American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.
During a trip down the Nile, composer Camille Saint-Saens became captivated by an old authentic Nubian song. Captivation led to inspiration, and he transformed the tune into a piano concerto. On Wednesday's Performance Today, we'll hear pianist Stephen Hough and the Nashville Symphony play the "Egyptian" Concerto by Camille Saint-Saens.
Christina and Michelle Naughton are identical twins. They began taking piano lessons when they were 4 years old. It's safe to say that they took it pretty seriously... they now tour the world as a piano duo. On Tuesday's Performance Today, the Naughton sisters shine in a concert performance of 'Concerto for Two Pianos in D minor' by Francis Poulenc.
When Emma Resmini was a young girl, she didn't come out and tell her parents that she wanted to play the flute. Instead, she hinted at it by turning anything remotely stick-shaped into a flute... and her parents got the message. On Monday's Performance Today, Emma Resmini performs 'Undine' by Carl Reinecke, at the New York Flute Club.
Joshua Bell is a world-class violinist, and he's also a father. On Saturday's Performance Today, Joshua and his 10-year-old son Josef join us to celebrate Father's Day. We'll read together from a new children's book inspired by a key moment in the life of Joshua Bell.
We're celebrating Father's Day with a little story-time. 'The Dance of the Violin' is a new children's book, a real story taken from violinist Joshua Bell's childhood. On Friday's Performance Today, you'll literally hear the story... 'The Dance of the Violin', read by Joshua, Josef, and Shirley Bell, with Fred Child narrarating.
Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks, by Richard Strauss, is a musical fairy-tale... a 15-minute orchestral romp that celebrates a crass, anti-establishment prankster. Hear the Los Angeles Philharmonic perform the piece, as well as other concert highlights from around the world, on Thursday's Performance Today.
Hearing Manu Delago play music, you might think he is using a tabla, steel drums, a harp, bells and more--but all those sounds are actually the work of one instrument: the hang drum. Listen in as Delago brings his hang into our New York studio for a conversation with host, Ria Misra.
Franz Schubert celebrated his 21st birthday as he was writing his Symphony No. 6. On Wednesday's Performance Today, join us for a concert from Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles, with Gustavo Dudamel conducting the LA Philharmonic in the Symphony No. 6, by the young Franz Schubert.
In 1914, things were going well for Danish composer Carl Nielsen. He was able to limit other commitments and focus his attention on writing music. At that time, events in Europe were taking a dark turn, and he poured his energy into a new piece of music. It's a fervent symphony that expresses Nielsen's belief that, despite horrific darkness, life and light can prevail. On Tuesday's Performance Today, hear a concert performance of Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable", by Carl Nielsen.
