Performance Today®

When violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley was a kid, his family Hanukkah included lots of latkes and lots of klezmer. On today's show, Noah Bendix-Balgley shares memories and music for Hanukkah, and tells us who makes the best latkes in the world.

23 year-old Jess Gillam is the youngest radio host to be on BBC Radio 3. She's the first saxophonist to sign with Decca Classics, and when you hear her play, you'll understand what the hype is all about. On today's show, hear saxophonist Jess Gillam give a riveting performance in Hanover, Germany.

Composer Gilad Cohen grew up in Israel listening to Pink Floyd. He also played classical piano, and when he moved to the United States, he heard klezmer music in synagogue for the first time.  On today's show, hear members of Musici Ireland play a piece that combines each of those styles: "A Trio for Spry Clarinet, Weeping Cello, and Ruminating Harp" by Gilad Cohen.

On this Thanksgiving holiday, we're thankful for being able to share music with you. Whether you're gathering with a few loved ones, or are settling in for a quiet weekend of solitude, we've got a cozy Thanksgiving soundtrack to share with you. Join us for nourishing music and reflections on gratitude.

23 year-old Jess Gillam is the youngest radio host to be on BBC Radio 3. She's the first saxophonist to sign with Decca Classics, and when you hear her play, you'll understand what the hype is all about. On today's show, hear saxophonist Jess Gillam give a riveting performance in Hanover, Germany.

Harpist Emmanuel Ceysson says he needs to forget all of the harp cliches when he plays the Harp Concerto by Alberto Ginastera. He and his harp need to sound strong and aggressive in order to project from the orchestra. Hear Ceysson play the Ginastera Harp Concerto with the Prague Philharmonia, from a concert at Dvorak Hall in Prague.

In 2019, there was a ceremony in Iceland to memorialize the Ok glacier that had melted away. A humble copper plaque was installed in its former spot, and composer Marcus Maroney wrote a piece inspired by the inscription on that plaque. On today's show, ROCO performs Marcus Maroney's ‘OK, Goodbye’, from a concert in Houston.

Anthony Barfield wrote a piece with thoughts about the Big Bang, the idea that the universe expanded from a single point, almost 14 billion years ago. On today's show, join us for music that contemplates space, matter, and energy: Red Sky, by Anthony Barfield. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week’s piano puzzler!

Duke Ellington was already a jazz legend when he introduced a new symphonic suite at Carnegie Hall in 1943. On today's episode, hear the Black, Brown, and Beige Suite, by Duke Ellington, from a recent concert in Turin, Italy.