In 1874, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov traveled to the northern coast of the Black Sea. The trip left a lasting impression on the composer; he was intoxicated by the Arabic and Turkish music he heard on the streets and in coffee houses. Hear these exotic impressions in a concert performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, on Wednesday's Performance Today.
It's emotional music inspired by both the rich history and war-torn present of Aleppo, Syria. On Tuesday's Performance Today, the Apollo Chamber players perform "Aleppo" by Syrian-American composer Malek Jandali.
Andras Schiff says he begins every day by playing a full hour of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier: he says "It's like taking care of your inner hygiene. There is something very pure about it." Hear pianist Andras Schiff in concert on Monday's Performance Today.
French composer Claude Debussy spent exactly one day of his life in Spain, but he could write some amazingly Spanish sounding music. On this weekend's show, we drop into a concert in Tennessee to hear a Nashville Symphony performance of 'Iberia', from Images for Orchestra by Claude Debussy.
Anton Bruckner wrote nine massive symphonies, but only his seventh was very well received during his life. On Friday's Performance Today, Gustavo Gimeno conducts the Luxembourg Philharmonic in a concert performance of Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 7.
In 1892, when Czech composer Antonin Dvorak was in New York, he heard 25 year-old Harry Thacker Burleigh sing African-American spirituals. Those songs were part of Dvorak's inspiration for his most famous piece, his Symphony No. 9. On Thursday's Performance Today, join the audience for Dvorak's ninth, then hear a new piece inspired by Dvorak AND Burleigh, 'Sorrow Song and Jubilee' by Libby Larsen.
French composer Claude Debussy spent exactly one day of his life in Spain, but he could write some amazingly Spanish sounding music. On Wednesday's Performance Today, we'll drop into a concert in Tennessee to hear a Nashville Symphony performance of "Iberia" from Images for Orchestra by Claude Debussy.
On Tuesday's Performance Today, hear Sharon Isbin and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra perform the world premiere of "Affinity: Concerto for Guitar & Orchestra" by Chris Brubeck. Then we'll travel west for Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Bill Eddins is a pianist, conductor, and all-around music fan. He recently stepped down as Music Director of the Edmonton Symphony. On Monday's Performance Today, he is filling in for Fred. Bill Eddins takes control and of the mic and shares stories, along with some of his favorite music.
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