Indian-American composer Reena Esmail works between the worlds of Indian and Western classical music. In 2017, Esmail drew inspiration from the words of Rumi, a 13th-century Sufi poet: "Religions are many, but God is one. The lamps may be different, but the light is the same." On today's episode, we'll take you to a concert at the University of Georgia to hear the Imani Winds play Reena Esmail's 'The Light is the Same.'
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
Reena Esmail: Varsha (Rain)
Claire Bryant, cello
Album: Whole Heart
Bright Shiny Things 178
Kaija Saariaho: Aile du Songe Concerto for Flute and Orchestra
Lorna McGhee, flute | Minnesota Orchestra | Osmo Vanska, conductor
Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, MN
Piano Puzzler
Eric Ebbenga from New York City, NY
Reena Esmail: The Light is the Same
Imani Winds
University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Athens, GA
Hour 2
Duke Ellington: Black Beauty
Elmira Darvarova, violin | Howard Wall, horn
Album: Music from Five Centuries
Affetto Recordings 1902
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Overture to Don Giovanni
Apollo's Fire | Jeannette Sorrell, conductor
Apollo's Fire, Severance Music Center, Mandel Concert Hall, Cleveland, OH
Enrique Granados: Goyescas, Op. 11: Movement 1 Los requiebros
Angie Zhang, piano
American Pianists Awards 2025 Sneak Preview, Steinway Hall, NY
Grazyna Bacewicz: Piano Quintet No. 1 Movement 1 Moderato molto espressivo
David Fung, piano | Verona Quartet
Lillian & Robert Utsey Chamber Music Series 36th Season, Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Duke Ellington: Cotton Club Stomp (encore)
Verona Quartet
Lillian & Robert Utsey Chamber Music Series 36th Season, Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
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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.
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