Aug 27th, 2008 · From Boston's New England Conservatory, eight musicians – none older than 13 – showcase their remarkable accomplishments. A 10-year-old violinist plays Bartok, a 13-year-old pianist tackles a diabolical piece by Prokofiev and a multi-talented 11-year-old cellist performs music by Kabalevsky. Also, a 13-year-old composer debuts a new work. This program originally aired on April 2, 2008.
Sep 21st, 2007 · Renowned bass Samuel Ramey stars as a serial murderer in Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle, and as the devious title character in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, a comedy with a corpse at the center of the action. It's a deadly double bill from the Washington National Opera.
Sep 15th, 2007 · Every young composer searches for a unique voice. Conductor Marin Alsop says Bela Bartok found his in the hills and villages of rural Hungary. The songs he collected from peasants infused the spirit of his music.
Jan 5th, 2007 · Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell gives an intimate and passionate recital of Romantic and Twentieth Century music with former NPR artist in residence, pianist Jeremy Denk. Highlights include the Beethoven Fifth Violin Sonata, Bartok's Rhapsody No. 1 for Violin and Piano and Prokofiev's Five Melodies.
Nov 1st, 2006 · Performance Today's week in concert with the Cleveland Orchestra continues. Music director Franz Welser-Most gives us his philosophy of leading the Cleveland musicians, and of conducting the tricky Concerto for Orchestra by Bela Bartok.
Oct 30th, 2006 · All this week, Performance Today features the venerable Cleveland Orchestra in concert at Severance Hall. Music director Franz Welser-Most lends insight into music by Bruckner, Schumann, Rachmaninoff and Bartok. The week kicks off with the rarely heard ballet by Claude Debussy called Jeux.
Aug 10th, 2006 · The Budapest Festival Orchestra performs "Improvisations on Gypsy Music," joined by Hungarian folk musicians. And members of the Keller String Quartet perform selections from Bartok's 44 Duos for Two Violins, based on folk tunes.
Dec 4th, 2005 · On the CD Goulash!, Matt Haimovitz and his stringed instrument explore the music of Hungary, Romania and Transylvania. And he throws in a version of the rock band's "Kashmir" for good measure.