Performance Today®

There's a musical puzzle at the heart of the Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar. Cryptographers have been working on cracking the code for a century. On this episode of Performance Today, we'll share some of the many possible solutions... and enjoy a great performance of the Elgar's Enigma Variations, from the Aspen Festival.

Composer Matthew Jackfert spent six months in the seaside city of Qingdao, China. Memories of the waves and wind and local culture stuck with him. On this episode of Performance Today, hear "On the Shores of Qingdao," by Matthew Jackfert, from a concert by the West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra.

When David Conte was finishing college, he wrote his thesis about the music of Aaron Copland. He sent his work to Copland, who responded with an invitation to meet. They ended up becoming friends. On today's show, hear an arrangement David Conte's "A Copland Portrait" performed by the United States Marine Band.

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.

As part of our new series, New York Out Loud, we commissioned composer Arun Luthra to write five new works using sounds from each of New York's five boroughs. Brand new music inspired by the sounds and feelings of the city. On this edition of Performance Today, hear these five works written just for us by Arun Luthra.

Composer Arun Luthra integrated community-sourced sounds gathered from across New York City to create five new pieces. Hear how the sounds of the city shape the music of the city and what both can reveal about the sonic culture of all five boroughs.

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.