Modern music for an ancient instrument
The Chinese lute, or pipa, has been around for more than two thousand years. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll hear Wu Man and the Shanghai Quartet perform a modern piece written for this ancient instrument.
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The Chinese lute, or pipa, has been around for more than two thousand years. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll hear Wu Man and the Shanghai Quartet perform a modern piece written for this ancient instrument.

Concerts where the electricity was rippling from the stage. Moments of intense musical drama. Astonishing virtuosity, ethereal serenity, and most of all, beauty. On this weekend's Performance Today, we'll look back at musical highlights from the past year.

Concerts where the electricity was rippling from the stage. Moments of intense musical drama. Astonishing virtuosity, ethereal serenity, and most of all, beauty. On Friday's Performance Today, we'll look back at musical highlights from the past year.

Leonard Slatkin says conducting gives him a sense of great power and at the same time, a feeling of helplessness. On Thursday's Performance Today, Slatkin joins us to talk about the curious art of conducting. Plus, we'll hear him lead this performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 4. in concert in Warsaw.

Franz Schubert wrote a fantasy so demanding and difficult that he himself was unable to play it. Never fear - we'll hear from a pianist who can! On Wednesday's Performance Today, Juho Pohjonen gives a virtuosic performance of the Wanderer Fantasy in concert at the Music@Menlo Festival.

Pianist Martha Argerich and violinist Gidon Kremer are both classical music superstars They've been playing together for decades, and they still enjoy playing together - partially because they continue to surprise each other. On Tuesday's Performance Today, we'll hear Argerich and Kremer in concert in Berlin.

The Chinese lute, or pipa, has been around for more than two thousand years. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll hear a 21st century composition for pipa performed by Wu Man and the Buffalo Philharmonic.

On this weekend's Performance Today, we've got highlights from winter and Christmas concerts around the world, including Theo Bonheur's "A Winter Ride" from a holiday concert in Munich, Germany.

Tesfa Wondemagegnehu is a singer, teacher, conductor, and an all-around good guy. On Friday's Performance Today, he'll join Fred in the studio to talk about how music changes lives. Plus, he'll bring along a stack of his favorite holiday music, and share his tips for avoiding common caroling pitfalls.