Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
MPR

Performance Today®

with host Fred Child

All Episodes

Music from a summer home

Music from a summer home

On today's show, we'll hear the Philadelphia Orchestra in concert at their summer home in Saratoga Springs, New York. Conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin leads a performance of the Prelude to Act One of Richard Wagner's opera Lohengrin.

Celebrating Julia Perry

Celebrating Julia Perry

As a teenager, Julia Perry found her passion in composition. In her 20s, Perry spent five years studying composition and conducting in Paris and Rome. She had a powerful sense of her place in the world; she signed her passport: "Julia Perry, Composer." On today's show, we'll hear the world premiere recording of the Violin Concerto by Julia Perry.

PT Weekend: Miguel del Aguila

PT Weekend: Miguel del Aguila

Composer Miguel del Aguila imagined a meeting between two characters: one is Justice, the blindfolded woman holding scales and a sword, and the other is Law, the man holding a book and gavel. We'll hear Imani Winds play the world premiere of Miguel del Aguila's 'Blindfold Music' on today's show.

The Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine

The Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine

When the French army rained artillery on Vienna, Beethoven took cover in a bomb shelter.  These days, the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine takes cover in bomb shelters as they hope to survive the Russian invasion of their country. We'll hear the Lviv National Philharmonic play music by Beethoven on today's show.

Gabriela Montero

Gabriela Montero

Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero was our 2023 PT Classical Woman of the Year. Join us for a special hour of music and conversation, co-hosted by Gabriela Montero and Fred Child.

Blindfold Music

Blindfold Music

Composer Miguel del Aguila imagined a meeting between two characters: one is Justice, the blindfolded woman holding scales and a sword, and the other is Law, the man holding a book and gavel. We'll hear Imani Winds play the world premiere of Miguel del Aguila's 'Blindfold Music' on today's show.

The Two Pigeons

The Two Pigeons

The ballet world is filled with images of graceful, colorful birds: Swan Lake. The Firebird. A famous bluebird in Sleeping Beauty. And a ballet about pigeons? On today's show, we'll hear music from The Two Pigeons, a ballet written in 1886 by French composer Andre Messager.

Certified organic

Certified organic

Composer Florence Price was also an excellent organist. In the 1930s, she played organ for silent films and radio shows in Chicago—and she wrote for the organ as well. We'll hear a Passacaglia and Fugue for organ by Florence Price on today's show.

PT Weekend: Jessie Montgomery

PT Weekend: Jessie Montgomery

What does an anthem for the 21st century sound like in today's multicultural environment? In 2014, composer Jessie Montgomery attempted to answer that question when she wrote a piece in tribute to the 200th anniversary of “The Star Spangled Banner.” On today's show, we'll hear the group A Far Cry play "Banner" by Jessie Montgomery, from a concert at the beautiful Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, Massachusetts.