It was 250 years ago today that the great Baroque composer, George Frideric Handel, died. He was born a German, but lived and worked in England for most of his professional life. Much of the world is observing the day today, and celebrating the life and works of Handel. Today's show features some of his greatest music, from concerts all across the country.
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
Carl Nielsen: "Maskarade"
The Swedish Radio Symphony with conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen
George Frideric Handel: Sinfonia in E Minor from "Messiah," HWV 56
The Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra and Academic Chorus with conductor Horia Andreescu
Radio Hall, Bucharest, Romania
Traditional (Arranged by Pavel Fischer and Radim Sedmidubsky): "Moravian Folk Tunes"
The Skampa String Quartet
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul, Minnesota
Bedrich Smetana: "Hulan" ("The Lancer"), from Czech Dances, Book 2
Pianist Garrick Ohlsson
Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Denver
Richard Strauss: "Metamorphosen"
The Los Angeles Philharmonic with conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
Hour 2
Felix Mendelssohn: Scherzo from "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra with conductor Bobby McFerrin
George Frideric George Frideric: "Entrance of the Queen of Sheba," from "Solomon"
The Cleveland Orchestra with conductor Nicholas McGegan
Severance Hall, Cleveland
George Frideric Handel: "Gia l'Ebro Mio Ciglio," from "Orlando"
Countertenor David Daniels and pianist Martin Katz
Spivey Hall, Morrow, Georgia
George Frideric Handel: Two movements from Suite No. 2 in F
Pianist Garrick Ohlsson
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul, Minnesota
George Frideric Handel: Passacaglia
Violinist James Ehnes and cellist Robert deMaine
Seattle Chamber Music Society Summer Festival, Seattle
Antonio V. d'Almeida: Fantasy, Op. 70
Guitarist Julio Guerreiro
Belem Cultural Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
Bela Kovacs: "To Bach," from Two Hommages for Solo Clarinet
Clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester
Occidental Community Church, Occidental, California
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in G, Op. 6, No. 1
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra with conductor Nicholas McGegan
Ordway Center, St. Paul, Minnesota
George Frideric Handel: Third movement from Concerto for Harp in B-flat, HWV 294
Harpist Mollie Marcuson with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra and conductor JoAnn Falletta
The Church of St. John the Divine, Houston
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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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