Performance Today®

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.

In 1808, the premiere of Beethoven's Choral Fantasy was less of a fantasy, and more of a nightmare. Find out why on Saturday's Performance Today, and then hear a much more successful performance from a recent concert in Berlin.

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 Friday's Performance Today.

30 years ago, Louis Langree was warned about the addictive power of conducting. His mentor said "you won't be able to live without it"... and he was right. On today's show, Louis Langree conducts the Cincinnati Symphony in a recent concert performance of Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 4.

In 1808, the premiere of Beethoven's Choral Fantasy was less of a fantasy, and more of a nightmare. Find out why on Wednesday's Performance Today, and then hear a much more successful performance from a recent concert in Berlin.

When Remy van Kesteren was 5 years old, he heard something... and followed his ears to a harp. On today's episode of Performance Today, Remy van Kesteren tells of the sound that changed his life, and hear him perform in a concert in Barcelona, Spain.