Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook - Jan. 30, 2024

YourClassical

Larsen's symphonies

Libby Larsen (b. 1950) Symphony: Water Music; Minnesota Orchestra; Neville Marriner, cond. Nonesuch 79147; and Solo Symphony; Colorado Symphony; Marin Alsop, cond. Koch 7520

2:00
YourClassical

Roberto Sierra

Roberto Sierra (b. 1953) – Battalia, from Tercera Crónica del Descubrimiento (Marcelo Barbozab, flute; Fabio Zanona, guitar) Somm CD-0669

2:00
YourClassical

Handel vs. Swift

George Frederic Handel (1685-1757) Messiah; Oregon Bach Festival; Helmuth Rilling, cond. Hännsler 98.198

2:00
YourClassical

Iyer's 'Mutations'

Vijay Iyer (b. 1971) Mutations; Vijay Iyer, p; Ethel String Quartet ECM 2372

2:00
YourClassical

Argento in Italy

Dominick Argento (1927-2019) Variations for Orchestra (The Mask of Night); Plymouth Music Series Orchestra; Philip Brunelle, cond. Virgin 91184

2:00
YourClassical

Post-traumatic Strauss?

Richard Strauss (1864-1949) Metamorphosen; Vienna Philharmonic; Simon Rattle, cond. EMI 56580

2:00
YourClassical

Tavener's 'The Whale'

John Tavener (1944-2013) The Whale; London Sinfonietta and Chorus; David Atherton, cond. Capitol 98497

2:00
YourClassical

Durufle’s 'Organ Suite'

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

2:00
YourClassical

John Williams goes west

John Williams (b. 1932) The Cowboys Overture; Boston Pops; John Williams, cond. Philips 420 178

2:00
YourClassical

Bernstein gets political

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) So Pretty; Roberta Alexander, soprano; Tan Crone, piano Etcetera 1007

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.