Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
MPR

Performance Today®

with host Fred Child

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Rick Sowash's musical conversations

Rick Sowash's musical conversations

A few years ago, American composer Rick Sowash set a poem by Elizabeth Coatsworth to music, creating a song. And then he turned that song into a musical conversation between flute and cello. On today's show, hear the Sylvan Trio perform the end result: Seasonal Breezes, by Rick Sowash.

Mahler's Symphony No. 3

Mahler's Symphony No. 3

Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 3 is usually played by about a hundred musicians. Recently, the Windham Festival focused on the intimacy of Mahler's third, with a small orchestra of only about 35 players. On this episode of Performance Today, hear a MUCH different take on Mahler than we usually hear.

Dedication on all fronts

Dedication on all fronts

We often talk about the dedication of young musicians, behind many young artists is an equally dedicated parent. Flutist Aaron Perdue talks family, and gives a gorgeous performance of Aaron Copland, on this episode of Performance Today.

Ansel Norris, trumpet tamer

Ansel Norris, trumpet tamer

Trumpeter Ansel Norris says "The trumpet is an unruly beast that must be coaxed into a calm and agreeable state... Some days it comes very naturally, and others it requires a bit more wrangling." Norris certainly wrangled his unruly trumpet during the 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition finals. On today's show, hear him at that competition, playing Rodion Shchedrin's Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra.

Composer Robert Beaser

Composer Robert Beaser

Robert Beaser says that being a composer requires a certain type of personality. You have to be okay with solitude and have an incredible amount of patience, and it took him a while to find his calling. On today's show, hear the Los Angeleles Guitar Quartet play Robert Beaser's Chaconne.

Grosvenor plays the unplayable

Grosvenor plays the unplayable

When Maurice Ravel wrote Gaspard de la Nuit, he was trying to make it the most difficult piano music ever written... perhaps even unplayable. Benjamin Grosvenor plays the unplayable, in concert, on Tuesday's Performance Today.

A surprising musical discovery

A surprising musical discovery

In 1955, archaeologists discovered an old stone tablet in Syria. Etched on the surface is one of the earliest forms of music notation. Malek Jandali used that ancient system, known as the Hurrian songs, as the inspiration for a new piece. On today's show, composer and pianist Malek Jandali performs Piano Dreams with the Apollo Chamber Players at a concert in Houston.

A fresh take on Florence Price

A fresh take on Florence Price

Florence Price's Piano Concerto has only been performed a handful of times. Pianist Michelle Cann wants to change that, and she commissioned a new version for piano quintet. On today's show, hear this new arrangement of the Piano Concerto by Florence Price.

Rosin up your bow

Rosin up your bow

Every violinist uses rosin to get just the right friction between the bow and the strings. When he was six years old, Gil Shaham found another use for that little ball of rosin. On today's show, Shaham recalls channeling his inner batting champ and hits one out of the park playing Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the LA Phil.

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