Performance Today®

Iva Bittova is a Czech violinist, singer, and composer. Her work these days is mostly focused on playing violin and singing, but she is still strongly influenced by her background in acting and dance. On today's episode, learn more about Iva Bittova and hear a performance of her composition "Divna Slecinka."

American composer William Bolcolm teaches at the University of Michigan where, on Saturdays in the fall, the town is abuzz for Wolverine football. On today's show, hear the world premiere live performance recording of Bolcom's "Ann Arbor Saturday."

In 1874, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov traveled to the northern coast of the Black Sea. The trip left a lasting impression on the composer; he was intoxicated by the Arabic and Turkish music he heard on the streets and in coffee houses. On this episode of Performance Today, we hear these exotic impressions in a concert performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade.

Composer Lowell Liebermann was haunted for years by a J.S. Bach fugue that spun around and around in his head. Then he was asked to write a new piece for a concert that just happened to fall on Bach's birthday. On this episode of Performance Today, we'll hear Liebermann's twist on Bach's fugue, from a concert in Colorado Springs.

American composer William Bolcolm teaches at the University of Michigan where, on Saturdays in the fall, the town is abuzz for Wolverine football. On today's show, hear the world premiere live performance recording of Bolcom's "Ann Arbor Saturday."

In 1930, Maurice Ravel wrote a special concerto for Paul Wittgenstein, a pianist who had lost his right arm in the First World War. On this episode of Performance Today, we'll hear a performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, from a concert in Round Top, Texas.

Performance Today's Classical Critters is a 60-minute classical music romp about and inspired by animals. Host Fred Child and kids tell stories, spark creativity, share ideas and listen to music together. You'll want to have some paper and crayons or markers on hand and a little bit of space to move!

JoAnn Falletta grew up playing classical guitar, but what she really wanted to do was conduct orchestras. There wasn't a path for a female conductor to follow... so Falletta paved a path of her own and is now a respected conductor around the world. On today's show, JoAnn Falletta conducts the Buffalo Philharmonic in a concert performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21.

Composer Michael Torke can appreciate the abstract tonal elements of modern classical music, but he personally want his music to be approachable and enjoyable. Torke's intent is music that is at first welcoming, then explored over and over. On this episode of Performance Today, join us for a Nashville Symphony performance of Adjustable Wrench, by Michael Torke.