Poster Tesfa and Fred
Tesfa and Fred explore downtown St. Paul, Minn.
APM photo/Suzanne Schaffer
Performance Today®

Christmas cheer with Tesfa Wondemagegnehu

Tesfa Wondemagegnehu is a singer, teacher, conductor, and an all-around good guy. On Tuesday's Performance Today, he'll join Fred in the studio to talk about how music changes lives. Plus, he'll bring along a stack of his favorite holiday music, and share his tips for avoiding common caroling pitfalls.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Traditional (arr. Matthew Culloton): Angels We Have Heard on High
The Singers; Matthew Culloton, conductor
Dulci Jubilo: Christmas with The Singers
The Singers

George Frederic Handel (arr. Take 6): Joy to the World
Take 6
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Warner Brothers/ Word Entertainment 47391

Franz Gruber (arr. Stephen Paulus): Silent Night
The Singers; Matthew Culloton, conductor
Dulci Jubilo: Christmas with The Singers
The Singers

Franz Biebl: Ave Maria
Chanticleer
Our Heart's Joy: A Chanticleer Christmas
Chanticleer Records

Morten Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium
Chamber Choir of Europe; Nicol Matt, conductor
Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium - Lux Aeterna - Madrigali - Les Chansons Des Roses
Haenssler Classic 98272

Traditional (arr. Steven Sharp Nelson & Al van der Beek): Carol of the Bells-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Steven Sharp Nelson, cello; The Piano Guys
A Family Christmas
Sony Masterworks

Pietro Antonacci: Sinfonia Pastorale: 2. Pastorale
Il Giardino Armonico
Christmas Concertos
Teldec 46013

Three Mo' Tenors: Have You Heard About the Baby - Glory to the Newborn King
Three Mo' Tenors: Thomas Young, Roderick Dixon, Victor Trent Cook
Three Mo' Tenors
RCA Records

Hour 2

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in g minor: Menuetto
Philharmonia Orchestra; Emmanuel Krivine, conductor
Mozart Symphonies Nos. 25 and 40
Denon 6103

Traditional (arr. Arturo Delmoni): From Heaven Above
Arturo Delmoni, violin; Danielle Maddon, violin; Ellen De Pasquate, viola; Rafael Figueroa, cello
A String Quartet Christmas
Listen 50001

Friedrich Silcher (arr. Eva Beneke): Alle Jahre Wieder
Eve Beneke, guitar; Scott Tennant, guitar; Moni Simeonov, violin; Phil Popham, oboe and English horn; Lars Hoefs, cello
In Dulci Jubilo
GSI 98010

Traditional German (arr. Eva Beneke): Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging
Eve Beneke, guitar; Scott Tennant, guitar; Moni Simeonov, violin; Phil Popham, oboe and English horn; Lars Hoefs, cello
In Dulci Jubilo
GSI 98010

Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Imani Winds
This Christmas with the Imani Winds
Koch 7748

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano in B-flat Major, K. 502
Benjamin Beilman, violin; Bion Tsang, cello; Joyce Yang, piano
Seattle Chamber Music Society, Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall Seattle, WA

Pierre Dandrieu: Si c'est pour oter la vie
Radio France Youth Chorus, Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien; Sofi Jeannin (chorus), Francois Lazarevitch (instrument ensemble), conductors
FRSRF, Auditorium, Radio France, Paris, France

Marc-Antoine Charpentier: A la venue de Noel, H. 531/3
Radio France Youth Chorus, Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien; Sofi Jeannin (chorus), Francois Lazarevitch (instrument ensemble), conductors
FRSRF, Auditorium, Radio France, Paris, France

Marc-Antoine Charpentier: Les Bourgeois de Chastre, H. 534/4
Radio France Youth Chorus, Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien; Sofi Jeannin (chorus), Francois Lazarevitch (instrument ensemble), conductors
FRSRF, Auditorium, Radio France, Paris, France

Marc-Antoine Charpentier: Joseph est bien marie
Radio France Youth Chorus, Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien; Sofi Jeannin (chorus), Francois Lazarevitch (instrument ensemble), conductors
FRSRF, Auditorium, Radio France, Paris, France

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

2025 Classical Woman of the Year: Jessie Montgomery

2025 Classical Woman of the Year: Jessie Montgomery

‘Performance Today’ has selected performer and composer Jessie Montgomery as the 2025 Classical Woman of the Year. This annual award recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the classical music art form and have inspired our listeners. Find out more!

