Today, the country celebrates the inauguration of the nation's 44th president, Barack Obama. We'll have two hours of inauguration-related music, including early-American political songs from Baltimore, and a performance of Copland's "Lincoln Portrait," with the Atlanta Symphony and narrator Andrew Young. Plus, we'll feature several of the performers scheduled to play at today's inauguration ceremony.
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
Erich Korngold: "King's Row"
The National Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Charles Gerhardt
John Philip Sousa: "Semper Fidelis"
The United States Marine Band with conductor John Sousa
John Stafford Smith: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
The Cleveland Orchestra with conductor Franz Welser-Most
Arsht Center, Miami
Anonymous: "The Boston March"
Boston Camerata with conductor Joel Cohen
Baltimore
Traditional: "Liberty Tree,""Jefferson and Liberty," and "Saw ye my Hero George"
Boston Camerata with conductor Joel Cohen
Baltimore
Traditional: "The Blessings of Peace"
Boston Camerata with conductor Joel Cohen
Mandel Hall, Chicago
John Adams: "The Chairman Dances"
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales with conductor Mark Elder
Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Aaron Copland: "Lincoln Portrait"
Andrew Young, narrator, with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and conductor Chelsea Tipton
Martin Luther King, Jr. Chapel, Atlanta
Prince Leleiohoku: "Nani Wale Lihu'e"
The Rose Ensemble
Hour 2
Morton Gould: "American Salute"
The Boston Pops Orchestra with conductor John Williams
Steve Laven: "Beyond the Odyssey"
The River Oaks Chamber Orchestra with conductor Tanya Ratner
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Houston
John Gay: "The Turtle Thus the Plaintive Crying," from "The Beggar's Opera"
Soprano Sharon Baker and harpsichordist John Gibbons
Aston Magna Festival, Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Francesco Geminiani: Andante Moderato, from "The Art of Playing the Violin"
Violinist Daniel Stepner and harpsichordist John Gibbons
Aston Magna Festival, Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Peter Tchaikovsky and Gabriela Montero: Improvisation on a Theme from "Swan Lake"
Pianist Gabriela Montero
Royal Castle, Warsaw, Poland
Robert Schumann: "Rasch und mit Feuer" from "Phantasiestucke," Op. 73
Clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Derek Han
Music@Menlo, Palo Alto, California
John Williams: "An American Journey"
The Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles with conductor John Williams
Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, California
Love the music?
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.
Your Donation
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.









