In 1705, 20 year-old Johann Sebastian Bach walked 250 miles across Germany to hear Dietrich Buxtehude play the organ at St. Mary's Church in the town of Lubeck. At least that's how Bach explained it. On Saturday's Performance Today, our story is about Dietrich Buxtehude, organist and prolific composer. Hear Buxtehude's Ciacona in B minor, in a concert from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
It's a PT listener favorite... Cymbeline, by composer David Bruce, written in 2013 for mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital. On Friday's Performance Today, Avital and the Dover Quartet play Cymbeline in Savannah, Georgia.
Violinist Joshua Bell says that playing for an audience is not about playing the notes in a composition. it's about connecting with everybody in the room, creating a shared emotional experience. On Thursday's Performance Today, hear Joshua Bell play Violin Concerto No. 3 by Camille Saint-Saens, recorded live at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland.
How do young pianists prepare for one of the most prestigious and most grueling music competitions in the world? Find out in a new podcast, sponsored by Performance Today.
Almost 40 years ago, James Schlefer first heard the sound of the shakuhachi, the Japanese wood flute. Today, he's among the few Westerners to be a certified Grand Master on the instrument. He's a composer, as well. On Wednesday's Performance Today, hear James Nyoraku Schlefer play the shakuhachi in a performance of his composition "Concertante".
Ten years ago, we featured an 11 year-old pianist on our show. George Li is now 21, a student at Harvard, and has a busy schedule of concerts around the world. On Tuesday's Performance Today, he gives a thrilling performance of the Piano Concerto No. 2, by Camille Saint-Saens, in a highlight from the 2016 Verbier Festival.
Pianist Yuja Wang has had a major-label recording contract for 8 years, since she was 22 years old. She is known for playing virtuosic pieces by the likes of Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Liszt... and yet, she still feels a bit intimidated about playing music by Mozart. On Monday's Performance Today, hear Yuja Wang perform Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 9, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conductor Lionel Bringuier.
Alex Beyer, 22, is working on a unique and challenging combination of academic degrees. He studies mathematics at Harvard AND is working on a Master's degree in piano at the New England Conservatory. To Alex, math and music are artistically intertwined. Pianist Alex Beyer - PT Young Artist in Residence - performs "La Valse" by Maurice Ravel, on this weekend's Performance Today.
Steve Reich is one of the most influential and acclaimed composers alive. In the 1960's, Reich was among a group of composers that pioneered what is known as minimal music. On Friday's Performance Today, cellist Rose Bellini performs "Cello Counterpoint", a 2003 composition by Reich. Bellini performs with 7 other parts, pre-recorded and played by cellist Maya Beiser. It's our weekly tribute to 21st century music.
Share your question or comment about Performance Today. Individual questions and themes may be answered or incorporated into future episodes or digital updates.
