Poster Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg, German composer, circa 1948
Schoenberg Archives at USC
Performance Today®

New Takes on Older Music

On Wednesday's Performance Today: new takes on older music. Ralph Vaughan Williams found inspiration from Elizabethan English music of the 1500's. We'll hear a Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis performed at the Prague Castle. Plus, Arnold Schoenberg loved the music of Brahms, but disliked the instrumentation of the piano quartet. Michael Tilson Thomas conducts the reorchestration by Schoenerg. On Performance Today, from APM.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 "The Inextinguishable" 2. Poco allegretto
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra; Neeme Jarvi, conductor
Carl Nielsen: 6 Symphonies
DG 437502

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Berlin Philharmonic; Sir Simon Rattle, conductor
Spanish Hall, Castle, Prague, Czech Republic

The Piano Puzzler: This week's contestants are Dick & Serena LaVine from New York

Joseph Haydn: Mass in C Major (Hob. XXII:5) "Missa Cellensis", v. Benedictus
The Choir of Trinity Church, Wall Street, REBEL Baroque Orchestra Owen Burdick, conductor
Haydn: Mass in F Major, Mass in C Major
Hanssler 98.392

Gerald Finzi: A Severn Rhapsody, Op. 3
Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra; Robert Manno, conductor
Windham Civic and Performing Arts Center, Windham, NY

Hour 2

Arvo Part: Summa
Chilingirian Quartet
Chilingirian Quartet: Music by John Tavener and Arvo Part
Virgin 45023

Antonin Dvorak: American Suite in A Major, Op. 98b, B. 190
Liege Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Domingo Hindoyan, conductor
Philharmonic Hall, Liege, Belgium Liege Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Arvo Part: Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in Mirror)
Graeme Francis, vibes; Michelle Schumann, piano
Victoria Bach Festival, First United Methodist Church, Victoria, TX

J.S. Bach: Prelude in C major - Ave Maria
Bach Blend: Graeme Francis, vibes; Michelle Schumann, piano
Victoria Bach Festival, First United Methodist Church, Victoria, TX

Johannes Brahms (orchestrated by Arnold Schoenberg): Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25, iv. Rondo alla Zingarese: Presto
San Francisco Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco CA

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About Performance Today®

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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.

Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

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