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.
Our planet is teeming with life, and the rainforests are the lungs of the earth. Composer Meira Warshauer was moved by that image and the threats our natural world faces when she wrote her first symphony. It's a musical prayer for healing, for our home. On today's show, hear Warshauer's Symphony No. 1 "Living Breathing Earth", from a performance by the Western Piedmont Symphony in Hickory, NC.
In 1922, Danish composer Carl Nielsen was working on a piece for wind quintet when he had an idea. He turned a simple hymn tune of his into a theme with wide variety of variations... one of which even imitates the sound of bagpipes! On today's show, experience the dynamic moods and sounds of Nielsen's Wind Quintet, from a concert presented by Camerata Pacifica.
Some unforgettable musicians passed away in 2020...guitarist Julian Bream, cellist Lynn Harrell, soprano Mirella Freni - just to name a few. On today's show, join us for a special hour to honor and remember some of those we've lost over this past year.
For Christmas Day, we're playing some of the best holiday music... you might even find yourself joining the chorus. Tune in for Christmas and holiday music from concerts around the world. Happy Holidays from all of us at Performance Today!
On today's show, we celebrate the joys and blessings of the holiday season with music for a cozy Christmas Eve.
There's a Ukrainian holiday tradition of singing "kolyadkas", folk songs that have been passed down for centuries. Last year, composer Ivan Nebesnyy created a symphony to celebrate this beloved tradition. On Today's show, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine presents selections from the world premiere of "Christmas Symphonies" by Ivan Nebesnyy.
In "A Christmas Carol," Ebenezer Scrooge not only hates Christmas, he hates generosity itself... at least until a three uninvited house-guests demonstrate what greed might cost him. On today's show, join us in a musical retelling of "A Christmas Carol," by Charles Dickens.
Some unforgettable musicians passed away in 2020...guitarist Julian Bream, cellist Lynn Harrell, soprano Mirella Freni - just to name a few. On today's show, join us for a special hour to honor and remember some of those we've lost over this past year.
We're in the middle of the shortest days and longest nights of the year. It feels to us like a good moment for a quiet break. For today's show, we invite you to pause, reflect, and join us for some musical contemplation.
