Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook - Dec. 31, 2023

YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Handel and Mattheson bury the hatchet

George Frederic Handel (1685-1757) Oboe Concerto No. 3; Heinz Holliger, oboe; English Chamber Orchestra; Raymond Leppard, cond. Philips 454 363

2:00
YourClassical

The recomposing of Mr. Bruch

Max Bruch (1838-1920) Concerto for Two Pianos; Güher and Süher Pekinel, pianos; Philharmonia Orchestra; Neville Marriner, cond. Chandos 9711

2:00
YourClassical

Cowell in Cuba

Henry Cowell (1897-1965) Piano Concerto; Stefan Litwin, piano; Saarbrucken Radio Symphony; Michael Stern, cond. Col Legno 20064

2:00
YourClassical

Baroness Fontyn

Jacqueline Fontyn (b. 1930) Piano Trio (1956); Morgenstern Trio AVI Music CD 8553315

2:00
YourClassical

Bach and the 'oboe da caccia'

J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Cantata No. 2 Sinfonia, from Christmas Oratorio; Vienna Concentus Musicus; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, cond.

2:00
YourClassical

Humperdinck and Vivaldi on NBC

Englebert Humperdinck (1854-1921) Hansel and Gretel Overture; Bamberg Symphony; Karl Anton Rickenbacher, cond. Virgin 61128 Antonio Vivaldi (1674-1741) Concerto Grosso in D; Moscow Virtuosi; Vladimir Spivakov, cond. BMG 60240

2:00
YourClassical

Verdi passes on the pyramids

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Grand March, from Aida; New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 48226

2:00
YourClassical

Mozart, Salieri and Beethoven in Vienna

Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791) Piano Concerto No. 22; Mitsuko Uchida, piano; English Chamber Orchestra; Jeffrey Tate, cond. Philips 420 187 Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791) Magic Flute Overture; Zurich Opera House Orchestra; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, cond. Teldec 95523 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Violin Concerto; Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin; New York Philharmonic; Kurt Masur, cond. DG 471 349

2:00
YourClassical

Lully and Vivaldi greet the season

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) Isis; Philippe Caillard Chorale and Orchestra Erato 20983 Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Winter, from The Four Seasons; Enrico Onofrio, violin; Il Giardino Armonico Teldec 97671

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.