Performance Today®

The Power of Words and Music

According to Greek Mythology, Orpheus was the first poet-musician, combining the two art forms into something more powerful than either alone could achieve. Franz Liszt loved the myth of Orpheus. On today's show, we'll hear his tone poem, "Orpheus," and hear the words Liszt wrote about him. And another, more modern, musician-writer appears on the show. Noted blogger and pianist Jeremy Denk performs with violinist Ani Kavafian and cellist Gary Hoffman, in a New York City performance of Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 2.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Franz Waxman: Suite from "Sunset Boulevard"
The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra with conductor Erich Kunzel

Erik Satie: Gymnopedie No. 1 and "La Diva de l'Empire"
Guitarist Pierre Laniau
Municipal House, Karvina, Czech Republic

Perfchat with Brooklyn Rider

Colin Jacobsen: "Lydia's Reflection" and "Second Bounce," from "Achilles Heel"
Brooklyn Rider with violinist Martin Hayes
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul

Traditional (arranged by Colin Jacobsen and Kyle Sanna): "O'Neil's March" and "Jenny's Welcome to Charlie"
Brooklyn Rider with violinist Martin Hayes
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, St. Paul

Franz Waxman: Carmen Fantasy
Violinist Eldbjorg Hemsing with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and conductor Alan Buribayev
Concert Hall, Stavanger, Norway

Hour 2

Franz Liszt: "Forest Murmurs"
Pianist William Wolfram

Henry VIII: "Taunder Naken,""Puzzle Canon," and "En Vray Amoure"
The Flanders Recorder Quartet
Boston Early Music Festival, Boston

Felix Mendelssohn: Trio No. 2 in C Minor for Piano, Violin and Cello, Op. 66
Pianist Jeremy Denk, violinist Ani Kavafian, and cellist Gary Hoffman
Alice Tully Hall, New York City

Franz Liszt: Symphonic Poem No. 4 ("Orpheus")
The Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic with conductor John Nelson
The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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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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