Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for April 8, 2013

YourClassical

Larsen's "Calamity Jane" songs

Libby Larsen (b. 1950) Songs from Letters Benita Valente, soprano; Scottish Chamber Orchestra; Joel Revzen, cond. Koch 7481

1:59
YourClassical

A Passion for Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) St. John Passion Collegium Vocale; Philippe Herreweghe, cond. Harmonia Mundi 90.1748/49

1:59
YourClassical

Ravel's Duo

Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937) Sonata (Duo) for Violin and Cello Nigel Kennedy, violin; Lynn Harrell, cello EMI 56963

1:59
YourClassical

Barber's Cello Concerto

Samuel Barber (1910 -1981) Cello Concerto Yo Yo Ma, cello; Baltimore Symphony; David Zinman, cond. CBS/Sony 44900

1:59
YourClassical

A Sondheim opening (and closing)

Steven Sondheim (b. 1930) Me and My Town ,from Anyone can Whistle Angela Lansbury; orchestra; Paul Gemignani, cond. RCA Victor 60515

1:59
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Carter's "Boston Concerto"

Elliott Carter (1908 - 2012) Boston Concerto BBC Symphony; Oliver Knussen, cond. Bridge 9184

1:59
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Beethoven's First

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Symphony No. 1 Concertgebouw Orchestra; Bernard Haitink, cond. Philips 442 073

1:59
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The truth about Alkan

Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888) Bombardo-Carillon Caroline Clemmow and Anthony Goldstone, pedal-piano Symposiun 1062

1:59
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Dvořák's "Rusalka"

Antonin Dvořák (1841–1904) O Silver Moon, fr Rusalka Renée Fleming, soprano; London Symphony; Sir Georg Solti, cond. London 455 760

1:59
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Symphonies by Strauss

Richard Strauss (1864 - 1949) Symphony in d Bavarian Radio Symphony; Karl Anton Rickenbacker, cond. Koch/Schwann 365 322

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.