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

The Shock Heard Around the Classical Music World

The Shock Heard Around the Classical Music World

It was the shock heard around the world. Well, around the *classical* music world anyway. This June, 26 year-old Italian pianist Alessandro Deljavan, an audience favorite, was eliminated after the semi-final round of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. On Wednesday's Performance Today, we'll hear from Deljavan's final concert at Van Cliburn competition and find out how a pianist picks himself up, and tries again.

A Flutist Who Likes to Stay Busy

A Flutist Who Likes to Stay Busy

Flutist Sir James Galway is 73 years old now, and some think he's playing better than ever. He's sold more than 30 million albums. He has a big beautiful home looking out across a lake in Switzerland. Galway could easily relax. But what's he doing right now? Galway just finished leading an intensive two week long flute festival and now he's busy rehearsing for a big concert tour. On Tuesday's Performance Today we'll hear from the flutist who likes to stay busy. Sir James Galway and friends play a set of three tunes from Ireland in concert in Athens, Georgia.

Ornithological Sleuthing

Ornithological Sleuthing

One morning, Antonin Dvorak was walking in the woods, and noticed a beautiful song coming from a bird he described as red with black wings. He was so inspired by that simple bird song, he wrote a string quartet with that little melody. But what bird was it? On Monday's Performance Today, we'll do some ornithological sleuthing to figure out what bird that was and we'll hear the Jupiter Quartet in concert at the Skaneateles Festival in New York.

Memories of Aspen

Memories of Aspen

Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg talks with us about everything from the Aspen Festival to A-Rod. Plus, 19 year-old cellist Nathan Chan makes his PT debut. Highlights from our week in Residence at the Aspen Music Festival, on this weekend's Performance Today.

On stage with Nadine Asin and Anton Nel
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On stage with Adria Ye

On stage with Adria Ye

Listen to the young pianist's performance and interview on stage at the Aspen Music Festival.

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A fifteen-year-old's debut

A fifteen-year-old's debut

When pianist Adria Ye was 11 years old, she and her family moved from her home just outside Portland, Oregon to New York City. She became a student at the Juilliard School, one of the great music conservatories in the world. On Friday's Performance Today, Adria Ye will make her PT debut on stage in Aspen with a Tarantelle by Franz Liszt.

Aspen Music Festival's Robert Spano performs under water
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Chatting with cellist Nathan Chan in Harris Hall
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YourClassical Radio
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