Fred Child : NPR

Fred Child Fred Child is the host of America's most-listened-to classical music radio program, NPR's Performance Today. The program reaches 1.5 million listeners on 250 stations around the country. The program features classical music in concert around the nation and the world, in concert from the NPR studios, and classical music news, interviews, and issues.

Stories By

Fred Child

Saturday December 25, 2004

Performance Today

Tchaikovsky

December 25, 2004 • Six members of the Pittsburgh Symphony brass section join Fred Child in NPR's Studio 4A this hour. They're playing holiday music, starting with a Dance from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker." We're hearing from trumpeters George Vosburgh and Neal Berntsen, horn player William Caballero, trombonists Peter Sullivan and Murray Crewe, and tuba player Eric Bubacz (BOO-bahch). After the Tchaikovsky, they play "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" and "What Child is This" -- both arrangements by George Vosburgh -- followed by "Nativity Carol" and "Infant Holy," arrangements by Neal Berntsen.

Tchaikovsky

Audio will be available later today.

Tuesday December 21, 2004

Performance Today

Tchaikovsky

December 21, 2004 • Six members of the Pittsburgh Symphony brass section join Fred Child in NPR's Studio 4A this hour. They're playing holiday music, starting with a Dance from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker." We're hearing from trumpeters George Vosburgh and Neal Berntsen, horn player William Caballero, trombonists Peter Sullivan and Murray Crewe, and tuba player Eric Bubacz (BOO-bahch). After the Tchaikovsky, they play "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" and "What Child is This" -- both arrangements by George Vosburgh -- followed by "Nativity Carol" and "Infant Holy," arrangements by Neal Berntsen.

Tchaikovsky

Audio will be available later today.

Thursday December 16, 2004

Music

Christmas Around the Country

December 16, 2004 • From concert halls across the nation, Perfomance Today presents Christmas Around the Country, a celebration of holiday music in America. NPR's Fred Child hosts the one-hour special, with music from the Boston Camerata, the St. Olaf Choir and others.

Christmas Around the Country

Audio for this story is unavailable.

Friday December 10, 2004

Music Interviews

History of Western Music

December 10, 2004 • In the new Oxford History of Western Music, musicologist Richard Taruskin explores the music of Europe and America from the rise of musical notation in the eighth century to the beginning of the 21st. He joins NPR's Fred Child for a series on five pivotal moments in the history of Western music.

Wednesday December 8, 2004

Music Interviews

Famed Conductor Fennell Dies at 90

December 8, 2004 • A major figure in the American musical scene died on Dec. 7 at his home in Siesta Key, Fla. Frederick Fennell was a legendary conductor and educator known for his musicality and interpretive abilities. NPR's Fred Child remembers him through his music.

Famed Conductor Fennell Dies at 90

Audio for this story is unavailable.

Thursday November 25, 2004

Music

Thanksgiving à la Rossini

November 25, 2004 • Gioacchino Rossini, the great opera composer, was also a great gourmand. In fact, the man behind The Barber of Seville retired from composition when he was just 37 and spent the rest of his life — about 40 more years --enjoying food. On this Thanksgiving, NPR's Fred Child celebrates with a tribute to Rossini.

Monday November 22, 2004

National

The Gehry Organ, Voice of Walt Disney Hall

November 22, 2004 • While the Walt Disney Concert Hall has been open since October 2003, the dramatic organ was not ready until this fall. A design collaboration between Gehry and organ builder Manuel Rosales, the 6,134-pipe organ is a dramatic centerpiece to the venue. NPR's Fred Child visits the hall.

Sunday November 14, 2004

Performance Today

Andsnes Plays Mozart

November 14, 2004 • Fred Child speaks with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes about his new CD of Mozart Piano Concertos, and we hear a performance of Andsnes playing the Concerto no. 18 at Tanglewood with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra.

Andsnes Plays Mozart

Audio will be available later today.

Saturday November 13, 2004

Performance Today

Andsnes Plays Mozart

November 13, 2004 • Fred Child speaks with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes about his new CD of Mozart Piano Concertos, and we hear a performance of Andsnes playing the Concerto no. 18 at Tanglewood with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra.

Andsnes Plays Mozart

Audio will be available later today.

Thursday November 11, 2004

In Performance

Taps, by Sergeant Major Woody English

November 11, 2004 • NPR's Fred Child interviews the trumpet soloist for the U.S. Army Band about the song "Taps." English performed the piece at this year's national memorial service for the late President Ronald Reagan.

Taps, by Sergeant Major Woody English

Audio will be available later today.

Tuesday November 9, 2004

Performance Today

Andsnes Speaks

November 9, 2004 • Fred Child talks with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes about his new CD of Mozart piano concertos and we hear a performance of Andsnes playing the Concerto no. 18 at Tanglewood with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra.

Andsnes Speaks

Audio will be available later today.

Saturday November 6, 2004

Music Interviews

Commemorating John Philip Sousa's 150th

November 6, 2004 • NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Performance Today host Fred Child about the life and music of John Philip Sousa. Sousa, often called the "March King," was born in Washington, D.C., 150 years ago Saturday.

Commemorating John Philip Sousa's 150th

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Friday November 5, 2004

In Performance

Flutists Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway

November 5, 2004 • Sir James and his wife, flutist Lady Jeanne Galway, visit NPR's Studio 4A. They chat with PT Host Fred Child and play three pieces by Debussy — Le petit berger, Clair de lune and En bateau — plus a duet by Johann Cristian Schultz for 2 flutes.

Flutists Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway

Audio will be available later today.

The Galways Live at NPR

November 5, 2004 • Sir James and his wife, flutist Lady Jeanne Galway, visit NPR's Studio 4A. They chat with PT Host Fred Child and play three pieces by Debussy -- Le petit berger, Clair de lune and En bateau -- plus a duet by Johann Cristian Schultz for 2 flutes.

Wednesday November 3, 2004

Performance Today

Elise Kirk's White House Music

November 3, 2004 • Musicologist Elise Kirk has been writing about music at the White House for more than a decade. She talks with PT Host Fred Child about the role of the President in the musical life of the America.

Elise Kirk's White House Music

Audio will be available later today.