Barber's 'scandalous' overture
Samuel Barber (1910-1981): ‘School for Scandal’ overture; Baltimore Symphony; David Zinman, conductor; Argo 436 288
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Aug. 30, 2026
2:00
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Saariaho at the Proms
J.S. Bach (1685-1750) arr. Henry Wood: Toccata and Fugue in D minor; BBC Symphony; Andrew Davis, conductor; Teldec 97868 Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023): ‘Grail Theatre’; Gidon Kremer, violin; BBC Symphony; Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; Sony Classical 60817
2:00
Gershwin's operatic flop
George Gershwin (1898-1937): ‘Blue Monday’; Cincinnati Pops; Erich Kunzel, conductor; Telarc 80434
2:00
Rameau's 'Pygmalion'
Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764): ‘Pygmalion’; La Petite Bande; Gustav Leonhardt, conductor; BMG/Deutsche; Harmonia Mundi 77143
2:00
Martinu's 'Frescoes'
Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1950): ‘Les Fresques de Piero della Francesca’; Vienna Philharmonic; Rafael Kubelik, conductor; Orfeo C521-991 (recorded August 26, 1956)
2:00
Bernstein asks a musical question in Moscow
Charles Ives (1874-1954): ‘The Unanswered Question’; New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; Sony Classical 46701
2:00
Claude Goudimel, Huguenot
Claude Goudimel (1510-1572): ‘Comfort, Comfort Ye my People’; Cathedral Singers; Richard Proulx, conductor; GIA 290
2:00
Hadley, Thompson, et al. in the Berkshires
Randall Thompson (1899-1984): ‘Alleluia’; Dale Warland Singers; Dale Warland, conductor; Minnesota Public Radio 201
2:00
Libby Larsen’s Trio
Libby Larsen (b. 1950): Movement 3 (‘Bursts’) from Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano; Curtis Macomber, violin; Norman Fischer, cello; Jeanne Kierman, piano; Navona Records NV-6014
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.