Puccini's shocker
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): ‘Tosca’; Soloists and Philharmonia Orchestra; Giuseppe Sinopoli, conductor; DG 431 775
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Jan. 14, 2026
2:00
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'Hello, Mr. Addinsell?'
Richard Addinsell (1904-1977): ‘Goodbye, Mr. Chips’; BBC Concert Orchestra; Kenneth Alwyn, conductor; Marco Polo 8.223732 Richard Addinsell (1904-1977): ‘Warsaw Concerto’; Cristina Ortiz, piano; Royal Philharmonic; Moseh Atzmon, conductor; London 414 348
2:00
Dvořák's 'American Quintet'
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): ‘American String Quintet’; Smetana Quartet; Josef Suk, viola; Denon 72507
2:00
A Kernis premiere wins the Pulitzer
Aaron Jay Kernis (b. 1960): String Quartet No. 2 (‘musica instrumentalis’); The Lark Quartet; Arabesque 6727
2:00
Bartok's 'Contrasts'
Béla Bartók (1881-1945): ‘Contrasts’; Benny Goodman, clarinet; Joseph Szigeti, violin; Bela Bartok, piano; CBS/SONY 42227
2:00
William Bolcom and William Blake
William Bolcom (b. 1938): ‘Songs of Innocence and of Experience Soloists’; Choirs; University of Michigan School of Music Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; Naxos 8.559216/18
2:00
'Statements' from Copland
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘Statements’; London Symphony; Aaron Copland, conductor; Sony 47232
2:00
Concertos by Poulenc and Carter
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): Piano Concerto; Pascal Roge, piano; Philharmonia Orchestra; Charles Dutoit, conductor; London 436 546 Elliott Carter (1908-2012): Piano Concerto; Ursula Oppens, piano; SWF Symphony; Michael Gielen, conductor; Arte Nova 27773
2:00
Ravel left and right
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): Piano Concerto for the Left Hand; Leon Fleisher, piano; Baltimore Symphony; Sergui Commissiona, conductor; Philips 456 775 Piano Concerto in G Krystian Zimerman, piano; Cleveland Orchestra; Pierre Boulez, conductor; DG 449 213
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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.