Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
MPR

Performance Today®

with host Fred Child

All Episodes

Music for the Trail of Tears

Music for the Trail of Tears

Between 1830 and 1840, thousands of Native Americans were removed from their homes in the Southeast and forcibly relocated rural Oklahoma by the U.S. government. The long, brutal walk became known as the Trail of Tears. More than 175 years after the march, composer Michael Daugherty wanted to share the survivors' and descendants' stories.

7:15
The New York Principals in Palm Beach

The New York Principals in Palm Beach

The principal cellist, principal violist, and principal associate concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic have put together their own band. They call themselves...what else? The New York Principals. On Tuesday's Performance Today, we'll drop in on a recent concert in Palm Beach to hear them play Schubert.

A Double Concert for double Mozarts

A Double Concert for double Mozarts

Mozart wrote his Concerto for Two Pianos for himself and his sister to play with an orchestra. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll hear Jeffrey Kahane and Joanne Pearce Martin perform it alongside the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

Jenny Chen, our newest PT Young Artist

Jenny Chen, our newest PT Young Artist

Jenny Chen's mother taught her to play piano without watching her fingers; she would cover Jenny's hands with a music score, and then ask her to play the notes. Sure enough, young Jenny grew up to be an excellent pianist -- and our new Young Artist in Residence. On this weekend's Performance Today, she'll discuss her musical upbringing and perform music by Bach.

Jenny Chen and Liszt's musical scares

Jenny Chen and Liszt's musical scares

On Friday's Performance Today, we'll hear music designed to intimidate us. Our current Young Artist in Residence, Jenny Chen, joins Fred in the studio with scary music by Franz Liszt.

Jenny Chen's friendship for the ages

Jenny Chen's friendship for the ages

When Jenny Chen moved from Taiwan to Philadelphia, she was ten years old; her new piano teacher was ninety. That was eleven years ago, and to this day, they're still friends. On Thursday's Performance Today, Jenny Chen tells us more about that special relationship, and she'll play music by Franz Liszt.

Jenny Chen's musical upbringing

Jenny Chen's musical upbringing

Jenny Chen's mother taught her to play piano without watching her fingers; she would cover Jenny's hands with a music score, and then ask her to play the notes. Sure enough, young Jenny grew up to be an excellent pianist -- and our new Young Artist in Residence. On Wednesday's Performance Today, she'll discuss her musical upbringing and perform music by Bach.

Young Artist in Residence: Jenny Chen
26:11
Remembering Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Remembering Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt believed in the supremacy of the composer's voice. "A composer must be remembered, but a performer must be forgotten," Harnoncourt once said. But how could we not celebrate one of the most distinguished figures who brought that voice to life? On Tuesday's Performance Today, we'll honor the conductor who died over the weekend.