Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for June 7, 2017

YourClassical

Britten's "Peter Grimes"

Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976) Sea Interludes, fr Peter Grimes London Symphony; André Previn, cond. EMI 72658

1:59
YourClassical

Handel's dueling divas

George Frederic Handel (1685 - 1759) aria, fr Alessandro Lisa Saffer, soprano; Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra; Nicholas McGegan, cond. Harmonia Mundi 90.7036

1:59
YourClassical

A Birthday Surprise for Pinkham

Daniel Pinkham (1923 - 2006) Three Latin Motets Aaron Engebreth, bar;Heinrich Christensen, o. Florestan FRP-1003

1:59
YourClassical

Chadwick and Salonen go Greek

George Whitefield Chadwick (1854 - 1931) Aphrodite Brno State Philharmonic; Jose Serebrier, cond. Reference 74 Esa-Pekka Salonen (b. 1958) Five Images after Sappho Dawn Upshaw, soprano; London Sinfonietta; Esa-Pekka Salonen, cond. Sony 89158

1:59
YourClassical
1:59
YourClassical

Currier's "Time Machines"

Sebastian Currier (b. 1959) Time Machines Anne-Sophie Mutter, vn; New York Philharmonic; Alan Gilbert, cond (r. live June 2, 2011). DG 477 9359

1:59
YourClassical

Well-travelled Zwilich

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939) Symbolon New York Philharmonic;Zubin Mehta, cond. New World CD

1:59
YourClassical

Melinda Wagner's Pulitzer premiere

Melinda Wagner (b. 1957) Concerto for Flute, Strings and Percussion Paul Lustig Dunkel, flute; Westchester Philharmonic; Mark Mandarano, cond. Bridge 9098

1:59
YourClassical

Bach arrives (literally)

J.S. Bach (1685 - 1750) Cantata No. 73 Leonhardt Consort; Gustav Leonhardt, cond. Teldec 44279

1:59
YourClassical

Stravinsky's "Riot"of Spring?

Igor Stravinsky (1882 - 1971) The Rite of Spring Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Sir Georg Solti, cond. London 436 469

1:59

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.