Poster Pianist Liza Stepanova
Pianist Liza Stepanova
Photo by Jamie Jung, courtesy of artist
Performance Today®

Liza Stepanova

When pianist Liza Stepanova was a girl, she loved going to art museums where she felt creatively inspired. These days, she often plays music with connections to visual art. On Monday's Performance Today, Liza Stepanova plays music by Debussy, inspired by Japanese artwork.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Toccata Marziale
Eastman Wind Ensemble; Donald Hunsberger, conductor
Eastman Wind Ensemble: Husa, Copland, Vaughan Williams
Sony 44916

Claude Debussy: Poissons d'or from Images, Book II
Liza Stepanova, piano
Hugh Hodgson School of Music and University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, Ramsey Concert Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C, K. 551
Houston Symphony; Matthew Halls, conductor
Houston Symphony, Jones Hall, Houston, TX

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves
Ji-Won Song, Max Yiming Mao, Kenneth Naito, Noelle Naito, violins; Molly Wise, viola; Noemie Raymond-Friset, cello
University of Maryland Baltimore County Fine & Performing Arts Department, Linehan Concert Hall, Baltimore, MD

Hour 2

Miklos Rozsa: El Cid: Love Theme
Daniel Hope, violin; Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra; Alexander Shelley, conductor
Escape to Paradise: The Hollywood Album
DG 4792954

Joseph Haydn: Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Hob. VIIb/1
Sol Gabetta, cello; Houston Symphony; John Storgards, conductor
Houston Symphony, Jones Hall, Houston, TX

Franz Schubert: Quartettsatz, D. 703
Modigliani String Quartet: Philippe Bernhard, violin; Loic Rio, violin; Laurent Marfaing, viola; François Kieffer, cello
Union College Concert Series, Union College Memorial Chapel, Schenectady, NY

Miklos Rozsa: Toccata Capriccio for cello, Op. 36
Oliver Herbert, cello
Field Concert Hall, Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, PA

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

PT Young Artist David Lai plays the Piano Puzzler

PT Young Artist David Lai plays the Piano Puzzler

PT Young Artist David Lai is a devoted fan of our weekly game, the Piano Puzzler. He submits his guesses every week and has even written Piano Puzzler-style pieces of his own. On today’s program, pianist David Lai joins Bruce Adolphe (in person!) at our St. Paul studio to see if he can guess this week's Piano Puzzler.

Inon Barnatan and Summerfest La Jolla

Inon Barnatan and Summerfest La Jolla

Pianist Inon Barnatan keeps busy as a musician, playing on the most prestigious stages around the world. He's also the Music Director of Summerfest La Jolla in California. On today's show, we'll hear a stunning performance at a stunning location—Inon Barnatan and violinist Augustin Hadelich play a piece by Camille Saint-Saens at Summerfest La Jolla.

1:59:00
Composer Viet Cuong

Composer Viet Cuong

In 2022, composer Viet Cuong found himself at his father's bedside in the ICU. He played some of his compositions—music he knew his father loved—and hoped that the sound, or "sine waves," would reach his father's consciousness. Cuong realized that his love for his father and his passion for music were inseparable. Join us for a concert at the University of Georgia to hear “Vital Sines” by Viet Cuong.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Meet Victor Ni

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We're pleased to introduce you to clarinetist Victor Ni, our next 2025 PT Young Artists in Residence. On today's program, Victor joins Fred Child for music and conversation in our Saint Paul studio. Plus, Bruce Adolphe joins us for this week’s Piano Puzzler.

1:59:00
Augustin Hadelich and the St Louis Symphony

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1:59:00
Julio Medaglia

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Composer Julio Medaglia was born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1938. He studied conducting in Germany for ten years before returning to Brazil to conduct and compose. For 30 years, he hosted a daily radio show in São Paulo that sounded similar to PT, combining concert highlights and contemporary music. On today's show, we'll hear the Imani Winds play Julio Medaglia's 'Belle Epoque en Sud-America,’ including a really fun movement named "Crazy Baby Clarinette!"

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Young Artist in Residence: Victor Ni

Young Artist in Residence: Victor Ni

Clarinetist Victor Ni is the next of our 2025 cohort of PT Young Artists in Residence. Victor recently joined Fred Child in our St. Paul studio. You can hear Victor’s music and the entire interview here.

42:34
Victor Ni

Victor Ni

We're pleased to introduce you to clarinetist Victor Ni, our next 2025 PT Young Artists in Residence. On today's program, Victor joins Fred Child for music and conversation in our Saint Paul studio.

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Bringing fractals to life

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Composer Jessie Montgomery found inspiration in nature's infinitely repeating patterns: fractals. Her fascination with these natural wonders led her to write a captivating new piece that brings fractals to life through sound. On today's show, we'll hear "Rounds" by Jessie Montgomery, a musical exploration of nature's boundless beauty.

1:59:00
The Poiesis Quartet

The Poiesis Quartet

The Poiesis Quartet was founded in the fall of 2022 at Oberlin Conservatory. Its name comes from an ancient Greek word meaning “to make"—specifically, to create something that has never been made before. One of the quartet's violinists is our former Young Artist in Residence, Sarah Ma. On today's program, we'll take you to a concert in San Antonio to hear what Ma and their quartet have been up to lately.

1:59:00
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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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