Poster A man in a red/orange suit
Carlos Simon - composer, curator and activist
Photo: Kendall Bessent
Performance Today®

Where Carlos Simon finds inspiration

Carlos Simon is a contemporary American composer known for blending classical music with influences of jazz, gospel, and neo-romanticism. We’ll hear some of Simon’s music on today's show, including his arrangement of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Ralph Blane/Hugh Martin: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Cantus
Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA

Victor Hely-Hutchinson: A Carol Symphony
City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Gavin Sutherland, conductor
Album: HELY-HUTCHINSON: Carol Symphony / STANDFORD / KELLY
Naxos 557099

Anonymous, arr. Richard Stone: Magnificat in G minor
Tempesta di Mare
Tempesta di Mare Philadelphia Concert Series, Episcopal Cathedral, Philadelphia, PA

Traditional Spiritual arr. Joseph Jennings: Christmas Spiritual Medley
Chicago a cappella
Nichols Concert Hall, Evanston, IL

Morten Lauridsen: Sure on This Shining Night
Chor Leoni Men's Chorus | Erick Lichte, conductor
Album: Wandering Heart
CLR 1611

Hour 2

Erich Korngold: The Snowman: Prelude and Serenade
Michael Ludwig, violin | The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra | JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Album: Holiday Classical Favorites
Buffalo Philharmonic 266

Johann Sebastian Bach: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Part 1 No. 1 Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset dir Tage!
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra | The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus | JoAnn Falletta, conductor
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY

Astor Piazzolla, arr. Leonid Desyatnikov: Four Seasons of Buenos Aires: Mvt. 3 Winter
Tessa Lark, violin | The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra | JoAnn Falletta, conductor
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY

Franz Liszt, arr. Gordon Jacob and Philip Lane: Weihnachtsbaum (selections)
RTE Concert Orchestra | Gavin Sutherland, conductor
Album: Another Night Before Christmas
Naxos 8572744

Angela Morley: Snowride
RTE Concert Orchestra | Gavin Sutherland, conductor
Album: Another Night Before Christmas
Naxos 8572744

Carlos Simon: Be Still and Know for piano trio
Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin | Peter Stumpf, cello | Gilles Vonsattel, piano
Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, Bridgehampton, NY

Irving Berlin, arr. Carlos Simon: White Christmas
Carlos Simon, piano
Album: Carlos Simon Christmas (EP)
Decca 28948547814

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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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