Performance Today®

Have you ever attended a concert during an earthquake -- or performed during one? Violinist Simone Porter can answer 'yes' to at least one of those questions. On this weekend's Performance Today, Porter joins Fred in the studio as our newest Young Artist in Residence, where she'll discuss a particularly memorable concert performance in California.

Violinist Simone Porter practices alone for five hours a day, and spends lots of time travelling by herself. How does she deal with the solitude? Porter will share her answer on Friday's Performance Today, when she joins Fred in the studio with music and wisdom.

Have you ever attended a concert during an earthquake -- or performed during one? Violinist Simone Porter can answer 'yes' to at least one of those questions. On Thursday's Performance Today, Porter joins Fred in the studio as our newest Young Artist in Residence. On day two of her residency, she'll discuss a particularly memorable concert performance in California, and she'll play music by Prokofiev.

On Wednesday's Performance Today, we'll meet our newest PT Young Artist in Residence: violinist Simone Porter, who possesses poise and presence well beyond her years. Plus, a musical celebration in honor of Yo-Yo Ma's 60th birthday.

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by violinist Simone Porter.

In 1805, a critic wrote: "The [Eroica] Symphony contains much to admire, but it's difficult to keep up admiration for 45 minutes. If this symphony is not abridged, it will soon fall into disuse." Well, that hasn't happened yet! On Tuesday's Performance Today, we'll hear Beethoven's Eroica Symphony from the Grand Teton Festival.

One of the showcase events at this year's BBC Proms was a performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto by Julia Fischer and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. On Monday's Performance Today, we've got highlights from that very performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Over the span of two centuries, the Bach family produced more than 50 musicians and composers. On this weekend's Performance Today, we have music by Bach -- but not the guy who immediately comes to mind when you hear that name. We'll travel to Denmark to hear an overture by Johann Bernhard Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach's lesser-known second cousin.

Over the span of two centuries, the Bach family produced more than 50 musicians and composers. On Friday's Performance Today, we have music by Bach -- but not the guy who immediately comes to mind when you hear that name. We'll travel to Denmark to hear an overture by Johann Bernhard Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach's lesser-known second cousin.