Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for October 31, 2010

YourClassical

Larsen and Waxman do "The Monster Mash"

Libby Larsen (b.1950) What the Monster Saw Cleveland Chamber Symphony; Edwin London, cond. GM Recordings 2039 Franz Waxman (1906-1967) The Bride of Frankenstein National Philharmonic; Charles Gerhardt, cond. RCA 0708

1:59
YourClassical
1:59
YourClassical

Don Giovanni in Prague (and Vienna)

Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791) Don Giovanni Michele Pertusi (as Leporello); London Philharmonic; Sir Georg Solti, cond. London 455 500

1:59
YourClassical
1:59
YourClassical

Villa-Lobos meets the harmonica

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) Harmonica Concerto Robert Bonfiglio, harmonica; New York Chamber Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, cond. RCA/BMG 7986

1:59
YourClassical

Elgar gets short-changed

Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) Cello Concerto, Op. 85 Jacqueline du Pré, cello; Philadephia Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim, cond. Sony 60789

1:59
YourClassical

Tchaikovsky on a Quiz Show?

Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Piano Concerto No. 1 Van Cliburn, piano; RCA Symphony; Kirill Kondrashin, cond. Philips 456 748

1:59
YourClassical

Of Crumb and the Crash

George Crumb (b. 1929) Musica Apocalyptica, fr Star-Child Warsaw Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra; Thomas Conlin, cond. Bridge 9095

1:59
YourClassical

Night music by Delius and Danielpour

Frederick Delius (1862-1934) Summer Night on the River BBC Symphony; Andrew Davis, cond. Teldec 90845 Richard Danielpour (b. 1956) Celestial Night Philharmonia Orchestra; Zdenek Macal, cond. Sony 60779

1:59
YourClassical

Musical Carpentry?

John Alden Carpenter (1876-1951) Symphony No. 2 National Symphony of Ukraine; John McLaughlin Williams, cond. Naxos 8.559065

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.