December 7, 2009
The gift of fire
Prometheus took fire from the gods and gave it to mortals. We got warmth and light, knowledge and culture. But Zeus punished Prometheus by chaining him to a rock for all eternity, where a giant eagle pecked out his liver each day. Hour one is a look at music inspired by the Prometheus legend, including music by Barber, Schubert, Beethoven, and Glazunov.
Today's Playlist
Performance Today audio is available for seven days following broadcast.
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Richard Wagner
"Magic Fire Music" from "Die Walkure"
The Philadelphia Orchestra with conductor Eugene Ormandy
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Samuel Barber
"Music for a Scene from Shelley," Op. 7
The New England Conservatory Philharmonia Orchestra with conductor Hugh Wolff
Jordan Hall, Boston
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Franz Schubert
"Prometheus," D. 674
Baritone Thomas Quasthoff and pianist Lars Vogt
Lucerne Festival, Lucerne, Switzerland
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Excerpts from "The Creatures of Prometheus," Op. 43
The Buffalo Philharmonic with conductor JoAnn Falletta
Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, New York
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Alexander Glazunov
"Orientale" from "Five Novelettes"
The St. Petersburg String Quartet
Le Petit Trianon Concert Hall, San Jose, California
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Antonin Dvorak
Final movement from Trio in E Minor, Op. 90 ("Dumky")
The Weilerstein Trio
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Carl Maria von Weber
"Invitation to the Dance"
The German Symphony Orchestra of Berlin with conductor Charles Dutoit
Philharmonie, Berlin, Germany
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Frederic Chopin
Mazurkas No. 2 in A-flat and No. 3 in F-sharp Minor, Op. 59
Pianist Jonathan Biss
Union College, Schenectady, New York
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Leos Janacek
Piano Trio ("The Kreutzer Sonata")
The Weilerstein Trio
Jordan Hall, Boston
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Anonymous
Gaudens in Domino, for the Feast of St. Nicholas
In Mulieribus with conductor Anna Song
St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Portland Oregon
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Andre Danican Philidor
"En m'en Revenant de Saint Nicolas" and "Bouree d'Avignone"
The Royal Wind Music with conductor Paul Leenhouts
Boston Early Music Festival, Boston
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Adagio and Fugue, K. 546
The River Oaks Chamber Orchestra with conductor Christopher Zimmerman
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Houston