Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
MPR

Performance Today®

with host Fred Child

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Extra: A conversation with Hilary Hahn

Extra: A conversation with Hilary Hahn

Violinist Hilary Hahn recently joined Fred Child in our New York studio to discuss her latest album, Eugene Ysaye: Six Sonatas for Solo Violin, Op. 27. In this extended interview, Hahn unpacks her theory about light and redemption in the Dies Irae theme found throughout Ysaye’s Sonata No. 2, “Obsession.”

In Response to the Madness

In Response to the Madness

Composer Joel Thompson made one rule when he began work on a piece in 2019. He would go through the major news stories each day before working on his composition. Hear the results on this episode of PT: "In Response to the Madness" by Joel Thompson.

PT Originals: The Merz Trio at Tippet Rise

An excerpt of the award-winning Merz Trio giving an exclusive performance of a Brahms piano trio in the Olivier Music Barn at Tippet Rise Art Center in Fishtail, Montana.

A gift for all of us

A gift for all of us

In 2020, Rodney Maddock commissioned composer and pianist John Novacek to write a trio in celebration of his wife Marleny Gonzalez's 70th birthday. Novacek came up with a piece with a nod to one of her musical favorites, the 20th-century Colombian clarinetist Lucho Bermudez. It's a birthday gift meant to be shared with the world. Join us today to hear a gift for all of us: Trio Marlenita by John Novacek.

Post-Concert Conversations with the Merz Trio

Fred Child sits down with the award-winning Merz Trio to talk about transition, introspection and finding your musical voice at the 2023 summer concert season at Tippet Rise.

Reading the room

Reading the room

When orchestras work without a conductor, they read each other with eye contact and body language—they know and trust each other. On today's show, we'll take you to a concert in Houston to hear members of the ensemble ROCO play Dvorak's String Serenade...without a conductor.

PT Originals: Julia Yang at Tippet Rise

Cellist and former PT Young Artist in Residence Julia Yang took some time between Festival performances and rehearsals to give an exclusive performance of the Allemande from the Cello Suite No. 1 by J.S. Bach at Tippet Rise Art Center in Fishtail, Montana.

Ravel's reboot

Ravel's reboot

Sometimes the original is great, but the reboot is even better. Maurice Ravel wrote a stunning piece for solo piano, but it went from black and white to technicolor in his later version for full orchestra. We'll hear Ravel's Alborada del gracioso on this episode of Performance Today.