Performance Today®

Nearly twenty years ago, violinist Gil Shaham got a call from philanthropist Avery Fisher, telling Shaham he had won a career grant. Two weeks ago, Shaham won the coveted Avery Fisher Prize, the highest honor given to an American classical instrumentalist. Today we'll feature a performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto with Gil Shaham and the Aspen Chamber Symphony, from the Aspen Festival.

We'll feature the acclaimed Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra twice today. First we'll hear them at home in St. Paul, Minnesota, with pianist Christian Zacharias playing a Chopin concerto. Then we'll follow them on their Scandinavian tour, and hear a recent concert in Copenhagen. Violinist Nikolaj Znaider joins them for a Mozart concerto. Tune in for one of the country's finest chamber orchestras, both at home and on the road.

The Emerson String Quartet has spent nearly thirty years making great chamber music together. They don't have any problems keeping up with the demanding repertoire or concert schedule. But one of their big concerns is keeping the music fresh, whether it's the first performance of a piece or the 101st. Tune in today to hear them perform a Haydn string quartet.

Nearly twenty years ago, violinist Gil Shaham got a call from philanthropist Avery Fisher, telling Shaham he had won a career grant. Two weeks ago, Shaham won the coveted Avery Fisher Prize, the highest honor given to an American classical instrumentalist. Today we'll feature a performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto with Gil Shaham and the Aspen Chamber Symphony, from the Aspen Festival.

Pianist Radu Lupu isn't exactly a media darling. He has a gruff exterior. He scowls at the audience when he performs, grants no interviews, and generally keeps to himself. But his playing is wonderfully warm and expressive. Today we'll hear him perform Beethoven's fourth piano concerto with the Swedish Radio Symphony.

Stravinsky once said that "writing about music is like dancing about architecture." Today we'll turn that around and have music about writing. Today's second hour features some musical works that are based on poetry, and others that are musical poems themselves. Plus, one of the orchestras on the show was just named the best in the world. Tune in to find out who the winner was.

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Prelude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 3, No. 2 Pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy

When Antonin Dvorak lived in Bohemia, he wrote music that sounded Bohemian. And for the brief time he lived in America, he wrote American-sounding music, and encouraged American composers to do the same. Today we'll hear a performance of Dvorak's "New World" symphony featuring the Cleveland Orchestra, led by conductor Franz Welser-Most.

Today's show features lots of great American music and performances, from Barber's Violin Concerto to the beloved American tune, "Shenandoah." Plus, we'll have a performance of Beethoven's Sixth Symphony, with its depictions of thankful celebrations. Whether you're busy fixing the turkey, or just relaxing with loved ones, make Performance Today part of your Thanksgiving holiday.