The Dance of the Violin

Composer Bohuslav Martinu spent his childhood in a bell tower, where his father was the keeper. Looking back, he said he saw "everything in miniature, and above it all a great, boundless space... it is this space that I am forever seeking in my music." On today's show, we'll take you to a concert in Switzerland to hear Marinu's Cello Concerto No. 1.

French composer Maurice Ravel wrote so much wonderful music, but only once did he write a piece for two violins, viola, and cello. We don’t need to call it Quartet No. 1 by Ravel... it's the ONLY String Quartet by Ravel. Join us today—we'll take you to a concert in Portland, Oregon, to hear the Catalyst Quartet play the String Quartet by Maurice Ravel.

In the Spring of 2020, the pandemic was brand-new, isolating, and scary. American composer Jessie Montgomery wrote a short composition called Peace… and when Clarinetist Anthony McGill first heard it, he was moved to tears. On today's show, Anthony McGill and pianist Conrad Tao play music about coming to terms with sadness: Peace by Jessie Montgomery.

In many Asian cultures, a colorful festival marks the final day of Lunar New Year celebrations. People light lanterns, let go of the past and welcome new beginnings. On today’s show, we'll celebrate this time of reconciliation: the Lantern Festival.

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.

Pianist Lara Downes's passion for sharing the music of underrepresented composers goes beyond performing onstage. She's also been hard at work making this previously overlooked music accessible for other musicians to play. On today's show, Lara Downes plays Harry T. Burleigh's "From the Southland" at a concert in Brevard, North Carolina.

Make your nominations now for the 2025 Classical Woman of the Year, awarded by Performance Today. Voting closes Feb. 28.

Conductor Vladimir Jurowski was born and raised in the Soviet Union. He's now a citizen of Germany and an outspoken critic of Russia. He sees being political as a necessary part of an artist's life. We'll hear Vladimir Jurowski lead a concert with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra on today's show.

American composer Paul Wiancko wrote a piece named LIFT, his "ode to joy...a journey of the soul." On this episode of Performance Today, hear the Aeolus Quartet give an inspired performance of LIFT by Paul Wiancko.

At age 25, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason holds a multi-year residency at one of the world's biggest music festivals. He's the "artiste etoile"—literally "the star artist"—at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland. Hear Sheku Kanneh-Mason in Lucerne on this episode of Performance Today.