Performance Today®

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.

While he was composing it, the working title for one of Aaron Copland's most beloved works was simply, "Ballet for Martha." Martha was Martha Graham, and just before it premiered, the ballet got its name, "Appalachian Spring." We'll hear music from "Appalachian Spring" on today's show, courtesy of the Cleveland Orchestra and conductor James Gaffigan.

Igor Stravinsky: Tango and "La Marseillaise" Violinist Mark Peskanov and pianist Doris Stevenson

Sunday is Mother's Day, and we're celebrating a few days early. Today's show features stories of motherhood and the classical music world. How violinist Leila Josefowicz manages life as both a globe-trotting soloist and a single parent, how pianist Simone Dinnerstein (pictured) found common ground in being pregnant and learning Bach's "Goldberg Variations." You'll hear great stories, and great performances, today on PT.

No pianist tackles the monumental third piano concerto of Sergei Rachmaninoff without a lot of thought, and perhaps a deep breath and even a prayer before walking out on stage. It's one of the most difficult works in the piano repertoire. Russian pianist Arcadi Volodos loves big challenges. On today's show, he'll climb the Mt. Everest of piano concertos, the infamous "Rach Three," accompanied by Jukka-Pekka Saraste and the Oslo Philharmonic.

Johannes Brahms, confirmed bachelor, had a motto for his life: free but happy. Not necessarily ecstatic, but contented. He wrote his third symphony as a reflection on his happily unmarried and unencumbered state. On today's show, Daniele Gatti leads the French National Symphony in a recent performance of Brahms' third in Paris.

Today is Cinco de Mayo, the fifth of May, a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. We'll celebrate the day by featuring music of Mexican composers and performers. There's a lot of great classical music happening south of the border. Join us for a sampling, on Performance Today.

Australia is the land of kangaroos and didgeridoos. And cute, cuddly koalas (pictured). If you go there, expect to find great music as well. In hour one of today's show, we'll focus on music and musicians from down under, including the Melbourne Symphony, the Australia Ensemble, and Saffire: the Australian Guitar Quartet.

If you're a fan of the piano, you'll want to tune in to today's show, where the ivories will get a workout. We'll feature Stephen Hough playing Rachmaninoff with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Yundi Li going solo, playing a Chopin scherzo. And Jon Kimura Parker joins cellist Lynn Harrell for a Beethoven sonata.