Poster Benjamin Britten
Composer Benjamin Britten in a 1968 publicity photo for London Records.
London Records
Performance Today®

Benjamin Britten's guide to the orchestra

In 1945, Benjamin Britten wrote a piece of music as a way to introduce young people to the orchestra. Well, it turns out Britten created something for music lovers of all ages. On today's show, join us for a Grand Teton Music Festival performance of "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" by Benjamin Britten.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Peter Tchaikovsky: 6 Morceaux, Op. 19, TH 133 No. 4 Nocturne in C
Johannes Moser, cello; L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; Andrew Manze, conductor
Elgar & Tchaikovsky: Cello Works
PentaTone 5186570

John Adams: Road Movies for Violin and Piano
Chad Hoopes, violin; Gloria Chien, piano
Music@Menlo, The Center for Performing Arts at Menlo-Atherton, Atherton CA

Peter Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, "Pathetique" (Select Mvt 1 only)
Oregon Symphony; Carlos Kalmar, conductor
Oregon Symphony, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR

Rafael Bullumba Landestoy: Fantasia Dominicana Parts 1 and 2
Martin Soderberg, piano
Piano Music of Rafael Landestoy
Martin Soderberg NA

Hour 2

Elliott Carter: Elegy for cello and piano
Joshua Roman, cello; Gilles Vonsattel, piano
Baruch Performing Arts Center at Baruch College, Engelman Recital Hall, New York, NY

Benjamin Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34
Erin Roy, Narrator; Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra; Donald Runnicles, conductor
Grand Teton Music Festival, Walk Festival Hall, Jackson Hole, WY

Paul Wiancko: When the Night for Cello Quartet
Joshua Roman, Paul Wiancko, Christopher Costanza, Nina Lee, cellos
Chamber Music from Spoleto Festival USA 2019; South Carolina Public Radio, Dock Street Theater, Charleston, SC

Franz Liszt: Dante Sonata
William Wolfram, piano
Colorado College Summer Music Festival, Cornerstone Arts Center, Colorado Springs, CO

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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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