Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
MPR

Performance Today®

with host Fred Child

All Episodes

PT Weekend: 20 years of the Piano Puzzler!

PT Weekend: 20 years of the Piano Puzzler!

We're celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Piano Puzzler! Bruce Adolphe joins Fred Child in the studio to discuss the evolution of our weekly musical game over the past two decades, AND Bruce also has some special "treats" to share with us.

Music to lift our spirits

Music to lift our spirits

It's fair to say that Robert Schumann was impressed when he heard Schubert's first piano trio. Schumann wrote: "..the troubles of our human existence disappear...and the whole world is fresh and bright again." Can there be a better review than that? On today's show, join us for uplifting music by Franz Schubert, his Piano Trio No. 1.

Gao Hong: Nostalgia

Gao Hong: Nostalgia

Gao Hong grew up in China but has lived in Minnesota for about 30 years. Recently, she's been writing music combining her pipa (Chinese lute) with Western ensembles. We’ll hear a great example on today’s show: Nostalgia, by Gao Hong, for pipa, clarinet, cello, and piano.

Celebrating 20 years of Bruce Adolphe's Piano Puzzler!

Celebrating 20 years of Bruce Adolphe's Piano Puzzler!

Tune in today for a special occasion: we're celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Piano Puzzler! Bruce Adolphe joins Fred Child in the studio to discuss the evolution of our weekly musical game over the past two decades, AND Bruce also has some special "treats" to share with us.

The Swiss Orchestra

The Swiss Orchestra

They're called the Swiss Orchestra. They've been around since 2018, and they aim to bring back forgotten Swiss music. Join us for highlights from a concert they gave in the heart of the Swiss Alps on this edition of Performance Today.

Derrick Skye: American Mirror

Derrick Skye: American Mirror

What do we mean when we say "American classical music"? Composer Derrick Skye sought to answer that question in the form of a string quartet. On today's show, hear music that draws on the musical traditions that reflect our multicultural American society: American Mirror by Derrick Skye.

PT Weekend: Joshua Bell

PT Weekend: Joshua Bell

Maurice Ravel’s second violin sonata is known for its show-stopping moments, but Joshua Bell says that the very beginning of the piece is his favorite. We’ll hear Joshua Bell play Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2 on today’s show.

Yunchan Lim

Yunchan Lim

During the most recent Cliburn International Piano Competition, Yunchan Lim boldly played an hour-long recital with just the Transcendental Etudes by Franz Liszt. It's difficult, demanding music...and he went on to win the Gold Medal. Hear Yunchan Lim play Liszt's Transcendental Etudes on this episode of Performance Today.

It's time for that bass trombone to shine

It's time for that bass trombone to shine

The rich, deep tone of the bass trombone makes it part of the backbone of a brass section, but it rarely gets a moment in the spotlight. Now, it's time to shine. On today's show, hear a new concerto by Kenneth Fuchs, featuring George Curran on bass trombone.