Performance Today®

On today's show, we'll hear from a major piece that begins in darkness and despair and ends in delirious joy: The Symphony No. 5 by Gustav Mahler.

Cellist Seth Parker Woods is sharing music and stories of people who have long been overlooked. Seth Parker Woods on choosing projects to uplift other voices, on the next Performance Today, from APM.

The Serra Chapel in Shandon, California, is one of the venues for the annual Festival Mozaic, based in nearby San Luis Obispo. On summer evenings, concerts take place at the chapel, which offers seating inside and out—it's just one of the idyllic settings that make up Festival Mozaic. On today's show, we'll take you to Serra Chapel to hear a flute concerto by Vivaldi, with Alice K. Dade playing the flute alongside the Festival Mozaic Baroque Ensemble.

Pianist Jonathan Biss is our special guest this hour. For years, Biss suffered from debilitating performance anxiety and chose to hide it. But he's had a change of heart. He says that honesty is an absolute priority as an artist. His goal is to pull back the curtain on living as a musician with anxiety. Join us today for music and conversation with Jonathan Biss.

Pianist Jonathan Biss is our special guest this hour. For years, Biss suffered from debilitating performance anxiety and chose to hide it. But he's had a change of heart. He says that honesty is an absolute priority as an artist. His goal is to pull back the curtain on living as a musician with anxiety. Join us today for music and conversation with Jonathan Biss.

Composer Miguel del Aguila imagined a meeting between two characters: one is Justice, the blindfolded woman holding scales and a sword, and the other is Law, the man holding a book and gavel. We'll hear Imani Winds play the world premiere of Miguel del Aguila's 'Blindfold Music' on today's show.

A czardas is a Hungarian folk dance. Traditionally, it has a slow, dignified section that bubbles over into a speedy portion with intricate footwork. On this episode of Performance Today, we'll hear Vittorio Monti's Czardas played by an unexpected instrument.

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.

A colorful bird sings high in a tree. Suddenly, it takes off and flies in chaotic circles, running into nearby trees. The bird exhausts itself and falls asleep. That's the story of a piece called Alma by Tania Leon—and we'll hear it on today's show!