Performance Today®

Maria Newman was born into a family of famous, formidable composers. She was so intimidated when she was growing up she gave up composition altogether. In the end, though, she had music inside her that just had to come out. On today's show, learn about how Maria Newman stepped into her own as a composer, and hear her Sonata for Solo Guitar 'Storgé' performed by guitarist Nicholas Goluses.

The final movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 6 is epic. Thirty minutes of emotional energy that bursts with dramatic tension, culminating in three powerful hammer blows. On today's show, we'll hear the Boston Symphony perform it in concert, Andris Nelsons conducting.

Kenji Bunch gave one of his recent compositions a rather unusual title. Join us today to hear this piece and the story behind that title: 'The 3 Gs' by Kenji Bunch.

As a church organist, the young Charles Ives didn't really want to play the same hymns in the same old way. He played around some edgy harmonies and overlapping tunes, much to the shock of the congregation. The pastor had an opinion too. On today's show, hear about Charles Ives and his creative liberties, and hear the Escher String Quartet perform Ives's ‘String Quartet No. 1’ at a concert at Lincoln Center.

The Silk Road carried trade goods between Europe and China, but it also carried culture and ideas. Join us today and hear music inspired by the Silk Road by Zhao Jiping from a concert in Guiyang, China.

We don't toss the word "virtuoso" around casually, but in some cases, it clearly applies. On today's episode, join us for a virtuosic performance by Alexander Gavrylyuk - who, by the way, would like to redefine what we mean by the word 'virtuoso.'

As a church organist, the young Charles Ives didn't really want to play the same hymns in the same old way. He played around some edgy harmonies and overlapping tunes, much to the shock of the congregation. The pastor had an opinion too. On today's show, hear about Charles Ives and his creative liberties, and hear the Escher String Quartet perform Ives's ‘String Quartet No. 1’ at a concert at Lincoln Center.

It's the beginning of the New Year in much of Asia. More than a billion people are ushering in the Year of the Tiger with food and family celebrations. Join us for music that celebrates the Lunar New Year.

In his later years, Gioachino Rossini scribbled notes on his old manuscripts, and on one piece, he wrote, "Six terrible sonatas composed  by me at a most youthful age..." On this edition of Performance Today, hear one of those "terrible" sonatas—which isn't terrible—composed by Rossini when he was 12 years old.