Performance Today®

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Polyrhythm means two or more different rhythms going at the same time. Composer Kenji Bunch recently wrote a piece using polyrhythm as a metaphor for the peaceful coexistence of opposing ideologies. He not only used polyrhythms; he also used elements from a wide range of musical traditions. On today's show, we'll take you to Portland, Oregon, to hear "Time In" by Kenji Bunch.

According to the famous song, whenever "The Girl from Ipanema" passes someone, they respond:  "Ahhh." Composer Dylan Schneider drew inspiration from that moment in a new piece filled with bossa nova and the enchanting sounds of the Amazon rainforest. Join us today to hear the Cassatt String Quartet perform "Goes A-H-H-H" by Dylan Schneider from a concert at the Seal Bay Festival in Vinalhaven, Maine.

Compared to Antonin Dvorak's big hits, his Poetic Tone Pictures collection has flown mostly under the radar. It's a collection of musical poetry, and each piece reflects a different mood or "picture." Pianist Leif Ove Andsnes says it's gorgeous, and we'll hear him play it on today's show.