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

Bryce Dessner's 'St. Carolyn by the Sea'
Video game music

Video game music

On Thursday's Performance Today, Emily Reese of Top Score joins Fred in the studio to discuss the classical roots of modern video game music.

Friend of Fred: Emily Reese

Friend of Fred: Emily Reese

Radio host Emily Reese combines her enthusiasm for playing video games and passion for classical music as the host of Top Score, a weekly podcast highlighting video game music and the people who create it.

Megalomania or mockery?

Megalomania or mockery?

Depending on your point of view, Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben is either pompous, self-congratulatory excess or brilliant Romantic satire. On Wednesday's Performance Today we'll hear a performance of this piece from Helsinki, Finland. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler.

Danish folk music

Danish folk music

On Tuesday's Performance Today, we'll hear Danish folk tunes arranged and performed by members of the Danish String Quartet.

In studio with the Danish String Quartet
22:50
Violinist Aisslinn Nosky

Violinist Aisslinn Nosky

Aisslinn Nosky is a Canadian violinist who loves music from the 1700s. Despite her passion for traditional music, her signature look is anything but traditional. Nosky's trademark is her is hair, which is bright maraschino red and often kept short and spiky. It's a bold look that goes back to when she had to dye her hair for a role as a punk violinist in a TV commercial. On Monday's Performance Today we'll hear Nosky in her PT solo debut, playing Haydn's Violin Concerto in G Major.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra live from Berlin
1:52:21
A new musical sunrise

A new musical sunrise

There are a few graceful, bursting sunrises in music. One by Richard Strauss, which became the iconic soundtrack for the film "2001: A Space Odyssey." And there's one in the ballet "Daphnis and Chloe" by Maurice Ravel. On this weekend's Performance Today, we'll hear a new musical sunrise by American composer John Mackey: "Aurora Awakes."

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