Performance Today®

In 1867, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen wrote a play about a young man who spends his life avoiding responsibility. The play features amorous milkmaids, a runaway bride, a cave full of trolls, and a sojourn in the deserts of Egypt. The drama never became one of Ibsen's biggest hits, but the music that Edvard Grieg wrote for it did. On today's show, hear Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, performed by the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra.

In 1894, at the age of 27, Amy Beach became the first American woman to compose and publish a symphony. She was the first woman to establish a reputation as a great American composer. On this episode of Performance Today, hear Beach's Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor, from a concert presented by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

We may not be able to sit down in restaurants or cafes right now, but with a little imagination, we can play "restaurant" at home. Light some candles, dish up a favorite meal, and tune in for music inspired by an old-school steakhouse. On today's episode, hear Paul Schoenfield's Cafe Music, from a concert presented by the Seattle Chamber Music Society.

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.

Jaakko Kuusisto has been meaning to write a concerto that would highlight his unique skills on the violin. He hasn't written a concerto for himself yet, but he HAS written one for his friend, violinist Elina Vahala. On this episode of Performance Today, Elina Vahala, backed by the Minnesota Orchestra, play the fiery Violin Concerto by Jaakko Kuusisto.

As a teacher, she's inspired hundreds of students. She's a talented flutist, a founder of groundbreaking ensembles, and she's a composer with a unique personal voice that speaks to all of us. On today's show, we celebrate Valerie Coleman, our PT Classical Woman of the Year.

The story of Don Juan taps a deep territory in the human psyche: love, betrayal, excess, and death. On today's episode, we'll hear the National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic perform Richard Strauss's tone poem Don Juan, from a concert in College Park, Maryland.

In 1945, Benjamin Britten wrote a piece of music as a way to introduce young people to the orchestra. Well, it turns out Britten created something for music lovers of all ages. On today's show, join us for a Grand Teton Music Festival performance of "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" by Benjamin Britten.

As a teacher, she's inspired hundreds of students. She's a talented flutist, a founder of groundbreaking ensembles, and she's a composer with a unique personal voice that speaks to all of us. On today's show, we celebrate Valerie Coleman, our PT Classical Woman of the Year.