Three Parisian premieres
Maurice Duruflé (1902 - 1986) – Requiem (Westminster Choir; Joseph Flummerfelt, cond.) Avie 46
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Maurice Duruflé (1902 - 1986) – Requiem (Westminster Choir; Joseph Flummerfelt, cond.) Avie 46
Alan Hovhaness (1911 – 2000) Symphony No. 2 (Mysterious Mountain) - London Symphony; John Williams, cond. Sony Classical 62729
Jake Heggie (b. 1961) “Rosa Dolorosa” Overture, fr Great Scott - Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano; Dallas Opera; Patrick Summers, conductor Erato 9029594078
George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1757) Concerto Grosso in D, Op. 6, no. 5 - I Solisti Italiani Denon 6305
Peter Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique) - Russian National Orchestra; Mikhail Pletnev, cond. DG 449 967
Steven Mackey (b. 1956) Eating Greens - New World Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. RCA/BMG 63826
Robert Ward (1917-2013) The Crucible - New York City Opera; Emerson Buckley, cond. Albany 25/26
John Corigliano (b. 1938) Poem in October - Robert White, tenor; Thomas Nyfenger, f.; Humbert Lucarelli, ob.; Joseph Rabbai, cl.; American String Quartet; Maurice Peress, cond. and hc. RCA 60395
Cindy McTee (b. 1953) Symphony No. 1 (Ballet for Orchestra) - Detroit Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, cond. Naxos 8.559765
Maria Schneider (b. 1960) Carlos Drummond de Andrade Stories - Dawn Upshaw, soprano; St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; Maria Schneider, conductor ArtistShare AS-0121
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.