Dear Listeners, This week we have the pleasure of featuring two pianists who are as different as they get: Van Cliburn and Billy Joel. Van Cliburn recalls his win at the Tchaikovsky Competition and Billy Joel introduces music from his new classical album. You may be surprised to learn that his favorite piano music is by the 19th century romantics, and that's the music he's emulated for his new CD. Also, Angel Romero plays the wonderful Concerto de Aranjuez by Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo. And Miles Hoffman clears up a thorny musical term -- continuo. I guarantee you'll know what it means by the time he's done. There's so much more, and I hope you get a chance to listen. By the way, if you'd like to read the beautiful, moving essay by the young Juilliard student who played for rescue workers in New York, the text version is up on our website now. COMING UP ON PERFORMANCE TODAY OCTOBER 13 - 19, 2001 KORVA COLEMAN IS HOST Saturday, OCTOBER 13 Hour 1 -- Vivaldi marathon: This hour we'll eavesdrop on Vivaldi in concert -- some conventional and some off the beaten track -- including an arrangement of the Concerto in D minor for accordion, bass balalaika and a small-necked lute known as a domra. Hour 2 -- Festival Beethoven: The Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio plays Beethoven's Variations in E-flat on an Original Theme Op. 44 at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. We'll also head up to the Chamber Music Festival Northwest in Portland for a performance of Beethoven's Rondino in E-flat for Woodwinds. Sunday, OCTOBER 14 Hour 1 -- Bach marathon: Our all-Bach hour begins with Bach's Chaconne played on the guitar by Manuel Barrueco in NPR's Studio 4A. We'll then head over to Portland, Oregon to hear one of the finest Bach pianists of our time -- Angela Hewitt -- play the Toccata in G. Hour 2 -- Performance Today Piano Showcase: From evocative music of Claude Debussy, to the rambunctious Piano Concerto No. 1 by Franz Liszt, we're celebrating the piano this hour in concert from the Bard Music Festival and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. FRED CHILD IS HOST Monday, OCTOBER 15 Hour 1 -- A Spanish Spectacular: The music of Isaac Albeniz, Manuel de Falla, and Joaquin Rodrigo played in concert by some of today's finest soloists including guitarists Angel and Pepe Romero and pianist Santiago Rodriguez. Hour 2 -- Rebel LIVE in NPR's Studio 4A: We'll hear a feast of Baroque music as the ensemble Rebel joins us for a private recital in our studios. The members of Rebel are former Performance Today Young Artists in Residence. They'll play music by Tomaso Albinoni, Antonio Vivaldi and a composer whose nickname was "Little Ragamuffin." Tuesday, OCTOBER 16 Hour 1 -- Van Cliburn on competitions: Fred has a rare interview with Van Cliburn, who won the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958. Tomorrow night, PBS will air a documentary about this year's Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. Hour 2 -- Coming to Terms with continuo: PT answer-man Miles Hoffman joins Fred to dispel the rumor that a continuo is an instrument. To find out what it is, tune in to this week's edition of "Coming to Terms." Wednesday, OCTOBER 17 Hour 1 -- A postcard from New York: Commentator Terry Teachout has attended several concerts in New York that have him thinking about the ability of music to strike the right chord in times of crisis. Hour 2 -- All-American hour in concert around the country: Music by George Gershwin, Samuel Barber, Howard Hanson, John Philip Sousa and Edgar Meyer performed by the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Dallas Winds, the US Marine Band, violinist Joshua Bell and Edgar Meyer. Thursday, OCTOBER 18 Hour 1 -- Journey on the Silk Road: We'll have a report from the opening of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road project, which is inspired by music that was played along the ancient silk road trading route. Hour 2 -- Ted Libbey joins Fred to recommend recordings for the PT Basic Record Library. Friday, OCTOBER 19 Hour 1 -- Billy Joel goes Classical: Songwriter and pianist Billy Joel may be famous for his contributions to rock 'n' roll and pop music, but he has just released an album of his own classical piano music. Fred finds out why Billy Joel took this unexpected turn. Hour 2 -- Musical offerings: We'll hear a sampling of music performed in concert. A PEEK AT NEXT WEEK: Monday, OCTOBER 22 Hour 1 -- Hard times in St. Louis: We'll hear a report from Jim Dryden on the financial crisis of the St. Louis Symphony, the most prominent orchestra facing crippling deficits. Hour 2 -- Midori in NPR's Studio 4A: Violinist Midori and pianist Robert MacDonald join Fred for a recital in NPR's Studio 4A. AND ON THE NEW PERFORMANCE TODAY WEBSITE: Listen to Talk of the Nation Host Neal Conan interview Fred on music in response to September 11th... Check out what music PT listeners are turning to for solace and comfort ....Listen to pianist Adam Neiman perform in NPR's Studio 4A....Take a peek at the new NPR series--"In Rehearsal"....Listen to our hour in memory of violinist Isaac Stern.... Order your copy of "Peter and the Wolf: A Special Report." You'll find it all at http://www.npr.org/programs/pt 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. Angelo Harris <[log in to unmask]>