Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for December 8, 2018

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Jean Sibelius

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) Suite for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 117 Dong-Suk Kang, vn; Lahti Symphony; Osmo Vanska BIS 1125

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Ruggles on the mountaintop

Carl Ruggles (1876–1971) Men and Mountains Buffalo Philharmonic; Lukas Foss, cond. Vox 8155

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Schumann and Prokofiev in private

Robert Schumann (1810–1856) Piano Quintet in Eb, Op. 44 Menaehm Pressler, piano; Emerson String Quartet DG 445 848 Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953) Cello Sonata, Op. 119 David Finckel, cello; Wu Han, piano Artist Led 19901

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Berlioz gets snuffed?

Hector Berlioz (1803–1869) Requiem , Op 5 French Radio Chorus and Orchestra; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 47526

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Bruckner's New York debut

Anton Bruckner (1824–1896) Symphony No. 3 in d BBC Scottish Symphony; Osmo Vänskä, cond. Hyperion 67200

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Bach Begins the Church Year

J.S. Bach (1685 - 1750) Cantata No. 62 (Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland) Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists; John Eliot Gardiner, cond. Archiv 463 588

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Messiaen in Boston

Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992) Turangalila Symphony Concertgebouw Orchestra; Riccardo Chailly, cond. London 436 626

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Picker picks a plot

Tobias Picker (b. 1954) Therese Raquin Dallas Opera Orchestra; Graeme Jenkins, cond. Chandos 9659

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Scarlatti Arrives

On today’s date in 1719, the Papal ambassador in Lisbon noted the arrival of a fellow Italian, a composer named Domenico Scarlatti. Domenico was in his early 30s, and the son of Alessandro Scarlatti, a very famous and influential composer of Baroque operas in Naples.

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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.