Performance Today®

Francis Poulenc: Three Improvisations Pianist Pascal Roge

Felix Mendelssohn: Scherzo from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" The German Symphony Orchestra with conductor Gerd Albrecht

Claude Debussy: Bela Fleck, banjo "Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum" from "Children's Corner"

Early Friday morning, legendary cellist, conductor and human rights advocate Mstislav Rostropovich died at the age of 80 in a Moscow hospital. We're going to spend much of today's show discussing his music and his legacy. We'll have reminiscences from two former proteges -- Emerson String Quartet cellist David Finckel and conductor Hugh Wolff -- as well as sections of an interview with Rostropovich himself. And we'll hear an inspirational performance by Rostropovich of a cello concerto by Nikolai Miaskovsky.

Claude Debussy: Bela Fleck, banjo "Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum" from "Children's Corner"

Franz Schubert: Scherzo: Presto from String Quintet in C Major, D. 956 The Miro String Quartet with cellist Matt Haimovitz

Anton Bruckner: "Vexhilla Regis" from "Motets" Corydon Singers

Johannes Brahms: Intermezzo No. 1 in E-flat Major Pianist Emanuel Ax

Carl Nielsen: Overture to "Maskarade" The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra with conductor Herbert Blomstedt