Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook - Jan. 26, 2025

YourClassical

Paine's Symphony No. 1

John Knowles Paine (1839-1906): Symphony No. 1; New York Philharmonic; Zubin Mehta, conductor New World 374

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

HRH is amused

Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835): ‘A Te, o Cara, Amor Talora,’ from ‘I Puritani’; Alfredo Kraus; Philharmonia Orchestra; Riccardo Muti, conductor; EMI 09149

2:00
YourClassical

Durufle's Op. 5

Maurice Durufle (1902-1986): Organ Suite; Todd Wilson, organ; Schudi organ at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Dallas, Texas; Delos 3047

2:00
YourClassical

Richard Strauss and Terry Riley put their spin on Salome's dance

Richard Strauss (1864-1949): ‘Dance of the Seven Veils’, from ‘Salome’; New York Philharmonic, Lorin Maazel, conductor; DG 7890 Terry Riley (b. 1935): ‘Good Medicine’, from ‘Salome Dances for Peace’; Kronos Quartet; Nonesuch 79217

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphosis

Paul Hindemith (1895-1963): ‘Symphonic Metamorphosis’; San Francisco Symphony, Herbert Blomstedt, conductor; London/Decca 421523

2:00
YourClassical

A Fanfare for JFK

Frederick Loewe (1901-1988): ‘Camelot: Overture’; London Promenade Orchestra; Eric Hammerstein, conductor; Reader's Digest 16931 Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990): ‘Fanfare for the Inauguration of John F. Kennedy Jr.’; National Symphony Orchestra; Cristoph Eschenbach, conductor; Ondine 1190

2:00
YourClassical

The Harris Ninth

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): Symphony No. 9; New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, conductor; Sony 60597 Roy Harris (1898-1979): Symphony No. 9; Albany Symphony; David Alan Miller, conductor; Albany 350

2:00
YourClassical

Einstein and Glass on stage

Philip Glass (b. 1937): ‘Cadenza,’ from ‘Einstein on the Beach’; Philip Glass Ensemble; Michael Riesman, conductor; Nonesuch 79323

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.