Performance Today®

On Tuesday's Performance Today conductor, pianist and candid commentator Bill Eddins joins host Fred Child in the studio to take listeners on a tour of his favorite pieces of classical music. He talks about the unappreciated humor in Beethoven's symphonies, the sly keyboard prowess of Alicia de Larrocha, and reveals what he calls "the sexiest piece of classical music ever written."

On Monday's Performance Today, we have special music to celebrate the Fourth of July. Plus, journalist and author Steve Vogel will join us to discuss the miraculous history of our national anthem.

The Star-Spangled Banner was written over 200 years ago. Journalist and author Steve Vogel joins Fred in the studio to discuss how and why our national anthem came to be.

On this weekend's Performance Today, we'll take a trip to Catfish Row to explore the alleys and atmosphere that inspired George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. Plus, we'll hear some Gershwin from the Spoleto Festival in Charleston.

For years, Jaakko Kuusisto has been meaning to write a concerto that would show off his skills on the violin. He hasn't done that quite yet, but he has written a piece for violinist Elina Vahala. On Friday's Performance Today, we'll hear her play the American premiere of Kuusisto's fiery Violin Concerto.

On Thursday's Performance Today, we'll take a trip to Catfish Row to explore the alleys and atmosphere that inspired George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. Plus, we'll hear some Gershwin from the Spoleto Festival in Charleston.

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein loves playing at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina; she says that it's a unique and very special kind of experience. On Wednesday's Performance Today, we'll talk more with Weilerstein about Spoleto, and we'll hear her perform a piano trio.

Charleston, South Carolina, is a city full of history and music. On Tuesday's Performance Today, join us for highlights from this year's Spoleto Festival, including a stunning performance of Mendelssohn's Piano Sextet.

What's the point of musical technique? According to pianist Andre Watts, technique allows you to create at will what you hear in your inner ear. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll hear what's going on in Watts' inner ear when he plays Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2.