Performance Today®

In 1916, critics complained that 26-year-old Sergei Prokofiev's music was too modern, too hard on the ears, and lacking a sense of history. So that summer Prokofiev left for vacation with a plan. On today's show, we'll hear Prokofiev's classically-inspired rebuttal, his Symphony No. 1, from a concert performance by the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, with Markand Thakar conducting.

June is Black Music Month, and we're celebrating the contributions of Black musicians past and present. On today's show, learn more about Lady Jess, a freelance violinist living in New York City. We'll hear selections from one of Lady Jess's recent projects - a recording of The Prison, by Ethel Smyth.

June is Black Music Month, and we're celebrating the contributions of Black musicians past and present. On today's show, hear how Adrian Dunn blends spirituals with new compositions to explore the Black experience today.

In the 1960s, composer William Bolcom heard music by Scott Joplin. Bolcom became a huge fan of ragtime, and he wound up writing quite a few rags of his own. On today's show, we'll hear Bolcom's Three Rags for String Quartet, from a concert in Interlochen, Michigan.

June is Black Music Month, and we're celebrating the contributions of Black musicians past and present. On today's show, hear how Adrian Dunn blends spirituals with new compositions to explore the Black experience today.

Pianist Joyce Yang feels that George Gershwin's "Concerto in F" is full of optimism, freedom and magic... and we all could probably use a little more of that in our lives right now. On today's show, hear Joyce Yang and the Aspen Festival Orchestra perform Gershwin's iconic piano concerto. Plus, Bruce Adolphe and this week's Piano Puzzler.

Concert curator Geoff Nuttall loves cellos. Can't get enough of them. But he says that getting four cellists onstage at the same time is like trying to get four unicorns together. On today's show, a rare sighting: four all-star cellists at the Spoleto Festival USA perform "When the Night" by Paul Wiancko.

In 2014, composer Jonathan Bailey Holland was grappling with profound sadness about the number of Black Americans killed by police. He couldn't express his feelings in words, so he turned to music. On today's show, hear the world premiere concert performance of Dream Elegy by Jonathan Bailey Holland.

Solo violin, cello, piano, backed by full orchestra. You could trace the multi-leveled musical conversations, or just be swept away in Beethoven's creativity and beauty. On this episode of Performance Today, hear Beethoven's Triple Concerto played by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by Gustavo Dudamel. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler.