Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for November 30, 2010

YourClassical

Massenet (and Laurie Anderson)

Jules Massenet (1842-1912) O souverain, o juge, o pere, from Le Cid Ben Heppner, tenor; Munich Radio Orchestra; Roberto Abbado, cond. RCA/BMG 62504

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New York City "firsts" of Rossini and Cole Porter

Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) selections from The Barber of Seville Academy of St. Martin in the Fields; Neville Marriner, cond. Philips 412 266 Cole Porter (1891-1964) Gay Divorce Overture London Sinfonietta; John McGlinn, cond. EMI 68589

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YourClassical

Rachmaninoff and Hanson get romantic

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Piano Concerto No. 3 in d, Op. 30 Martha Argerich, piano; Berlin Radio Symphony; Riccardo Chailly, cond. Philips 446 673 Howard Hanson (1896-1981) Symphony No. 2, Op. 30 (Romantic) RCA Symphony; Charles Gerhardt, cond. Chesky 112

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YourClassical

Spacey music by Strauss and Ligeti

Richard Strauss (1864-1949) Also Sprach Zarathustra Chicago Symphony; Fritz Reiner, cond. RCA/BMG 60833 György Ligeti (1923-2006) Atmospheres Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; John Mauceri, cond. Philips 446 403

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Colorful music by Scriabin and Torke

Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915) Etude in F#, Op. 42, no. 4 Piers Lane, piano Hyperion 66607 Michael Torke (b. 1961) Bright Blue Music Baltimore Symphony; David Zinman, cond.

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YourClassical

Ravel's Perfect "10" ?

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Bolero New York Philharmonic; Pierre Boulez, cond. Sony 45482

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YourClassical

Rehearsing Monteverdi and Reich

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) Orfeo Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists; John Eliot Gardiner, cond. Erato 88032 Steve Reich (b. 1936) Tehillim Schoenberg Ensemble; Percussion group The Hague; Reinbert De Leeuw, Cond. Nonesuch 79295

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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.