In the spring of 1968, conductor Paul Freeman ran into Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Atlanta airport. Their brief conversation was one he never forgot. On this episode of Performance Today, hear about that life-changing encounter in our musical celebration of Dr. King's life and legacy.
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
Thomas Dorsey: Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Mahalia Jackson, vocals; Mildred Falls, piano; Ralph Jones, organ
Bless This House
Columbia Records 889
Adolphus Hailstork: Epitaph for a Man Who Dreamed: In Memoriam: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Chicago Sinfonietta; Paul Freeman, conductor
African Heritage Symphonic Series, Vol. 2
Cedille 61
Marcelo Zarvos: String Quartet Nepomuk's Dances
Apollo Chamber Players
Apollo Chamber Players, Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH), Houston, TX
Duke Ellington: Three Black Kings - Ballet
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Duke Ellington: Black, Brown, and Beige
Naxos 559737
Hour 2
Carl Boberg and Stuart K. Hine (arr. Kenneth Thompkins): How Great Thou Art
Kenneth Thompkins, trombone; Velda Kelly and Laura Roelofs, violins; Romona Merritt, viola; Nadine Deleury, cello
Sonatas, Songs and Spirituals
Kenneth Thompkins NA
Charles Albert Tindley: We Shall Overcome
Mark O'Connor, violin
American Classics
OMAC 17
Maurice Ravel: Valses nobles et sentimentales
Los Angeles Philharmonic; Lionel Bringuier, conductor
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 "Waldstein"
Olga Kern, piano
Virginia Arts Festival, TCC Roper Performing Arts Center, Norfolk, VA
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.