Performance Today®

Arnold Bax was an English composer, but when he went to his beloved Ireland, he adopted the persona of poet Dermot O'Byrne. He tried to keep his alter ego secret but his music betrayed his love of all things Irish. Music by Arnold Bax (aka Dermot O'Byrne) on this edition of Performance Today.

The great pianist Clara Schumann truly loved music by her husband, Robert Schumann. In 1853, she took one of Robert's songs and composed a set of seven variations. On this episode of Performance Today, hear the surprise birthday gift that Clara Schumann wrote for her husband's 43rd birthday.

Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles has a pipe organ with a distinctive look. It has the friendly nickname...the "French Fries." We'll hear those french fries in action, in a world premiere of a new concerto by Nico Muhly. On this edition of Performance Today, Organist James McVinnie and the L.A. Philharmonic present Register, for Organ and Orchestra.

The first symphony Johannes Brahms wrote took him nearly 20 years to complete. By contrast, Brahms wrote his second symphony in just a few weeks. On this episode of Performance today, hear the Buffalo Philharmonic play Brahms's Symphony No. 2, with JoAnn Falletta conducting.

Johannes Brahms told Anton Bruckner that he just didn't understand his symphonies...and Bruckner replied: "I have the exact same problem with yours." On this episode of Performance Today, we'll hear the New York Philharmonic play music by the often misunderstood Bruckner - the gorgeous slow movement from his Symphony No. 8.

In the spring of 1968, conductor Paul Freeman ran into Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Atlanta airport. Their brief conversation was one he'll never forget. On this episode of Performance Today, hear about that life-changing encounter in our musical celebration of Dr. King's life and legacy.

Composer Arnold Schoenberg liked the Piano Quartet No. 1 by Johannes Brahms, but he decided that it needed a few changes. Schoenberg arranged the quartet for orchestra and threw out the piano part entirely. On this episode Performance Today, hear Schoenberg's orchestral makeover of the Brahms's Piano Quartet No. 1, from a concert at the Aspen Music Festival.

With the right kind of radio you can sometimes hear the sound of nearby lightning. Some of those sounds are called whistler waves. On this episode of Performance Today, hear a new concerto by Caroline Mallonee, inspired by lightning...and whistler waves.

Composer Arnold Schoenberg liked the Piano Quartet No. 1 by Johannes Brahms, but he decided that it needed a few changes. Schoenberg arranged the quartet for orchestra and threw out the piano part entirely. On this episode Performance Today, hear Schoenberg's orchestral makeover of the Brahms's Piano Quartet No. 1, from a concert at the Aspen Music Festival.