Elgar gets short-changed
Edward Elgar (1857-1934): Cello Concerto; Jacqueline du Pré, cello; Philadephia Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim, conductor; Sony 60789
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Oct. 26, 2025
2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
Sign up for the free Composers Datebook newsletter now — every day in your inbox!
Tchaikovsky on a quiz show?
Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): Piano Concerto No. 1; Van Cliburn, piano; RCA Symphony; Kirill Kondrashin, conductor; Philips 456 748
2:00
Of Crumb and the Crash
George Crumb (1929-2022): ‘Musica Apocalyptica,’ from ‘Star-Child’; Warsaw Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra; Thomas Conlin, conductor; Bridge 9095
2:00
Night music by Delius and Danielpour
Frederick Delius (1862-1934): ‘Summer Night on the River’; BBC Symphony; Andrew Davis, conductor; Teldec 90845 Richard Danielpour (b. 1956): ‘Celestial Night’; Philharmonia Orchestra; Zdenek Macal, conductor; Sony 60779
2:00
Musical carpentry?
John Alden Carpenter (1876-1951): Symphony No. 2; National Symphony of Ukraine; John McLaughlin Williams, conductor; Naxos 8.559065
2:00
Offenbach puts a critic to work
Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880): ‘Orpheus in the Underworld’; English National Opera Orchestra and Chorus; Mark Elder, conductor; MCA 6325
2:00
Lou Harrison's Piano Concerto
Lou Harrison (1917-2003): Piano Concerto; Keith Jarrett, piano; New Japan Philharmonic; Naoto Otomo, conductor; New World 366
2:00
'Mass for Double Choir' by Claussen
Rene Clausen (b. 1953): ‘Mass for Double Choir’; Kansas City Chorale; Charles Bruffy, conductor; Chandos 5105
2:00
Symphonic Mahler and Moross
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): Symphony No. 5; Chicago Symphony; Claudio Abbado, conductor; DG 427 254 Jerome Moross (1913-1983): Symphony No. 1; London Symphony; JoAnn Falletta, conductor; Koch 7188
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.