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.
In 1932, George Gershwin took a vacation to Havana, Cuba. He came home with a set of bongos, a set of maracas, and inspiration for a new composition. On Wednesday's Performance Today we'll hear Gershwin's Cuban Overture, his souvenir from two "hysterical" weeks in Cuba.
Are three heads better than one? Bach wrote his Goldberg variations for a single pianist to play, but a trio of string players have worked out a clever reinvention. On Tuesday's Performance Today we'll hear that music from a concert in Angel Fire, New Mexico.
Monday's Performance Today features music and conversation with pianist and Beethoven enthusiast Jonathan Biss. Biss will discuss his upcoming online music course, and we'll hear him perform a Beethoven piano sonata.
Sign up for pianist Jonathan Biss's free online course about Beethoven's piano sonatas.
Composer Maurice Ravel was a dear friend of the Gaudin family. When World War One began, the brothers Pascal and Pierre Gaudin proudly signed up for the French army. On the day the brothers arrived at the front, they were both killed by a single German shell. On this weekend's Performance Today we'll hear Le Tombeau de Couperin, a piece that Ravel wrote in memory of his friends Pierre and Pascal.
The Academy Awards are coming up this weekend. On Friday's Performance Today, we'll hear music by Oscar-nominated composer (and five-time Oscar winner) John Williams, in anticipation of Hollywood's big night.
The great American pianist Van Cliburn passed away one year ago today. In this special program we'll remember the legendary musician through interviews, music, and more.
The 2014 Sphinx Competition took place last week in Detroit. On Thursday's Performance Today we'll hear the winning performance, plus we'll speak with the winner of this year's competition: 19-year-old bass soloist Xavier Foley.
On the first anniversary of Van Cliburn's passing, his Texas hometown hosted a massive concert in his honor. Come view the video of the concert here.
