Martinu in California
Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959): ‘Sinfonietta ‘La Jolla’’; Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; Christopher Hogwood, conductor; London 433 660
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Aug. 13, 2025
2:00
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'Twilight Butterfly' by Thomas
Augusta Read Thomas (b. 1964): ‘Twilight Butterfly’; Yvonne Redman, soprano; Julie Gunn, piano; Nimbus 6306
2:00
Bernstein in Hollywood
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990): ‘On the Waterfront Suite’; Israel Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; DG 415 253
2:00
Two by Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’; Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; Neville Marriner, conductor; EMI Classics 65690 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Symphony No. 41 (‘Jupiter’); Marlboro Festival Orchestra; Pablo Casals, conductor; CBS/Sony 47294
2:00
Berlioz, Beatrice and Benedict
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869): ‘Beatrice and Benedict’ Overture; Boston Symphony; Charles Munch, conductor; RCA Victor Gold Seal 61400
2:00
Chaminade in America
Cecile Chaminade (1857-1944): ‘L’Ondine’ and ‘Scherzo in C’; (Peter Jacobs, piano; Hyperion 66584
2:00
Mendelssohn gets wet and wild
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): ‘The Hebrides’ (‘Fingal’s Cave’); Overture BBC Symphony; Sir Colin Davis, conductor; Philips 426 978
2:00
An opera debut for Britten and Bernstein
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): ‘Sunday Morning and Storm,’ from ‘Peter Grimes’; New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; Sony Classical 47541
2:00
Of mountains and Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992): ‘Bryce Canyon and the Red-Orange Rocks,’ from ‘From the Canyons to the Stars’; London Sinfonietta; Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; CBS/Sony 44762
2:00
About Composers Datebook®
Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.
He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.