Performance Today®

Natalia Koussevitzky was passionate about the arts and music. When she died, her husband, composer and conductor Serge Koussevitzky, established a foundation in her name...and asked a friend to write music in her honor. On today's show, hear Igor Stravinsky's "Ode" to Natalia Koussevitzky, from a recent concert in Berlin.

Italian composer Nino Rota is best known for the soundtracks he composed for more than 170 films...but, he also wrote operas, ballets, choral music. On today's show, hear a piece that Nino Rota wrote in 1943, before he became really famous for his film scores.

86-year-old pianist Gilbert Kalish has been staying busy during the pandemic, playing online concerts, and reflecting on what he calls a "history of a lifetime." Join us for music by Brahms, with thoughts on the meaning of life, from Gilbert Kalish, on this episode of Performance Today.

Violist Beth McNinch used to like jumping out of planes and scuba diving. Now, she snuggles her dog, plays dominos with her family, and runs a chamber music collective called Musici Ireland. On today's show , hear the group Musici Ireland, from a concert in Wexford, Ireland.

Composer Elizabeth Brown never got formal training in composition. Instead, she says that she learned to compose by playing all kinds of music, and she feels like that was the right path for her. On today's show, hear a piece that she was inspired to write after a working residency in Italy: Liguria, by Elizabeth Brown.

When composer Shulamit Ran finished writing a piece, she somewhat flippantly named the piece "Lyre of Orpheus". Later, she was astonished to find that the title was totally appropriate. Hear the story and the music on this episode of Performance Today.

In 1991, Composer Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee wrote a set of bagatelles for an up-and-coming nine-year-old flutist.  Now, those playful pieces have taken on a life of their own. On today's show, hear a recent recording of Five Bagatelles by Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee, performed by flutist Suzanne Bona and pianist Greg Kostraba of the Sylvan Trio.

Composer Elizabeth Brown never got formal training in composition. Instead, she says that she learned to compose by playing all kinds of music, and she feels like that was the right path for her. On today's show, hear a piece that she was inspired to write after a working residency in Italy: Liguria, by Elizabeth Brown.

Pianist Yuja Wang thrives in the spotlight; she has been known to play multiple encores after one show. On today's show, Yuja Wang returns to the stage following a performance with the Melbourne Symphony to play just ONE encore...and a hefty showstopper at that.