A Bartok premiere (and patron)
Béla Bartók (1881-1945): String Quartet No. 5; Emerson String Quartet; DG 423 657
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - April 8, 2024
2:00
Beethoven's 'Eroica' premiere
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1828): Symphony No. 3 (‘Eroica’); Berlin Philharmonic; Herbert von Karajan, conductor; DG 429 036
2:00
Ravel's 'Duo'
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): Sonata (‘Duo’) for Violin and Cello; Nigel Kennedy, violin; Lynn Harrell, cello; EMI 56963
2:00
Lou Harrison conducts an Ives premiere
Charles Ives (1874-1954): Symphony No. 3; Concertgebouw Orchestra; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. CBS/Sony 37823
2:00
Of success and sorrow: Gorecki's Third
Henryk Gorecki (1933-2010): Symphony No. 3 (‘Symphony of Sorrowful Songs’); Dawn Upshaw, soprano; London Sinfonietta; David Zinman, cond. Nonesuch 79282
2:00
Marvin Hatley goes cuckoo
Marvin Hatley (1905 - 1986) — "Dance of the Cuckoos" (Van Phillips and His Orchestra) British 78-rpm recording ('Dance of the Cuckoos')
2:00
Politically correct Bruckner, circa 1937
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): Symphony No. 9; Minnesota Orchestra; Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, conductor (Reference 81)
2:00
Havergal Brian says 'Hail and Farewell'
Havergal Brian (1876-1972): ‘Ave atque Vale’; BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra; Garry Walker, conductor; Toccata Classics 110
2:00
W.G. Still's all-star lineup
William Grant Still (1895-1978): Symphony No. 1 (‘Afro-American’); Detroit Symphony; Neeme Jarvi, cond. Chandos 9154
2:00
Heggie's white whale
Jake Heggie (b. 1961): ‘Moby Dick’; San Francisco Opera; Patrick Summers, cond. EuroArts DVD 2059658
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.