Dear Listeners,

In Fort Worth, Texas this week, thirty eager young pianists are competing
for the Gold Medal in the 11th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
We'll be eavesdropping on the proceedings this week, and we'll bring you
the highlights.  On Monday, the 11th of June, we'll announce the winner and
bring you one of the performances that clinched the judges' decision.  I
hope you can join us.

**Please send any correspondence to Performance Today using this address:
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COMING UP ON WEEKEND PERFORMANCE TODAY
MAY 26 and MAY 27, 2001

KORVA COLEMAN IS HOST

Saturday, MAY 26

Hour 1 -- A Symphony "filled with...inner peace and tranquility":  In the
volatile years before the French Revolution, when Marie Antoinette was on
the throne, Joseph Haydn visited Paris and presented some surprisingly
inward-looking music.  We'll hear his Symphony No.  84 in concert from
Germany.

Hour 2 -- News Roundup:  Raymond Leppard has stepped down as Music Director
of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.  We'll hear him conduct the
uncommonly lush Fantasy on a Hymn Tune by American composer Thomas Canning.
And as the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition heats up in Fort
Worth, we'll hear a performance by the reigning Gold Medallist, Jon
Nakamatsu.

Sunday, MAY 27

Hour 1 -- When they were younger:  This hour, we'll hear music that
Beethoven and Gustav Holst wrote early on, when they were still finding
their personal styles.  Our concert tour takes us to Purchase, New York for
a performance by the Eroica Trio and to Akron, Ohio to hear the Solaris
Wind Quintet.

Hour 2 -- Performance Today Piano Showcase:  Two pianists share the concert
spotlight this hour.  Leon Bates plays Rachmaninoff and a charming piece
by Nathaniel Dett.  And Pascal Roge is the soloist in a performance of the
Piano Concerto No.  2 by Camille Saint-Saens with the Jacksonville Symphony
Orchestra.

COMING UP ON PERFORMANCE TODAY
MAY 28 - JUNE 1

FRED CHILD IS HOST

Monday, MAY 28

Hour 1 -- A celebration of American music for Memorial Day:  We're in
concert around the country as Leon Bates plays Duke Ellington, Livia Sohn
solos in the Violin Concerto by Samuel Barber and the American Brass
Quintet plays music from the early days of American Independence.

Hour 2 -- A "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs":  The hauntingly beautiful
Symphony No.  3 by Henryk Gorecki is a good way to reflect on Memorial Day.
We'll hear a recent performance by the Buffalo Philharmonic, with JoAnn
Falletta conducting.

BONNIE GRICE IS HOST

Tuesday, MAY 29

Hour 1 -- Strictly classics:  We'll hear Haydn's Quartet in G performed by
the Tokyo String Quartet from a concert for the Chamber Music Society of
Lincoln Center.  And conductor JoAnn Falletta puts down her baton and picks
up her guitar for a performance of Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Guitars with
Angel Romero and the Buffalo Philharmonic.

Hour 2 -- A Coming to Terms Grab-Bag:  PT commentator Miles Hoffman and
Bonnie reach into the PT mail bag to answer listener questions about the
tempo marking "vivace," the piccolo clarinet, and the difference between
a waltz and a mazurka.

FRED CHILD IS HOST

Wednesday, MAY 30

Hour 1 -- Our coverage of the 11th Annual Van Cliburn International Piano
competition begins today.  We'll hear performances from the preliminary
rounds, which started over the weekend.

Hour 2 -- Schubert's Unfinished Symphony is our focus this hour, in concert
from the North German Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Thursday, MAY 31

Hour 1 -- The Semifinals of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
begin today in Fort Worth.  We'll feature performances by some of the 12
contestants who were chosen to advance.

Hour 2 -- Basic Mahler:  Critic Ted Libbey joins Fred to recommend three
outstanding recordings of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No.  1 for the
Performance Today Basic Record Library.

Friday, JUNE 1

Hour 1 -- Daniels reaches the highest heights: Countertenor David Daniels
boldly goes where many men can't go, into a woman's singing range.  He's
one of today's most sought-after countertenors, and we caught him in
concert in Michigan, performing the Bach Cantata "Ich Habe Genug" (I have
enough) with the King's Violins.  Daniels joins Fred to explain how he
became a countertenor and why voice teachers don't usually know what to
do with men who can sing as high as he does.

Plus, more coverage of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in
Fort Worth, Texas.

Hour 2 -- Musical offerings:  We'll hear a sampling of music performed in
concert.

CHECK OUT THE NEW PERFORMANCE TODAY WEBSITE!!:  Check out Terry Teachout's
commentary on when it's time to quit....Visit our "Sound of Art" picture
gallery.....  Listen to guitarist Sharon Isbin in Studio 4A.......  Join
Miles and learn about the laws of chamber music....  Listen to pianist
Angela Hewitt play Bach....  Get up-to-date on the latest additions to the
PT Basic record Library.  You'll find it all at
http://www.npr.org/programs/pt/

PT EXCLUSIVE:  Meet our PT Young Artist in Residence, pianist Jeremy Denk
at the link below:

   http://www.npr.org/programs/pt/news/features/denk.interview.html

NOTE: SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  FOR EXACT BROADCAST TIMES, CONTACT
YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC RADIO STATION, GO TO OUR WEBSITE, OR CALL PERFORMANCE
TODAY AT (202) 513-2370.

Don Lee
Executive Producer
Performance Today