Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for June 8, 2011

YourClassical

Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloe"

Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937) Daphnis et Chloe London Symphony; Pierre Monteux, cond. London 425 956

1:59
YourClassical

Britten's "Peter Grimes"

Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976) Sea Interludes, fr Peter Grimes London Symphony; André Previn, cond. EMI 72658

1:59
YourClassical

Handel's dueling divas

George Frederic Handel (1685 - 1759) aria, fr Alessandro Lisa Saffer, soprano; Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra; Nicholas McGegan, cond. Harmonia Mundi 90.7036

1:59
YourClassical

A Wagnerian souvenir

Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883) Act I Prelude, fr Siegfried Vienna Philharmonic; Sir Georg Solti, cond. London 414 110

1:59
YourClassical

Chadwick and Salonen go Greek

George Whitefield Chadwick (1854 - 1931) Aphrodite Brno State Philharmonic; Jose Serebrier, cond. Reference 74 Esa-Pekka Salonen (b. 1958) Five Images after Sappho Dawn Upshaw, soprano; London Sinfonietta; Esa-Pekka Salonen, cond. Sony 89158

1:59
YourClassical
1:59
YourClassical

Edward Elgar

Sir Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934) Nimrod,fr Enigma Variations, Op. 36Royal Albert Hall Orchestra; Sir Edward Elgar, cond. EMI 66994

1:59
YourClassical

Dvořák gets paid

Antonin Dvořák (1841 - 1904) String Quintet in E, Op. 97 Vlach Quartet Naxos 8.553376

1:59
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Melinda Wagner's Pulitzer premiere

Melinda Wagner (b. 1957) Concerto for Flute, Strings and Percussion Paul Lustig Dunkel, flute; Westchester Philharmonic; Mark Mandarano, cond. Bridge 9098

1:59
YourClassical

Bach arrives (literally)

J.S. Bach (1685 - 1750) Cantata No. 73 Leonhardt Consort; Gustav Leonhardt, cond. Teldec 44279

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.