Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge

Composers Datebook - May 12, 2024

YourClassical

Reich and Korot tell tales

Steve Reich (b. 1936): Music for Large Ensemble; Alarm Will Sound and Ossia; Alan Pierson, conductor; Nonesuch 79546

1:59
YourClassical

Lloyd-Webber's long-lived 'Cats'

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704): ‘Sonata Violino Solo Representativa’; Il Giardino Armonico; Giovanni Antonini, conductor; Teldec 21464 Andrew Lloyd-Webber (b. 1948): ‘Cats’ Overture; Original Broadway Cast orchestra; Geffen 22031

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Copland at the movies

Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘Our Town’ Suite; Saint Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; BMG 61699

2:00
YourClassical

Sondheim at the Forum

Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021): ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’; 1996 Broadway Cast; Angel 52223

2:00
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Salieri leaves, Seidl arrives

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Symphony No. 25; St. Martin’s Academy; Neville Marriner, conductor; Fantasy 104/105 Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): Symphony No. 9 (From the New World); Vienna Philharmonic; Rafael Kubelik, conductor; Decca 466 994 Antonio Salieri (1750-1825): ‘La Folia Variations’; London Mozart Players; Matthias Bamert, conductor; Chandos 9877

2:00
YourClassical

George Perle

George Perle (1915-2009): Serenade No. 3; Richard Goode, piano; Music Today Ensemble; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Nonesuch 79108

2:00
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Tchaikovsky at Carnegie Hall

Peter Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): ‘Coronation March’; Boston Pops; John Williams, conductor; Philips 420 804 Orchestral Suite No. 3; New Philharmonia; Antal Dorati, conductor; Philips 464 747

2:00
YourClassical

Vaughan Williams' 'London Symphony'

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958): Symphony No. 2 (‘A London Symphony’); London Symphony Orchestra; Richard Hickox, conductor; Chanos 9902

2:00
YourClassical

Pleyel and Poulenc

Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): ‘Concert Champêtre’ (‘Pastoral Concerto’); Aimée Van de Wiele, harpsichord; Paris Conservatory Orchestra; Georges Prêtre, condcutor; EMI Classics 69446 or 95584

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.