In 1994, violinist Leonidas Kavakos played an exceptional violin in New York. He says, "It felt like the earth moved beneath me." Sadly, the instrument wasn't for sale. Twenty years later, he found that same violin in London; this time, he wouldn't let it get away. Kavakos plays his 1734 Willemotte Strad on today’s show.
Composer Wayne Shorter was fascinated by the symbolic idea of terra incognita, the undiscovered territory in ourselves, and the courage it takes to explore that territory. On today's show, hear Imani Winds play Shorter's Terra Incognita at a concert in Athens, Georgia.
Producer Meghann Oglesby reflects on her time at the 2023 Grand Canyon Music Festival.
Performance Today spoke to several young composers from the 2023 Native American Composer Apprentice Project about their experiences in the program.
Producer Meghann Oglesby caught up with one-half of the Grammy award-winning Catalyst Quartet at the 2023 Grand Canyon Music Festival. Cellist Karlos Rodriguez and violist Paul Laraia share their thoughts on what's special about GCMF.
Producer Meghann Oglesby caught up with one-half of the Grammy award-winning Catalyst Quartet at the 2023 Grand Canyon Music Festival. Cellist Karlos Rodriguez and violist Paul Laraia share their thoughts on what's special about GCMF.
Tessa Lark is a uniquely American violinist. She has classical conservatory training and grew up playing the fiddle in her family bluegrass band in Kentucky. On today’s show, Tessa Lark shares two sides of herself with a sonata by Eugene Ysaye and a new piece named “The Ysaye Shuffle” by none other than Tessa Lark!
Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 is a massive piece—more than 80 minutes from beginning to end. Conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin says the symphony is akin to entering a vast canyon. As you listen to Bruckner, he says, "Accept that space and time are different. It is not about the micro event but the grand line. Just breathe in, breathe out, and feel the connection of that music to the harmony of the universe." Join us to hear conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin lead the finale to Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland.
Trinidad is the home of the steel drum—or the steel pan as it's called locally. Every year at Carnival, Trinidad hosts Panorama, a showcase for the best steel pan ensembles. Composer and pianist Stewart Goodyear plays his take on Panorama on this episode of Performance Today.
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