Performance Today®

Times Square in New York City is one of the busiest noisiest places in the world. But from underneath the city's cacophony, there's a peaceful, ethereal sound and it's always there. We'll discover sound art in the Big Apple, plus hear highlights from recent concerts, on this edition of Performance Today.

There is a mysterious sound tucked in to the middle of New York's Times Square. Among the honking horns, shuffling tourists, and screeching bus tires, it resonates below the surface. Watch our film to find out about that, and other audible surprises, New York has to offer.

Join us for more from our special series, New York Out Loud, exploring the sounds of New York City. On today's show, Ariel Francisco shares new poems, inspired by New York neighborhoods. Plus, Bruce Adolphe joins us for this week's Piano Puzzler.

This series explores the musical sounds of New York City. In what ways can poetry and the voices of New Yorkers illuminate the sonic culture? Host Fred Child talks with series poet Ariel Francisco about his five new works- one for each borough of New York.

When we think about making music, we often think about playing or writing music, but what about the work of making the instruments themselves? On today's show, get a behind the scenes look into the workshop of Brooklyn violin-maker Sam Zygmuntowicz.

Fred Child hosts Performance Today from New York City, the global capital of classical music. These days he's listening carefully to the soundscape of the city itself to better understand the place he calls home. We explore New York Out Loud on this episode of Performance Today.

When Emily Pinkerton plays a particular Civil War tune on the banjo, she says it's hard to stop; the melody bubbles and flows like a rippling river. On this episode of Performance Today, we'll hear a movement from "Rounder Songs" by Emily Pinkerton, featuring a lush arrangement for banjo and chamber ensemble.

Recently, Elizabeth Weinfield and her friends in the early music group Sonnambula stumbled across music by a long-forgotten composer. The works were written in the mid 1600s by a Flemish woman named Leonora Duarte. On this episode of Performance Today, hear Sonnambula perform 6 of Leonora Duarte's short Sinfonias.

As part of our special week-long series, New York Out Loud, PT host Fred Child heads underground to explore the history and importance of Subway music to the city.