A performance edition is meant to be used during practice and performance. A performance edition often aims to meet the performer's practical needs, such as including helpful fingerings, providing a layout that facilitates page turns, and suggestions for phrasing. Some performance editions are edited by well-known performers whose suggestions might be valued by a pupil.
The fingerings, phrasings, and other markings that appear in a performance edition do not usually contain a critical commentary explaining the reasons for editor's additions and decisions. When choosing an edition, care must be taken to evaluate all available editions, to investigate the credentials of the editor, and possibly seek advice from others about which editions are best, given the performer's unique goals.
Example: Among the many editions available to cellists of J.S. Bach's six suites for cello BWV 1007-12 is a performance edition featuring interpretations and suggestions by famed cellist Pablo Casals, published by Carus-Verlag in 2004.

In the beginning of Suite 1, cellists see dynamics, slurs, and articulation markings provided by Casals.

Casals' symbols, articulations, and other markings are described in the beginning of the edition by Rudolf von Tobel, translated into English by Joseph B. Dallett and Helga von Tobel. These explanations help the performer to interpret and perform the suites as Casals chose.
