When Jean Sibelius was 24, he auditioned for the Vienna Philharmonic as a violinist... and was turned down. 13 years later, Sibelius wrote his Violin Concerto, a piece that challenges even the greatest violinists. On Wednesday's Performance Today, hear the Buffalo Philharmonic with violinist Michael Ludwig perform the Concerto for Violin by Jean Sibelius.
In the 1930's, artistic expression in the Soviet Union could be a very risky proposition. On Tuesday's Performance Today, tune in for a story about the danger of art, with evocative music by composer and survivor Dmitri Shostakovich.
For many Americans, it's a once in a lifetime chance to see an extraordinary celestial event. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll celebrate the total eclipse with music inspired by the moon and sun.
The Gateways Music Festival in Rochester, New York, celebrates the participation and contributions of classically-trained musicians of African descent. On Saturday's Performance Today, hear an in-concert recording from the 2017 festival: "An American Port of Call" by Adolphus Hailstork, performed by the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra.
The Chinese lute, or pipa, has been around for more than two thousand years. On Friday's Performance Today, we'll hear a 21st century composition for pipa performed by Wu Man and the Buffalo Philharmonic.
Conductor Herbert Blomstedt is a Seventh Day Adventist, so he can't work from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday... when so many concerts are performed. Yet Blomstedt says conducting concerts is not a problem; rehearsals ARE work, but a concert is an expression of his devotion. On Thursday's Performance Today, Herbert Blomstedt conducts the LA Phil in a concert performance of Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 9.
Maurice Ravel met a Hungarian violinist named Jelly D'Aranyi at a party. Ravel was so enthralled by the Gypsy tunes she played that night that he went home and wrote a piece of music for her. On Wednesday's Performance Today, hear Maurice Ravel's "Tzigane" performed by Joshua Bell and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
The Gateways Music Festival in Rochester, New York, celebrates the participation and contributions of classically-trained musicians of African descent. On Tuesday's Performance Today, hear an in-concert recording from the 2017 festival: "An American Port of Call" by Adolphus Hailstork, performed by the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra.
1844 was a rough year for Schumann; he was entrenched in anxiety, fatigue, and depression. Functioning and getting through a day was a challenge - let alone trying to write music. And yet, from within his struggles, he was able to write some a symphony full of light, life, and hope. On Monday's Performance Today, hear Schumann's Symphony No. 2 from a concert at the Aspen Chamber Music Festival and School.
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