Performance Today®

Choral composer Eric Whitacre says, "I thought I was going to be a pop star. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I'd be a classical composer." Now at age 42, Whitacre has achieved the kind of star status he once dreamed of. But not in the pop world. He's a kind of rock star of contemporary choral composers. He has nearly 100,000 Facebook fans. Has his own choir, the Eric Whitacre Singers. Some young fans have even gotten Eric Whitacre tattoos. In today's show, Whitacre leads a choir of over 100 singers in one of his own works, "Sleep."

The life of a concert pianist is often lonely and nomadic. Jetting from city to city, never putting down roots in one place for very long. Superstar pianist Martha Argerich combats the loneliness by staging a month-long music festival in Lugano, Switzerland, giving performances with all her closest friends and colleagues. We'll hear her in concert at the Martha Argerich Project in Lugano, playing a Beethoven concerto. And we'll hear a lament for the ultimate lonely nomad, the shepherd. Paula Robison and friends play a flute trio based on a poem called "The Shepherd's Lament."

Samuel Barber was more than an American composer. He was an American soldier and veteran as well. Barber served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Today, in honor of Veterans Day, we'll hear a march Barber wrote during his time in service to his country. Plus, Lee Hoiby's moving "Last Letter Home," based on a letter by PFC Jessie Givens, who died in Iraq in 2003.

Baroque musical legend Wieland Kuijken performs in the PT studios with friends

Samuel Barber was more than an American composer. He was an American soldier and veteran as well. Barber served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Today, in honor of Veterans Day, we'll hear a march Barber wrote during his time in service to his country. Plus, Lee Hoiby's moving "Last Letter Home," based on a letter by PFC Jessie Givens, who died in Iraq in 2003.

A few years ago, violinist Gil Shaham was introduced to a piece he'd never heard before. As his friend played the piece for Shaham, his friend burst into tears. The piece is based on an old story about two star-crossed lovers. After their tragic death, they're reincarnated, and reunited as butterflies. On Friday's Performance Today, Gil Shaham talks about his moving discovery of the Butterfly Lovers Concerto, a piece written in 1959 by two Chinese composers.

Every day on Performance Today, we hear great musicians in concert. How did they get to be so good? And how to they maintain that level of playing? On today's show, we'll meet double-bass player David Grossman, a member of the New York Philharmonic. As part of our occasional series that we call the Art of Practice, Grossman tells us what life is like at the bottom of the orchestra, and how he works to stay on top of his game.

Like a seasoned antique hunter with a nose for overlooked gems, conductor JoAnn Falletta has a real knack for bringing hidden treasures to light. In today's show, Falletta leads the Buffalo Philharmonic in Franz Schreker's "Prelude to a Drama." Schreker is largely forgotten today, but was an important opera composer in the early 20th century. Schreker's "Prelude to a Drama" comes from his opera "The Marked Ones."

When you think of three instruments that just naturally belong together, it's not likely your first thought would be banjo, string bass, and tabla (Indian drums). Banjoist Bela Fleck, bassist Edgar Meyer, and tabla player Zakir Hussain come from very different musical backgrounds, but they've formed a unique and compelling trio that is capturing the attention of music lovers. PT's Fred Child hosted a live event recently in Miami, featuring interviews and performances by Fleck, Meyer, and Hussain. We'll hear highlights on today's show.