PT Weekend: Emilie Mayer

PT Weekend: Emilie Mayer

On today's show, we explore the fascinating career of German composer Emilie Mayer. Join us at a concert in Houston for a ROCO performance of Mayer's Symphony No. 4, a piece she composed in 1850 that was only recently reconstructed by German composer and arranger Andreas Tarkmann.

1:59:00
The Cerus Quartet

The Cerus Quartet

In Greek mythology, a wild bull named Cerus is turned into a constellation by the goddess Persephone. It's a story of chaos tamed into beauty. Similarly, the Cerus Quartet aims to reimagine the wily saxophone as a symbol of beauty and expressive depth. On today's show, we'll hear the Cerus Quartet perform Joan Perez-Villegas's 'Solo el misterio' at a recent concert in Interlochen, Michigan.

1:59:00
Franz Liszt's fascination with mortality

Franz Liszt's fascination with mortality

When composer and pianist Franz Liszt was a young man, he was fascinated with death. He went to hospitals to observe people who were sick or dying. He went to prisons to meet people who had been condemned to die. On today’s show, we’ll hear Franz Liszt’s Totentanz, The Dance of Death, a piece based on the Dies Irae, a chant from the Catholic Mass for the Dead.

1:59:00
Two pianos, one orchestra

Two pianos, one orchestra

Today, we'll hear two Chopin Competition Gold Medalists… at the same time. Yulianna Avdeeva and Garrick Ohlsson shared the stage at the 2025 International Chopin Competition to perform Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos, a musical pastiche of Mozart, French songs, and jazz.

1:59:00
Henriëtte Bosmans

Henriëtte Bosmans

On today's show, we explore music by Dutch composer Henriëtte Bosmans. Join us at a concert in Wismar, Germany, to hear a performance of Bosmans's String Quartet, a piece from a time when in-home concerts were a matter of necessity for artists whose work had to be kept undercover.

1:59:00
Emilie Mayer

Emilie Mayer

On today's show, we explore the fascinating career of German composer Emilie Mayer. Join us at a concert in Houston for a ROCO performance of Mayer's Symphony No. 4, a piece she composed in 1850 that was only recently reconstructed by German composer and arranger Andreas Tarkmann.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Leila Josefowicz

PT Weekend: Leila Josefowicz

Violinist Leila Josefowicz has built a career exploring less conventional music; she is well known for performing works by 21st-century composers. She also connects with Igor Stravinsky's music because he was interested in exploring unexpected sounds. Today, we take you to a recent concert in Berlin to hear Leila Josefowicz perform Stravinsky's Violin Concerto with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Roderick Cox.

1:59:00
Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo's Fire

Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo's Fire

Jeannette Sorrell founded the early music group Apollo's Fire back in 1992... and that fire is still burning hot. We'll hear Apollo's Fire at a concert in Cleveland on this episode of Performance Today.

1:59:00
Damien Geter: String Quartet No. 1 "Neo-Soul"

Damien Geter: String Quartet No. 1 "Neo-Soul"

Composer Damien Geter spent much of the pandemic reliving his love of 90s neo-soul. He says the music of Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill helped him get through. As a classical composer, he wanted to write his own music in homage to neo-soul. On today's show, we'll hear what he came up with: "Neo-Soul," the String Quartet No. 1 by Damien Geter.

1:59:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES

About Performance Today®

To find a station near you on our Stations Listings page, click here.

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.

Hosted by Valerie Kahler, 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.

How do I leave a comment?

Send us a comment here.

About Performance Today®
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00