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.
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, tune in for On the Shores of Qingdao by Matthew Jackfert, from a concert by the West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra.
Pianist Daniil Trifonov has a unique warm up and practice routine. He "goes through the motions"... underwater. On this episode of Performance Today, hear Daniil Trifonov describe this unique method, and hear him play Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra.
When Addison Maye-Saxon was in the 7th grade and choosing what to play, he didn't like cello or trumpet, so his teacher picked his instrument (and his future) for him. On this episode of Performance Today, we're proud to introduce you to our first brass playing Young Artist in Residence, trombonist Addison Maye-Saxon.
Trombonist Addison Maye-Saxon is Performance Today's current Young Artist in Residence. Addison recently joined Fred Child for conversation and music at our studio in Saint Paul. You can hear it all here!
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.
