Franz Schubert named a piano duet "Allegro in A minor.” Still, after Schubert died, a publisher thought it seemed to express something fundamental about the human condition and gave it the subtitle "Storms of Life." We'll hear that duet on today's show from a performance at the Skaneateles Festival in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
Pianist Jeremy Denk says Robert Schumann "…may not be so much a composer of pieces, as he is a composer of visions." In today's episode, join us to hear Jeremy Denk in concert, bringing to life the visions of Robert Schumann.
In the 1930s and 40s, composer Erich Korngold helped create the epic orchestral sound of Hollywood movies. He borrowed that sound from himself when he wrote his Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. We'll hear violinist James Ehnes and the Buffalo Philharmonic play Korngold’s concerto on today’s show.
When pianist Ingrid Fliter plays a specific concerto, she imagines the characters of an opera coming together for a celebratory feast over the course of the piece. On today's show, hear Ingrid Fliter play Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major with the Minnesota Orchestra, Thomas Sondergard conducting.
Cuban pianist and composer Aldo Lopez-Gavilan is equally talented in classical and jazz. He draws from both worlds when he composes, leaving plenty of room for improvisation. Hear original music by Aldo Lopez-Gavilan from a concert in Bonita Springs, Florida, on this episode of Performance Today.
In the 1930s and 40s, composer Erich Korngold helped create the epic orchestral sound of Hollywood movies. He borrowed that sound from himself when he wrote his Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. We'll hear violinist James Ehnes and the Buffalo Philharmonic play Korngold’s concerto on today’s show.
The Sphinx Virtuosi is an ensemble made up of alumni of the Sphinx Competition. On today’s show, violinists Lady Jess and Emilia Mettenbrink join us to share their experiences with the group, and we'll hear highlights from the Sphinx Virtuosi's recent concert in St. Paul.
The Horn Trio by Johannes Brahms is a gorgeous piece for French horn, violin, and piano. Brahms said that, in a pinch, a cello could play the horn part, so let’s go to a concert in New York City to hear Brahms's Horn Trio…with cello instead.
Every week, composer Bruce Adolphe joins us for a musical game, our Piano Puzzler. Bruce re-writes a familiar tune in the style of a great composer. We get one of our listeners on the phone who tries to guess the hidden tune and the composer whose style Bruce is imitating. Play along with the PT Piano Puzzler on this episode of Performance Today.
Share your question or comment about Performance Today. Individual questions and themes may be answered or incorporated into future episodes or digital updates.
