Performance Today

Performance Today Hosted by Valerie Kahler.

Performance Today is your home for vibrant musical discoveries, direct access to great concerts from around the world, and the extraordinary people and stories behind the music.

Today, we're highlighting a piece inspired by a composer's experience of moving alone to a new city at age 18, exploring...
05/08/2026

Today, we're highlighting a piece inspired by a composer's experience of moving alone to a new city at age 18, exploring the human ability to adapt. Tune in to hear Danielle Eva Schwob's (DELANILA) evocative work 'Breathing Underwater,' performed by members of The Merian Ensemble in Atlanta, Georgia.

Today, we're highlighting a piece inspired by a composer's experience of moving alone to a new city at age 18, exploring the human ability to adapt. Tune in to hear Danielle Eva Schwob's evocative work Breathing Underwater, performed by members of the Merian Ensemble in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jeannette Sorrell founded the early music group Apollo's Fire back in 1992, and that fire is still burning hot. We'll he...
05/07/2026

Jeannette Sorrell founded the early music group Apollo's Fire back in 1992, and that fire is still burning hot. We'll hear Apollo's Fire at a concert in Cleveland on this episode of Performance Today.

đź“· Roger Mastroianni Photography

Jeannette Sorrell founded the early music group Apollo's Fire back in 1992... and that fire is still burning hot. We'll hear Apollo's Fire at a concert in Cleveland on this episode of Performance Today.

Today, we'll enter the world of dreams with highlights from Sergei Prokofiev's ballet, 'Cinderella.' Conductor Elim Chan...
05/06/2026

Today, we'll enter the world of dreams with highlights from Sergei Prokofiev's ballet, 'Cinderella.' Conductor Elim Chan leads the Basel Symphony Orchestra (Sinfonieorchester Basel) in a suite she arranged herself, capturing the poetic romance at the heart of this timeless story.

đź“· Eduardus Lee - Photographer

Today, we'll enter the world of dreams with highlights from Sergei Prokofiev's ballet, Cinderella. Conductor Elim Chan leads the Basel Symphony Orchestra in a suite she arranged herself, capturing the poetic romance at the heart of this timeless story.

Cellist Alban Gerhardt grew up inspired by the warmth of his mother’s soprano voice, yet he finds his own vocal expressi...
05/05/2026

Cellist Alban Gerhardt grew up inspired by the warmth of his mother’s soprano voice, yet he finds his own vocal expression in the strings of his cello. Join us today to hear Gerhardt perform Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s Cello Concerto with the RTVE Symphony Orchestra (Orquesta y Coro RTVE), conducted by Delyana Lazarova.

đź“· Benjamin Ealovega Photography

Cellist Alban Gerhardt grew up inspired by the warmth of his mother’s soprano voice, yet he finds his own vocal expression in the strings of his cello. Join us today to hear Gerhardt perform Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s Cello Concerto with the RTVE Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Delyana Lazarova.

In 1946, Howard Hanson sent Margaret Nelson a musical gift while she was considering his marriage proposal: a recording ...
05/04/2026

In 1946, Howard Hanson sent Margaret Nelson a musical gift while she was considering his marriage proposal: a recording of a new work dedicated to her. The gesture won her over, and they enjoyed thirty-five years of happy marriage. On today’s show, we’ll hear Howard’s musical “proposal” to Margaret. Robert Manno conducts the Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra in Howard Hanson’s Serenade for Flute, Harp, and String Orchestra.

đź“· Byron Morgan

In 1946, Howard Hanson sent Margaret Nelson a musical gift while she was considering his marriage proposal: a recording of a new work dedicated to her. The gesture won her over, and they enjoyed thirty-five years of happy marriage. On today’s show, we’ll hear Howard’s musical “proposal” to...

