Performance Today®

American composer Michael Abels has been getting a lot of attention in the past few years; in particular, for his movie music. He's in high demand after scoring Jordan Peele's satire horror films Get Out and Us. On today's show, hear one of Abels's orchestral pieces: Delights and Dances, from a concert presented by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

In 2013, Lee Pringle founded the Colour of Music Festival. The festival highlights the significance and impact of composers and musicians of African descent. On today's show, hear Voices Shouting Out by American composer Nkeiru Okoye, performed by the Colour of Music Festival Orchestra.

Composer Marc Mellits was inspired by trees when he wrote a piece called Splinters. Each movement, each "splinter" as he calls it, is based on a different kind of tree. On Today's show, we'll hear from Mellits's musical forest, played by the Akropolis Reed Quintet at a concert in San Antonio, Texas.

Sisters Katia and Marielle Labeque have been playing as a piano duo for more than 50 years, and their playing and approach is as fresh as ever. On today's show, hear the Labeque sisters perform a new concerto for two pianos by Bryce Dessner.

In 2013, Lee Pringle founded the Colour of Music Festival. The festival highlights the significance and impact of composers and musicians of African descent. On today's show, hear Voices Shouting Out by American composer Nkeiru Okoye, performed by the Colour of Music Festival Orchestra.

There's a musical puzzle at the heart of the Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar. Cryptographers have been working on cracking the code for a century. On this episode of Performance Today, we'll share some of the many possible solutions... and enjoy a great performance of the Elgar's Enigma Variations, from the Aspen Festival.

Great music has no borders. On today's show, let's travel to Taiwan to hear Japanese euphonium player Misa Mead plays an Appalachian "Hootenanny" by Matthew Jackfert.

Despite the need to stay physically apart these days, music has the power to unite us, to make us feel connected to our fellow humans. On Today's show, join us for a performance featuring Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir, a choir of more than 17,000 singers. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler.

Composer Jennifer Higdon associates color with sounds, similar to the way many people associate taste and feelings with color. On today's show, hear the Lincoln Trio play Higdon's musical interpretation of a color - pale yellow.