Performance Today for Thursday, May 10, 2007

Nikolai Kapustin’s compositions are full of joyful syncopations, and some listeners called him a jazz pianist. But, Kapustin emphasized that he was a classically trained composer who just happened to love jazz. We’ll hear Kapustin’s music at the intersection of classical and jazz on today’s show.

Violinist Maria Dueñas is a university student, but she already has a global following and is selling out concert halls worldwide. Gustavo Dudamel says: "She has the magic... an artistic soul. She is fire." We’ll hear Maria Dueñas play a concerto by Max Bruch on today’s show.

The Aznavoorian sisters gave their first concert at a local church when cellist Ani was four and pianist Marta was eight. Ani and Marta have each grown up to have successful careers, and now, they're sharing a stage again. Join us to hear sisters Ani and Marta Aznavoorian play at a concert presented by the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida.

Nikolai Kapustin’s compositions are full of joyful syncopations, and some listeners called him a jazz pianist. But, Kapustin emphasized that he was a classically trained composer who just happened to love jazz. We’ll hear Kapustin’s music at the intersection of classical and jazz on today’s show.

Composer Michael Abels wrote a piece specifically for brothers Anthony and Demarre McGill. It's cooperative and competitive, as well as delicate and powerful at the same time. On today's show, hear the McGill brothers perform Winged Creatures by Michael Abels.

On today's show, hear a piece that conductor Jessica Horsley describes as "...the sort of music that just makes everything alright in the world. It heals all wounds…" It’s the Symphony No. 2 by Ruth Gipps.

Dante's Divine Comedy takes us through hell, purgatory, and paradise. Composer Richard Danielpour says he sees a metaphor for the recent pandemic in that, and he wrote a new symphony reflecting on those themes. The ensemble ROCO plays Danielpour's Triptych on this weekend's episode of Performance Today.

El Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a time to joyfully remember family and friends who've passed away. Because death is always present, life is worth living to the fullest. Today, we’re celebrating life... on the Day of the Dead.

Winning a music competition often means winning cash prizes and publicity galore. Pianist Alim Beisembayev also won the chance to perform the world premiere of a new piece. He'll play a brand piano concerto by Eleanor Alberga on today's show.

Every week on our Piano Puzzler, composer Bruce Adolphe re-writes a familiar tune in the style of a great composer. One of our listeners calls in and tries to guess the tune and the composer whose style Bruce is mimicking. Tune in and play along with our weekly musical game: the Piano Puzzler.