Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for July 13, 2010

YourClassical

Strauss, Shostakovich, Hitler, and Stalin

Richard Strauss (1864-1949) Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 Daniel Majeske, violin; Cleveland Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim, cond. London 414 292 Dimitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk excerpts Scottish National Orchestra; Neeme Jarvi, cond. Chandos 8587

1:59
YourClassical

Requiems and Elegies by Faure and Rouse

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) Requiem The Cambridge Singers; John Rutter, cond. Collegium 101 Christopher Rouse (b. 1949) Symphony No. 2 and Flute Concerto Carol Wincenc, flute; Houston Symphony; Christoph Eschenbach, cond. Telarc 80452

1:59
YourClassical

Hollywood Anniversaries

George Gershwin (1898-1937) An American in Paris Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; John Mauceri, cond. Philips 438 663 Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) 1812 Overture Berlin Philharmonic; Herbert von Karajan, cond. EMI Classics 65690

1:59
YourClassical

Handel declines, Schuman accepts

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Sinfonia, from Athalia Academy of Ancient Music; Christopher Hogwood, cond. L'Oiseau-Lyre 417 126 William Schuman (1910-1992) Chester (Variations for Piano) Alexei Sultanov, piano Teldec 46103

1:59
YourClassical

Respighi and Chihara

Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) Feste Romane Montréal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, cond. London 410 145 Paul Chihara (b. 1938) The Tempest Performing Arts Orchestra; Jean-Louis LeRoux, cond. Reference RR-10

1:59
YourClassical

Randall Thompson in the Berkshires

Randall Thompson (1899-1984) Alleluia Concordia Choir; René Clausen, cond. Concordia 2051 Randall Thompson Symphony No. 2 Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Neeme Järvi, cond.

1:59
YourClassical

Gustav Mahler

Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 3 Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) Symphony No. 3 New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. DG 427 328

1:59
YourClassical

Noteworthy Boulanger and Zwilich

Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) Hymne au Soleil New London Chamber Choir; James Wood, cond. Hyperion 66726 Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939) Symphony No. 3 Louisville Orchestra; James Sedares, cond. Koch International 7278

1:59
YourClassical

Meyerbeer at the Opera

Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864) Robert le Diable excerpt Samuel Ramey, bass; Munich Radio Orchestra; Jacques Delacôte, cond. EMI Classics 49582

1:59
YourClassical

Born on the Fourth of July?

Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881) Souvenirs d'Amerique Tchaikovsky Chamber Orchestra; Lazar Gosman, cond. CBS/Sony 45529 George M. Cohan (1878-1942) George M! Overture New York City Opera Orchestra; Paul Gemignani, cond. MusicMaster 67099

1:58

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.