Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
MPR

Performance Today®

with host Fred Child

All Episodes

Kian Ravaei

Kian Ravaei

Composer Kian Ravaei was captivated by a simple melody by Dvorak. He wrote it down in his sketchbook and returned to it when asked to write his own new piece. We'll hear the world premiere of the Fantasy Variations (on a theme by Dvorak) by Kian Ravaei on today's episode.

James Pecore: Early Loves

James Pecore: Early Loves

Composer James Pecore spent part of this last summer at the 2022 Emerging Composers Intensive (ECI) in Carmel Valley, California. Pecore loves telling stories through music and appreciates the intimacy that stories can build between people. We'll hear Pecore's new piece, "Early Loves," on today's show.

Music from the 2022 Emerging Composers Intensive

Music from the 2022 Emerging Composers Intensive

The 2022 Emerging Composers Intensive (ECI) took place on the campus of Hidden Valley Music Seminars in Carmel Valley, California. ECI is a workshop for up-and-coming composers ranging in age from late teens to early 30s. On today's show, we'll hear "The Bell Tower," a new piece by 22-year-old composer Sophie Fay.

Empowering young composers

Empowering young composers

For 25 years, the New York Philharmonic has been encouraging and empowering young musicians with their Very Young Composers program. On today’s show, we’ll hear works by 16-year-old Nicholas Hutfilz and 14-year-old Dalya Shaman.

PT Weekend: Pierre Jalbert

PT Weekend: Pierre Jalbert

American composer Pierre Jalbert is from a French-Canadian family. He hadn’t thought about addressing his heritage in music until he found inspiration in French-Canadian folk songs. On today's show, we'll hear the world premiere performance of Jalbert’s L'esprit du Nord (Spirit of the North), performed and commissioned by the Apollo Chamber Players.

Jorge Machain: Adelante

Jorge Machain: Adelante

On today's show, we'll hear a piece Mexican-American composer Jorge Machain wrote for Joseph Alessi, the principal trombone player of the New York Philharmonic. The work is called "Adelante," which in Spanish means "ahead" or "forward." Machain hopes this piece can be seen to "represent moving forward as a nation, with the hopes of everyone becoming one undivided people."

Mark Adamo

Mark Adamo

On today's show, we'll hear a cello concerto that premiered last fall: Last Year by Mark Adamo. Adamo described it as an updated, environmental take on a familiar classic by Vivaldi.

Pierre Jalbert: Spirit of the North

Pierre Jalbert: Spirit of the North

American composer Pierre Jalbert is from a French-Canadian family. He hadn’t thought about addressing his heritage in music until he found inspiration in French-Canadian folk songs. On today's show, we'll hear the world premiere performance of Jalbert’s L'esprit du Nord (Spirit of the North), performed and commissioned by the Apollo Chamber Players.

Sara Davis Buechner

Sara Davis Buechner

Pianist Sara Davis Buechner says that music takes her to a place where she feels completely herself, especially the music of Mozart. Tune in and learn more about Sara Davis Buechner and hear her play music by Bach and Mozart.