Performance Today®

With a cursed, magic ring, a broken sword, and battles between good and evil, Wagner's operatic Ring cycle has plenty in common with J.R.R. Tolkien's epic, "The Lord of the Rings." There's a new Tolkien book just out which retells the Norse legends surrounding Wagner's Ring. Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic recently performed a set of highlights from Wagner's "Gotterdammerung," featured in hour one of today's show.

But for an off-hand remark, it would have been called the "Bridgetower Sonata." Beethoven's "Kreutzer Sonata" is our featured work in the second hour. Poet Rita Dove (pictured) is our guest, and shares the story of Beethoven's friendship with violinist George Bridgetower, and how it went awry. We'll hear a complete performance of the work by violinist Itzhak Perlman and pianist Martha Argerich.

Leos Janacek was 74 and madly in love with a much younger woman. She didn't love him back. And besides, both were married to other people. None of that stopped him from writing her over 700 love letters. He also wrote a string quartet and dedicated it to her, calling it "Intimate Letters." On today's show, the Emerson String Quartet performs this monument to unrequited love.

Pianist Andras Schiff has spent the last two years performing all 32 of Beethoven's piano sonatas at Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles. He says that undertaking has put him in greater touch with Beethoven. While some think of Beethoven's music as full of heroism and drama, Schiff says he hears "a great gratitude" in it. Today, we'll feature Schiff in Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 31, from a concert in Los Angeles.

Johannes Brahms: Antantino from Intermezzo in E Minor, Op. 119, No. 2 Pianist Emanuel Ax

When the Washington National Cathedral approached him to write a new work, Dominick Argento said no. He was grieving the death of his wife, and was done composing. They persisted, suggesting he write a memorial for her. The result was "Evensong - Of Love and Angels." Today, as part of our weekly 21st century feature, we'll hear excerpts from Argento's loving tribute to his wife, soprano Carolyn Bailey.

The story of the wooden horse and the downfall of Troy is part of Virgil's epic poem, "The Aeneid," written more than 2000 years ago. On today's show, we'll hear from classical literature scholar Sarah Ruden, and hear her ideas on the musicality of Virgil's poetry. And we'll hear excerpts from Berlioz' opera, "The Trojans," performed by Colin Davis and the London Symphony.

It was a hot day in Paris when the audience gathered for the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's new ballet, "The Rite of Spring." The crowd didn't know what they were in for, a monumental new work, one that would provoke outrage and change the course of music forever. Even the composer called it "a sacred terror in the noonday sun." On today's show, the Danish National Radio Symphony performs this groundbreaking work.

Rome is an ancient city, overflowing with the history and culture of the past 2500 years. Home of spectacular architectural and archeological sites, it's been the center of great music-making as well. Hour one of today's show focuses on the Eternal City, featuring the music of Ottorino Respighi and Josquin des Prez.