Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook - April 28, 2024

YourClassical

Diamond's Fifth, finally!

David Diamond (1915-2005): Symphony No. 5; Juilliard Orchestra, Christopher Keene, conductor; New World 80396

2:00
YourClassical

Handel with no strings attached

George Frederic Handel (1685-1759): ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields; Neville Marriner, conductor; Argo 414596

2:00
YourClassical

Serebrier assists Stokie (and Ives)

Charles Ives (1874-1954): Symphony No. 4; Los Angeles Philharmonic; Gustavo Dudamel, conductor; DG 4839505 José Serebrier (b. 1938): Symphony No. 2 (‘Partita’) London Philharmonic; José Serebrier, conductor; Reference 90

2:00
YourClassical

Puccini victorious

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): ‘Nessun dorma,’ from ‘Turandot’; Academy of St Martin in the Fields; Neville Marriner, conductor; EMI 49552

2:00
YourClassical

Seasonal music by Haydn

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809): ‘Ländler,’ from ‘The Seasons’; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields; Neville Marriner, conductor; Philips 438715

2:00
YourClassical

Meeting deadlines: Tchaikovsky and Zaimont

Peter Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): ‘May,’ from ‘The Seasons’; Lang Lang, piano; Sony 11758 Judith Lang Zaimont (b. 1945): ‘The May Fly,’ from ‘Calendar Collection’; Nanette Kaplan Solomon, piano; Leonarda 334

2:00
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Morton Gould rewrites history

Morton Gould (1913-1996): ‘Fall River Legend’; New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; James Sedares, conductor; Koch 7181

2:00
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Bernstein and the birds

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990): ‘On the Town: Three Dance Episodes’; New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; Sony 42263

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Violin Concerto No. 2 by George Tsontakis

George Tsontakis (b. 1951): Violin Concerto No. 2; Stephen Copes, violin; Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; Douglas Boyd, conductor; Koch International 7592

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.