Prokofiev in Chicago
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): Piano Concerto No. 3; Alexander Toradze, piano; Kirov Orchestra; Valery Gergiev, conductor; Philips 462 048

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

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): Piano Concerto No. 3; Alexander Toradze, piano; Kirov Orchestra; Valery Gergiev, conductor; Philips 462 048

Ernest Bloch (1880-1959): Violin Concerto; Oleh Krysa, violin; Malmo Symphony; Sakari Oramo, conductor; BIS 639

Alexander Tsfasman (1906-1971): ‘Snowflakes’ and ‘Polka’ (excerpts), from ‘Jazz Suite’; Zlata Chochieva, piano; BBC Scottish Symphony; Karl-Heinz Steffens, conductor; Naïve V-8448

Samuel Barber (1910-1981): Symphony No. 1; Saint Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; RCA/BMG 60732

Henry Brant (1913-2008): ‘Western Springs’; La Jolla Symphony and Chorus; Henry Brant, et. al. conductor; CRI 827

Henry Cowell (1897-1965): String Quartet No. 3 (‘Mosaic Quartet’); Colorado String Quartet; Mode 72/73

William Grant Still (1875-1978): Symphony No. 2 (‘Song of a New Race’); Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Neeme Jarvi, conductor; Chandos 9226

Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857): ‘A Life for the Tsar Overture’; USSR State Symphony; Yevgeny Svetlanov, conductor; Regis RRC 1142

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): Suite for Violin and Orchestra; Dong-Suk Kang, violin; Lahti Symphony; Osmo Vanska; BIS 1125

Carl Ruggles (1876-1971): ‘Men and Mountains’; Buffalo Philharmonic; Lukas Foss, conductor; Vox 8155
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.