In the 1990s, composer Starr Parodi had a frightening encounter with a South Pacific riptide. She drew an inspirational ...
05/01/2026

In the 1990s, composer Starr Parodi had a frightening encounter with a South Pacific riptide. She drew an inspirational parallel from that experience to a much more recent tragedy: the 2025 Pacific Palisades fire that destroyed her home and studio. Through both events, she discovered that resilience often comes from letting go rather than fighting the flow. On today's show, Delyana Lazarova conducts the ensemble ROCO in Parodi's meditation on surrender, 'Riptide.'

đź“· Gina Conte

In the 1990s, composer Starr Parodi had a frightening encounter with a South Pacific riptide. She drew an inspirational parallel from that experience to a much more recent tragedy: the 2025 Pacific Palisades fire that destroyed her home and studio. Through both events, she discovered that resilience...

American composer Adolphus Hailstork has a series of pieces called his "cathedral series," which emphasize the sense of ...
04/30/2026

American composer Adolphus Hailstork has a series of pieces called his "cathedral series," which emphasize the sense of centeredness and calm found within sacred spaces. Join us for a moment of stillness with Hailstork's meditative work, 'Sanctum: Rhapsody for Viola & Piano,' from a concert presented by Spivey Hall at Clayton State University, just south of Atlanta in Morrow, Georgia.

đź“· Oscar Costero

American composer Adolphus Hailstork has a series of pieces called his "cathedral series," which emphasize the sense of centeredness and calm found within sacred spaces. Join us for a moment of stillness with Hailstork's meditative work, Sanctum: Rhapsody for Viola & Piano, from a concert presented....

Despite the English horn’s misleading name — it’s neither English nor a horn — the instrument produces a famously angeli...
04/29/2026

Despite the English horn’s misleading name — it’s neither English nor a horn — the instrument produces a famously angelic sound that takes center stage in Hector Berlioz’ 'Roman Carnival Overture.' Berlioz originally composed the music for his opera 'Benvenuto Cellini.' Though the opera flopped, he salvaged its best melodies to create an orchestral centerpiece. In today's episode, Andrés Orozco-Estrada leads the RAI National Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai) in a concert performance of the 'Roman Carnival Overture.'

đź“·Auckland War Memorial Museum

Despite the English horn’s misleading name—it’s neither English nor a horn—the instrument produces a famously "angelic" sound that takes center stage in Hector Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture. Berlioz originally composed the music for his opera Benvenuto Cellini. Though the opera flopped...

Violinist James Ehnes says Dvořák's Violin Concerto can surprise listeners. Many violin concertos emphasize high, soarin...
04/28/2026

Violinist James Ehnes says Dvořák's Violin Concerto can surprise listeners. Many violin concertos emphasize high, soaring notes, but Dvořák’s work highlights the rich, warm colors of the violin’s lower register. Join us today to hear Dvořák's concerto performed by James Ehnes and the Minnesota Orchestra, with Edward Gardner conducting.

đź“· Benjamin Ealovega Photography

Violinist James Ehnes says Dvořák's Violin Concerto can surprise listeners. Many violin concertos emphasize high, soaring notes, but Dvořák’s work highlights the rich, warm colors of the violin’s lower register. Join us today to hear Dvořák's concerto performed by James Ehnes and the Minne...

Recently, composer and pianist Michael Stephen Brown found inspiration in Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem "The Lotos-Eaters....
04/27/2026

Recently, composer and pianist Michael Stephen Brown found inspiration in Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem "The Lotos-Eaters." He was struck by its vivid imagery and felt compelled to express it in his own way. On today's show, we'll hear Brown's "The Lotos-Eaters" performed by the composer (and others) at a concert presented by ChamberFest Cleveland.

đź“· Janette Beckman

Recently, composer and pianist Michael Stephen Brown found inspiration in Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem "The Lotos-Eaters." He was struck by its vivid imagery and felt compelled to express it in his own way. On today's show, we'll hear Brown's "The Lotos-Eaters" performed by the composer (and others...

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