Performance Today®

with host Valerie Kahler

American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.

All Episodes

Happy Birthday, Sibelius!

Happy Birthday, Sibelius!

Today is the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. On Tuesday's Performance Today, join us for Sibelius celebration! We'll mark the occasion by hearing from recent Sibelius concert from all around the world.

Elgar's Cello Concerto

Elgar's Cello Concerto

During World War I, Edward Elgar composed almost nothing. About this he said, "I cannot do any real work with this awful shadow hanging over us." But in the summer of 1918, he began writing a Cello Concerto. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll hear that piece from a concert in Bergen, Norway.

From tambourine to violin

From tambourine to violin

When Alexi Kenney was a boy, his aspirations were modest; he wanted to play the tambourine or the triangle. His mother got him thinking in a different direction, however. On this weekend's Performance Today, talented violinist Alexi Kenney will join Fred in the studio as our newest Young Artist in Residence.

The star treatment

The star treatment

We sent our Young Artist in Residence, violinist Alexi Kenney, to play for 75 kids ages 5 to 8. Kenney said it was great; the kids' reactions to music were so pure, and he got the star treatment - the kids all lined up for autographs at the end of his performance. We'll hear more from Kenney on Friday's Performance Today, when he joins Fred in the studio for day three of his PT residency.

Juicy violin stuff

Juicy violin stuff

Recently, American violinist Joshua Bell called Alexander Glazunov's Violin Concerto "real juicy violin stuff." On Thursday's Performance Today, we'll take a musical trip to Cincinnati to hear Bell play that very concerto in concert with the Cincinnati Symphony.

Violinist Alexi Kenney

Violinist Alexi Kenney

When Alexi Kenney was a boy, his aspirations were modest; he wanted to play the tambourine or the triangle. His mother got him thinking in a different direction, however. On Wednesday's Performance Today, we'll meet talented violinist Alexi Kenney, our newest Young Artist in Residence.

Young Artist in Residence: Alexi Kenney

Young Artist in Residence: Alexi Kenney

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by violinist Alexi Kenney and pianist Renana Gutman.

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Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique

Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique

Hector Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique is one part tender love song, one part crazy paranoid hallucination. On Tuesday's Performance Today, we have highlights from this unusual piece on the way from a concert in Cincinnati.

The Boy Lord of the Piano

The Boy Lord of the Piano

He may be young, but he plays with tremendous poise and confidence; so much so that he's been called the Boy Lord of the Piano. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll hear 23-year-old English pianist Benjamin Grosvenor in concert.

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