Performance Today®

Composer David Kirkland Garner began writing a piece to honor a particular fiddler's legacy, but, as he found out more, he began moving in a very different direction. On today's show, hear a fiddle tune that's been demolished, transformed, and rebuilt: CROW by David Kirkland Garner.

On the last day of 2020, millions of people tuned in to a concert in Lugano, Switzerland. It was a chance to hear a living legend perform: pianist Martha Argerich. On today's show, hear Martha Argerich and the Swiss Italian Orchestra play Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2 at that New Year's Eve celebration.

American composer Kenneth Frazelle has spent much of his life close to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and Virginia. He loves the music of the Appalachians, and often draws on that sound in his own work. On today's show, hear from Frazelle's Fiddler's Galaxy, with Joseph Swensen on the violin/fiddle and Jeffrey Kahane on the piano.

Composer Anna Clyne was asked to write something "exuberant" for a festival in London. She created an energetic fanfare...with an old English drinking song thrown in for good measure. On today's show, hear the BBC Symphony Orchestra play Anna Clyne's exuberant Masquerade.

Memorial Day. Lots of folks firing up the grill, or traveling for the unofficial beginning of summer. But, it's more than that—there's an important reason for this holiday. On today's show, we celebrate and remember the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the American Armed Forces.

The class of 2021 has overcome so many unexpected obstacles, and in many cases, they're not getting a big public celebration. So, we're throwing a party for them...on the radio! We'll have dedications and tributes for this year's graduates, and music to help celebrate. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler!

Russian violinist Alena Baeva says it's a great privilege to be a musician, to be able to communicate the most important things in life without any words. On today's show, Alena Baeva communicates via the Violin Concerto No. 5—the "Turkish" concerto—by Mozart, from a concert in Lugano, Switzerland.

Nelson Mandela used to talk about Ubuntu, a concept that embraces the idea of a universal bond among all of us; a sense of mutual respect and community. On today's show, hear a Minnesota Orchestra performance of a piece called "Harmonia Ubuntu", from a concert in Soweto, South Africa.

The class of 2021 has overcome so many unexpected obstacles, and in many cases, they're not getting a big public celebration. So, we're throwing a party for them...on the radio! We'll have dedications and tributes for this year's graduates, and music to help celebrate. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler!