Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
MPR

Performance Today®

with host Fred Child

All Episodes

A positive spin on the Dies Irae

A positive spin on the Dies Irae

The Dies Irae is a hymn from the old Latin Mass for the Dead. Composer Kenji Bunch once misspelled it by a letter - he wrote the word "Irie" - which, in Jamaican patois, loosely means "everything is okay." Join us for music with a positive spin on today's show: Dies Irie by Kenji Bunch.

Avi Avital

Avi Avital

Avi Avital was the first mandolin soloist nominated for a classical Grammy. More than 100 contemporary compositions have been written for him, but Avital is also known for his renditions of Baroque pieces. On today's show, Avi Avital plays a concerto by Vivaldi at a recent concert in Oslo, Norway.

Challenge accepted!

Challenge accepted!

When someone says, "Here's something nobody can do..." have you ever thought to yourself, "Hmm, maybe I can do that." Composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor took that challenge from his teacher and nailed it. Join us today to hear the clarinet quintet by Coleridge-Taylor...and it doesn't sound like Brahms.

Anais Feller

Anais Feller

Violinist Anais Feller is one of our 2022 PT Young Artists in Residence. Join us today as Host Fred Child and Anais chat over Zoom, with musical selections recorded for PT at the Colburn School in Los Angeles.

Emi Ferguson

Emi Ferguson

When flutist Emi Ferguson was six years old, she had the chance to see two of her flute heroes in concert: Sir James and Lady Jean Galway. She even met them after the show, and young Emi had one crucial question for them. Flutist Emi Ferguson looks back on help from her heroes on this edition of Performance Today.

PT Weekend: Requiem Milonga

PT Weekend: Requiem Milonga

Valerie Coleman wrote a piece for flute and piano just a few years ago, and flutists around the world are already playing it. Hear the Requiem Milonga by Valerie Coleman on this episode of Performance Today.

Evren Ozel plays Chopin

Evren Ozel plays Chopin

Pianist Evren Ozel says the first time he learned to play a Chopin waltz was an act of rebellion - his teacher told him not to do it...and he did it anyway. On today's show, Evren Ozel plays music he loves by Chopin with no one to tell him otherwise.

Barbara Thompson's Concerto for Three Saxophones

Barbara Thompson's Concerto for Three Saxophones

It's a concerto for three saxophones, but NOT for three saxophone players. The concerto is a showcase for one musician trading off alto, tenor, and soprano saxes. On today's show, Jess Gillam gives a riveting performance of the Concerto for Three Saxophones by Barbara Thompson, backed by the NDR Philharmonic Orchestra.

Valerie Coleman: Requiem Milonga

Valerie Coleman: Requiem Milonga

Valerie Coleman wrote a piece for flute and piano just a few years ago, and flutists around the world are already playing it. Hear the Requiem Milonga by Valerie Coleman on this episode of Performance Today.