Performance Today®

Death himself saunters into a graveyard at midnight and plays his fiddle. The clattering bones of dancing skeletons accompany his diabolical tune until the morning rooster scares them all away. On today's show, we'll hear a supernatural take on the Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens.

On this weekend's Performance Today, we'll hear Anastasia Kobekina play Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations - a theme with a set of elegant and virtuosic variations for cello and orchestra. Plus, Bruce Adolphe joins us for this week's Piano Puzzler.

Conductor Scott Terrell says he's a proud product of a public school music program. His international conducting career began on the podium of his high school orchestra. On this edition of Performance Today, Scott Terrell leads the Aspen Philharmonic in music by Sergei Prokofiev.

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.

She was famous as a pianist and had a keen talent for composition. On today's show, hear the power and beauty of Clara Schumann's Piano Trio, from a concert in Atlanta. Plus, Bruce Adolphe joins us for this week's Piano Puzzler.

John Adams says that final movement of "Road Movies" is for four-wheel drives only, and to leave the driving to the musicians. Join us for that musical ride on this episode of Performance Today.

The William Tell overture is iconic, but there are many more great musical moments from Rossini's opera. On today's show, hear a medley of some of those William Tell B-sides, from a concert in Colorado Springs.

The movie "The Red Violin" follows one particular violin for centuries. It passes from one owner to another, leaving a rather bloody trail behind. John Corigliano wrote the lush and haunting music for the film. On today's show, hear violinist Bella Hristova play highlights from the Corigliano's score at the Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival.

Ever played that game using the letters of musical notes to spell words? Composer Belinda Reynolds used that idea when she wrote a piece for piano and two marimbas. On today's show, it's a musical spelling game: "Play" by Belinda Reynolds.