy as can be; Chien runs three festivals, and McGill is the principal clarinet in the New York Philharmonic. But they still make time to play as a duet. On today’s show, Gloria Chien and Anthony McGill play from the Grand Duo Concertant by Carl Maria von Weber.

In the 1980s and 90s, Michael Hedges developed stunning new ways of playing guitar. He often had both hands on the neck of the guitar and used his fingers to hammer and pull the strings. We'll hear the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet pay homage to Michael Hedges on today's episode of PT.