American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.
Composer Arvo Part is famous for the beautifully stark simplicity of his music...and he is a hero in his native country of Estonia. Every year, the city of Tallinn throws a big birthday bash for him called Arvo Part Days. On today's show, hear a performance of L'abbe Agathon by Arvo Part, from a concert celebrating his 85th birthday.
Erwin Schulhoff was a talented composer and pianist whose career and life were derailed by two world wars. In response to his experiences with war, his music turned strikingly, sometimes wildly, inventive. On today's show, learn about the life and music of Erwin Schulhoff.
Tippet Rise is an art center located on a working ranch near Fishtail, Montana. The center incorporates musical performance venues along with large-scale art installations. It's a peaceful and inspiring destination. On today's show, we'll hear violinist Caroline Goulding and pianist David Fung play music by Robert Schumann at the Olivier Music Barn at Tippet Rise.
Join us for a concert highlight from from the base of the Teton Range in Wyoming. On today's show, conductor Donald Runnicles leads the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.
Composer Richard Scofano wrote a 15 minute piece of music inspired by a hopeful vision of the future. On Today's show, hear La Tierra sin Mal (The Land Without Evil) by Richard Scofano; a musical journey through struggle, determination, and finally, the discovery of peace and serenity.
Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly heard Roma bands when he was growing up, and later incorporated some of those tunes into his own music. On today's show, hear Kodaly's Dances of Galanta, from a recent concert in Stockholm, Sweden.
Violinist Daniel Hope is very much at home on stages around the world. When the pandemic closed venues, he brought his concerts, literally, home. On today's show, hear about Daniel Hope's award-winning concert series from his home in Berlin.
Guaguanco is a style of Cuban rumba that is often centered around the human voice and percussion. Recently, Cuban composer Guido Gavilan wrote a guaguanco for string quartet. Can that work? We think it works beautifully. On today's show, hear the Harlem Quartet play the Cuarteto en Guaguanco by Guido Gavilan, from a concert in Colorado Springs.
Among our listeners, it's the most talked about piece of music: Bolero, by Maurice Ravel. You know it, you love it...unless you don't, of course. We'll hear a new take on the piece and keep the conversation going. Who needs a snare drum and a full orchestra? Bolero, played by the Decoda Cello Quartet, on this episode of Performance Today.
