Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
MPR

Performance Today®

with host Fred Child

All Episodes

Mitsuko Uchida on Beethoven

Mitsuko Uchida on Beethoven

Pianist Mitsuko Uchida says in Beethoven's music you can hear that life is life, and sometimes, you have to cry. Yet, she hears such optimism amid the tragedy. Mitsuko Uchida plays Beethoven on today’s show.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Elim Chan

PT Weekend: Elim Chan

Conductor Elim Chan works with orchestras worldwide. She stays fit by boxing; she appreciates situations where she might get a black eye if she loses concentration. On today’s show, conductor and boxer Elim Chan leads the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra at a concert in Berlin.

Clarice Assad: Bonecas de Olinda

Clarice Assad: Bonecas de Olinda

About two million people yearly flock to Olinda, Brazil, to celebrate Carnival. Brazilian-American composer Clarice Assad found inspiration in the bonecos—the giant papier-mâché puppets carried in parades. On today's show, we'll hear music infused with the feeling of Carnival: Bonecos de Olinda by Clarice Assad.

Two sides of Tessa Lark

Two sides of Tessa Lark

Tessa Lark is a uniquely American violinist. She has classical conservatory training and grew up playing the fiddle in her family bluegrass band in Kentucky. On today’s show, Tessa Lark shares two sides of herself with a sonata by Eugene Ysaye and a new piece named “The Ysaye Shuffle” by Tessa Lark.

Conductor Elim Chan

Conductor Elim Chan

Conductor Elim Chan works with orchestras worldwide. She stays fit by boxing; she appreciates situations where she might get a black eye if she loses concentration. On today’s show, conductor and boxer Elim Chan leads the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra at a concert in Berlin.

Joshua Roman: Immunity

Joshua Roman: Immunity

Cellist Joshua Roman almost quit music altogether after developing Long Covid in 2021, but an encounter with Bach reminded him that the cello has been his lifelong friend. He's now shifted his mindset to center human connection over perfection in music and life. On today's show, he'll join Fred Child to discuss his journey with Long Covid and his new project, Immunity.

Joshua Roman: Extended interview

Joshua Roman: Extended interview

When cellist Joshua Roman got COVID-19 in January 2021, he was sure he'd recover quickly. Instead, he's still living with what's now known as Long COVID — physical and cognitive symptoms that affect his daily life. Roman recently joined Fred Child in the studio to tell his story and discuss his new album, ‘Immunity.’

33:31
Music from Colorado MahlerFest

Music from Colorado MahlerFest

A few years ago, composer George Morton noticed a striking similarity between Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 and the iconic Star Trek theme. Inspired by this connection, he created Mahler – A Final Frontier. On today’s show, we’ll hear it performed by the Colorado MahlerFest Chamber Orchestra led by conductor Kenneth Woods.

PT Weekend: Richard Danielpour

PT Weekend: Richard Danielpour

Composer Richard Danielpour found musical inspiration in a sculpture made by his mother—an image of an Iranian woman breaking away from her veil. He contemplated recent protests in Iran, led by young women who want to choose whether to wear a headscarf. On today's show, we'll hear music inspired by the brave women of Iran: Breaking the Veil by Richard Danielpour.

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