Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
MPR

Performance Today®

with host Fred Child

All Episodes

Connor Chee: Unbroken

Connor Chee: Unbroken

Navajo pianist and composer Connor Chee recently wrote a piece inspired by the Navajo Code Talkers. Chee’s new work traces the brave journey of the Code Talkers through eleven minutes of music. Join us today to hear Connor Chee play the world premiere of Unbroken.

PT Weekend: Juan Pablo Contreras

PT Weekend: Juan Pablo Contreras

Mexican composer Juan Pablo Contreras wrote a piece inspired by the musical culture of his home state of Jalisco. On today's show, we'll take you to a concert presented by ROCO in Houston to hear Mariachitlán (Mariachi-land) by Juan Pablo Contreras.

Jon Kimura Parker

Jon Kimura Parker

On today's show, pianist Jon Kimura Parker and the Minnesota Orchestra tackle what Parker calls a "brilliant" piece of music: the Piano Concerto No. 1 by Dmitri Shostakovich.

Jaeden Izik-Dzurko

Jaeden Izik-Dzurko

It’s been a breakthrough year for 23-year-old Canadian pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko. This year, he's won five gold medals at five international piano competitions. We'll hear his gold-medal performance at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition on today’s show.

Juan Pablo Contreras: Mariachitlán

Juan Pablo Contreras: Mariachitlán

Mexican composer Juan Pablo Contreras wrote a piece inspired by the musical culture of his home state of Jalisco. On today's show, we'll take you to a concert presented by ROCO in Houston to hear Mariachitlán (Mariachi-land) by Juan Pablo Contreras.

Wang Jie: The Winter that United Us

Wang Jie: The Winter that United Us

Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, New York, is a magical place for composer Wang Jie. She says she feels transported by the warm orange glow of the hall, and she wrote a piece for the Buffalo Philharmonic to play in that space. Join us today to hear the world premiere of The Winter that United Us by Wang Jie.

Beatrice Rana

Beatrice Rana

Italian pianist Beatrice Rana says, "(A concert) happens only once, and it either goes well or doesn't." She doesn't get caught up in reviews; she simply wants to connect with listeners. On today's show, we'll hear Beatrice Rana play three etudes by Frederic Chopin at a concert at Spivey Hall in Morrow, Georgia.

PT Weekend: Balletic butterflies and bellicose beetles

PT Weekend: Balletic butterflies and bellicose beetles

Composer Jonathan Peters has a new piece inspired by balletic butterflies, circumambulating centipedes, and bellicose beetles. Today we'll hear the Arthropod Suite by Jonathan Peters from a concert presented by ROCO in Houston, TX.

Honoring our veterans

Honoring our veterans

November 11th is Veterans Day, and we’re honoring those who've served our country in uniform. We’ll hear music by composers who were in the armed forces—William Grant Still, Samuel Barber, and more. Join us for this special edition of Performance Today.