Poster JoAnn Falletta
JoAnn Falletta
Courtesy of the artist
Performance Today®

Can't find the path? Make one.

JoAnn Falletta grew up playing classical guitar, but what she really wanted to do was conduct orchestras. There wasn't a path for a female conductor to follow... so Falletta paved a path of her own and is now a respected conductor around the world. On today's show, JoAnn Falletta conducts the Buffalo Philharmonic in a concert performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

George Frideric Handel: Giulio Cesare: V'adoro, pupille (I adore you, dear eyes)
Eugenia Zukerman, flute; Dennis Helmrich, piano
Aria
Delos 3209

Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73 (Selected Movements)
Gateways Music Festival Orchestra; Michael Morgan, conductor
Gateways Music Festival, Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

Piano Puzzler: Contestant is Alex Strong from Bloomington, IN

Marin Marais: Les Folias d'Espagne
Cavatina Duo: Eugenia Moliner, flute; Denis Azabagic, guitar
San Antonio Chamber Music Society, Temple Beth-El San Antonio, TX

Hour 2

Camilla de Rossi: Sinfonia from "Il Sacrifizio di Abramo" Movements 1 & 4
JoAnn Falletta, lute; Bay Area Women's Philharmonic; Jo Ann Falletta, conductor
Baroquen Treasures
Newport 60102

Maurice Ravel: Piece en forma de Habanera, M.51
Brandon Ridenour, trumpet; Cory Smythe, piano
Beaches fine Arts Series, St. Paul's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Jacksonville, FL

Antonin Dvorak: Terzetto for two violins and viola in C major, Op. 74
Axel Strauss, Violaine Melancon, violins; Masumi Per Rostad, viola
Music in the Vineyards Festival, The Hess Collection (winery and art museum), Napa, CA

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467 (select movements)
Adam Golka, piano; The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY

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: Ana María Patiño-Osorio

PT Weekend: Ana María Patiño-Osorio

Ana María Patiño-Osorio grew up on a small farm in Colombia. As a kid, she took her grandma's knitting needles, turned up Brahms, and dreamed of a future with herself on the podium. Now, Patiño-Osorio has a real baton in hand. On today’s show, Patiño-Osorio leads the RAI National Symphony Orchestra in a performance of José Moncayo’s “Huapango.”

1:59:00
William Grant Still: Three Visions

William Grant Still: Three Visions

In 1935, William Grant Still wrote a musical picture of the journey of a human spirit after death. It's a piano suite titled Three Visions. On today's show, we'll hear pianist Andrew Armstrong play Still's suite at a concert presented by the Seattle Chamber Music Society.

1:59:00
Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

It's a fresh new year... and what better way to celebrate than by concert-hopping around the world? We'll waltz on the wings of a phoenix in Vienna and listen to a chorus of birds during an outdoor concert in Houston. Let's ring in 2026 with a musical celebration!

1:59:00
Osvaldo Golijov: Arum Dem Fayer

Osvaldo Golijov: Arum Dem Fayer

There's an old Yiddish song called 'Arum Dem Fayer.' It's about the joy of gathering around a fire to sing and dance, and, even if the fire goes out, the stars will be there for light. Composer Osvaldo Golijov used that tune in a new piece he wrote in memory of a friend who loved to sing.  We'll hear the ensemble A Far Cry play Golijov's 'Arum Dem Fayer' on today's show.

1:59:00
Ana María Patiño-Osorio

Ana María Patiño-Osorio

Ana María Patiño-Osorio grew up on a small farm in Colombia. As a kid, she took her grandma's knitting needles, turned up Brahms, and dreamed of a future with herself on the podium. Now, Patiño-Osorio has a real baton in hand. On today’s show, Patiño-Osorio leads the RAI National Symphony Orchestra in a performance of José Moncayo’s “Huapango.”

1:59:00
Geneva and Nathan Lewis

Geneva and Nathan Lewis

As talented young kids, siblings Geneva Lewis and Nathan Lewis were part of a successful family trio. They’re all grown up now, each at the top of their careers, and they still find time to make music together. In today’s episode, Geneva and Nathan Lewis perform a duet by Edward Elgar at a concert in Athens, Georgia.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Umoja

PT Weekend: Umoja

'Umoja' is a Swahili word meaning unity and maintaining connection to family and community. And Umoja takes on special meaning this time of year, as one of the seven guiding principles of Kwanzaa. On today's show, we'll hear Valerie Coleman's "Umoja, Anthem of Unity."

1:59:00
Happy Kwanzaa!

Happy Kwanzaa!

'Umoja' is a Swahili word meaning unity and maintaining connection to family and community. And Umoja takes on special meaning this time of year, as one of the seven guiding principles of Kwanzaa. On today's show, we'll hear Valerie Coleman's "Umoja, Anthem of Unity."

1:59:00
Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

For Christmas Day, we're playing some of the best holiday music...you might even find yourself joining the chorus. Tune in for Christmas and holiday music from concerts around the world. Happy Holidays from all of us at Performance Today!

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