Performance Today®

A-sharp and B-flat are different spellings of the same note; they're called enharmonics. But Baroque composer Giovanni Valentini viewed those notes as completely different pitches, with different functions in music. On today's show, hear an explanation of Valentini's concept, in words and music, from a concert in Charleston, South Carolina.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is underway in India and in communities around the world. It's a time to celebrate the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance. On today's episode, we'll celebrate Diwali with music by Indian-American composer Reena Esmail.

Composer Elena Ruehr wrote a string quartet with thoughts of an abbey high above the Rhine River...and a composer who lived and worked there 900 years ago. On today's show, hear Elena Ruehr's 21st century music, inspired by the 12th century composer Hildegard von Bingen.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is underway in India and in communities around the world. It's a time to celebrate the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance. On today's episode, we'll celebrate Diwali with music by Indian-American composer Reena Esmail.

Tippet Rise is an art center located on a working ranch near Fishtail, Montana. The center incorporates musical performance venues along with large-scale art installations. It's a peaceful and inspiring destination. On today's show, we'll hear music performed next to one of the massive sculptures under the big Montana sky at Tippet Rise.

Composer Richard Danielpour recently wrote a piece in honor of those affected by the pandemic. On today's show, pianist Simone Dinnerstein plays from Richard Danielpour’s ‘An American Mosaic’.

Death himself saunters into a graveyard at midnight and plays his fiddle. The clattering bones of dancing skeletons accompany his diabolical tune until the morning rooster scares them all away. On today's show, we'll hear a supernatural take on the Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens.

Carolina Eyck started playing the theremin when she was seven. Her first audience...was a collection of stuffed animals at her home in Berlin. Now she's considered one of the finest players of the theremin in the world. On today's show, hear Carolina Eyck and the Apollo Chamber Players perform Bohuslav Martinu's Fantasia for theremin, oboe, string quartet and piano.

When Richard White was a young boy, he was homeless, living on the streets of Baltimore. At the age of four, he was adopted, and discovered the joy of making music in middle school. He went on to become the first African-American to earn a Doctorate of music in tuba performance, and is Principal Tuba in two American orchestras. On today's episode, hear the inspiring story and music of Dr. Richard White.