Poster Simone Porter
Simone Porter at the Colburn School in downtown Los Angeles.
Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times
Performance Today®

Simone on solitude

Violinist Simone Porter practices alone for five hours a day, and spends lots of time travelling by herself. How does she deal with the solitude? Porter will share her answer on Friday's Performance Today, when she joins Fred in the studio with music and wisdom.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Marc-Andre Hamelin: Landler I, from Con intimissimo sentimento and Little Nocturne
Marc-Andre Hamelin, piano
Etudes
Hyperion 67789

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Serenade No. 6 in D major, K. 239: 1. Marcia: Maestoso; 2. Minuetto; 3. Rondo: Allegretto
Bert Witzel, bass;Jim Benoit, timpani; The Dover Quartet; Members of the Artosphere Festival Orchestra; Corrado Rovaris, conductor
Walton Arts Center, The Great Hall at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR

Franz Liszt: Venezia e Napoli, Supplement, S. 162: 1. Gondoliera; 2. Canzone: Lento doloroso; 3. Tarantella
Marc-Andre Hamelin, piano
92nd Street Y, New York, NY

Francis Poulenc: Suite Francaise: Movements 1-6
University of Texas Wind Ensemble; Jerry Junkin, conductor
Bates Recital Hall, Butler School of Music, University of Texas, Austin, TX

Hour 2

Ludwig van Beethoven: Septet in E-flat, Op. 20: 2. Adagio cantabile
Eduard Brunner, clarinet; Marie-Luise Neunecker, horn; Stefan Schweigert, bassoon; Thomas Zehetmair, violin; James Vanvalkenburg, viola; Cheryl House, cello; Alois Posch, double-bass
Beethoven Septet and Piano Quintet Music
Philips 434036

Josquin des Prez (arr. Raymond Mase): Chansons
American Brass Quintet
BPL Chamber Players Concert Series, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY

John Novacek: "Foster Fantasy" for Clarinet, Cello and Piano
Nathan Williams, clarinet; Bion Tsang, cello; John Novacek, piano
Bates Recital Hall, Butler Sschool of Music, University of Texas, Austin, TX

Ludwig van Beethoven: Romance for Violin No. 2 in F Major, Op. 50
Simone Porter, violin; Meng-Chieh Liu, piano
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul, MN

Nico Muhly: Detailed Instructions, for orchestra: 2. Tilt Your Head; 3. Can't Wait
New York Philharmonic; Alan Gilbert, conductor
CONTACT! The New-Music Series, Peter Jay Sharp Theater, Symphony Space, New York, NY

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

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An enduring partnership

Jennifer Frautschi plays a violin made by Antonio Stradivarius in 1722. A foundation loaned the instrument to her with the understanding that they could ask for its return at any time. That was 24 years ago… and apparently, they're happy with what she's doing with their violin! We’ll hear Frautschi—and her ‘loaner’ instrument—perform music by Haydn on today’s program.

1:59:00
Imogen Cooper's passion for Schubert

Imogen Cooper's passion for Schubert

Pianist Imogen Cooper loves how Franz Schubert's music can shift from moment to moment. She says, “It's as if he takes you by the shoulders, swings you around, and says, 'That was then, this is now.'" Tune in today to hear Cooper's interpretation of Schubert's Impromptus at a recent concert presented by the Frederic Chopin Society in St. Paul, Minnesota.

1:59:00
Missy Mazzoli: These Worlds in Us

Missy Mazzoli: These Worlds in Us

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1:59:00
PT Weekend: Lost and found Webern

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In 1945, Austrian composer Anton Webern and his family fled Vienna. Most of Webern’s valuables, mementos, and manuscripts were placed in a lock box, which they buried in the backyard. Sixteen years later, the box was recovered with the manuscripts inside. On today's show, we'll hear one of those 'found' pieces: Im Sommerwind (In the Summer Breeze) by Anton Webern. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week’s Piano Puzzler!

1:59:00
Marc-Andre Hamelin

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1:59:00
Simone Dinnerstein

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1:59:00
A notable recovery

A notable recovery

In 1945, Austrian composer Anton Webern and his family fled Vienna. Most of Webern’s valuables, mementos, and manuscripts were placed in a lock box, which they buried in the backyard. Sixteen years later, the box was recovered with the manuscripts inside. On today's show, we'll hear one of those 'found' pieces: Im Sommerwind (In the Summer Breeze) by Anton Webern.

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Just Another Climb

Just Another Climb

In 1939, four women climbers reached the summit of Wyoming’s Grand Teton at dawn, racing to be the first and to counter skepticism about their unassisted ascent. Newspapers at the time called it the first "manless" ascent of the mountain. In response, one of the women said, “To us it was just another climb.” Today's show will feature both the story and the music: "Just Another Climb" by Kimberly Osberg.

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Nathalie Stutzmann and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Nathalie Stutzmann and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Three hundred years ago, Johann Sebastian Bach began his role as the music director at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, a position for which he was only the third choice. To impress his uncertain employers, Bach composed ambitious new cantatas every week during his first few years, including the one we will hear today: the Sinfonia from J.S. Bach's Cantata No. 42, from a concert featuring conductor Nathalie Stutzmann and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Stravinsky's Ebony Concerto

PT Weekend: Stravinsky's Ebony Concerto

Jazz guitarist Charlie Christian was at his peak in the late 1930s and early 40s. To this day, guitarists are inspired by his recordings, and composer Igor Stravinsky said Charlie Christian helped inspire one of his pieces. We'll hear that piece, Stravinsky's Ebony Concerto, on today's show.

1:59:00
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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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