Performance Today®

In the last decade of his life, Johann Sebastian Bach worked on a vast exploration of the fugue, but he never finished the final section of the piece. Tune in today to hear the Danish String Quartet play J.S. Bach's extraordinary and unfinished “The Art of Fugue.”

When composer and pianist Franz Liszt was a young man, he was fascinated with death. He went to hospitals to observe people who were sick or dying. He went to prisons to meet people who had been condemned to die. On today’s show, we’ll hear Franz Liszt’s Totentanz, The Dance of Death, a piece based on the Dies Irae, a chant from the Catholic Mass for the Dead.

Pianist Jonathan Biss is our special guest this hour. For years, Biss suffered from debilitating performance anxiety and chose to hide it. But he's had a change of heart. He says that honesty is an absolute priority as an artist. His goal is to pull back the curtain on living as a musician with anxiety. Join us today for music and conversation with Jonathan Biss.

After Beethoven played some concerts in his 20s, reviews wondered who this unknown pianist and composer might be ...and they even misspelled his name as "Beethover." Yeah, even Beethoven had to climb the career ladder. We'll hear music by the up-and-coming Beethoven on today's show.

When Samuel Coleridge-Taylor premiered his Piano Quintet in 1893, he thought that would be the end and that it wouldn't be played again. And for more than a century, he was right. However, the handwritten manuscript was found in 2001. This quintet is now published and played around the world.  Join us today to hear Coleridge-Taylor’s Piano Quintet played by an all-star ensemble at the ChamberFest Cleveland music festival.

For composer Jennifer Higdon, a commission isn't just about who pays for the piece; she views commissioning music as a way to empower people to share their voices and celebrate their communities. We'll learn more and hear the Merian Ensemble play Higdon's "The Sound of Light" on today's show.

On this Thanksgiving holiday, we're thankful for the opportunity to share music with you. Whether you're gathering with a few loved ones or settling in for a quiet weekend, we have a cozy Thanksgiving soundtrack to share. Join us for nourishing music and reflections on gratitude.

When Samuel Coleridge-Taylor premiered his Piano Quintet in 1893, he thought that would be the end and that it wouldn't be played again. And for more than a century, he was right. However, the handwritten manuscript was found in 2001. This quintet is now published and played around the world.  Join us today to hear Coleridge-Taylor’s Piano Quintet played by an all-star ensemble at the ChamberFest Cleveland music festival.

Composer Jimmy Lopez Bellido discovered J.S. Bach's music when he was 11 years old. It struck through him like lightning and opened him up to the ecstasy of classical music. Bellido now tries to create those emotional experiences in his own music. On today's show, we'll hear his piece, Rise!, performed at the Lakes Area Music Festival in Brainerd, Minnesota.