American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.
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.
Pianist Beatrice Rana finds both precision and ambiguity in the works of Maurice Ravel. She says "It's like a Swiss clock, with every detail in the music... but at the same time it's like water: there's so much depth." On today's show, Beatrice Rana gives an intimate performance of music from Miroirs by Maurice Ravel.
Solo violin, cello, piano, backed by full orchestra. You could trace the multi-leveled musical conversations, or just be swept away in Beethoven's creativity and beauty. On this episode of Performance Today, hear Beethoven's Triple Concerto played by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by Gustavo Dudamel.
As a church organist, the young Charles Ives didn't really want to play the same hymns in the same old way. He played around some edgy harmonies and overlapping tunes, much to the shock of the congregation. The pastor had an opinion too. On today's show, hear about Charles Ives and his creative liberties, and hear the Escher String Quartet perform Ives's Quartet No. 1 'From the Salvation Army' at a concert at Lincoln Center.
The harp has a reputation for sounding light and beautiful, but in the right hands, a harp can express any emotion. On today's episode, hear the powerful, propulsive side of the harp. Harpist Ann Hobson Pilot and the English Chamber Orchestra perform Alberto Ginastera's Harp Concerto.
Composer Jim Stephenson grew up watching his father build model trains. They were detailed, realistic models, and each train car had its own personality. He was inspired by those vintage model trains when he wrote a piece for the ensemble ROCO. On today's episode, hear ROCOmotive, by Jim Stephenson, from a ROCO concert in Houston, Texas.
As a church organist, the young Charles Ives didn't really want to play the same hymns in the same old way. He played around some edgy harmonies and overlapping tunes, much to the shock of the congregation. The pastor had an opinion too. On today's show, hear about Charles Ives and his creative liberties, and hear the Escher String Quartet perform Ives's Quartet No. 1 'From the Salvation Army' at a concert at Lincoln Center.
David Baker was a legendary trombonist until his jaw was injured in a car accident. After that, he learned to play the cello and immersed himself in composing and teaching. David Baker's story, plus we'll hear from his piano trio Roots II, on this episode of Performance Today.
