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: [log in to unmask]** 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