Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook - Dec. 27, 2024

YourClassical

Bruckner in Boston

Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): Symphony No. 5; Saarbrucken Radio Symphony; Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, conductor; Arte Nova 43305

2:00
YourClassical

Brahms up and down

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): ‘Academic Festival Overture’; New York Philharmonic; Kurt Masur, conductor; Teldec 77291 Johannes Brahms: ‘Tragic Overture’; Vienna Symphony; Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor; Philips 438 760

2:00
YourClassical

Lutoslawski Christmas Carols

Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994): ‘The Angels Came to the Shepherds’ and ‘Hey, We Look Forward Now’ (excerpts), from 20 Polish Christmas Carols; Polish Radio Chorus, Kraców; Polish National Radio Chorus and Symphony; Antoni Wit, conductor; Naxos 8.555994

2:00
YourClassical

Menotti's TV opera

Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-2007): ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors Suite’; The New Zealand Symphony; Andrew Schenck, conductor; Koch 7005

2:00
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Mendelssohn cooks up some music

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847): Concert Piece No. 1; Sabine and Wolfgang Meyer, clarinet and basset horn; Wurtemberg Chamber Orchestra; Jorg Faerber, conductor; EMI 47233

2:00
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Deems Taylor

Deems Taylor (1885-1966): ‘Through the Looking Glass’; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Delos 3099

2:00
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Sheppard's 'Media Vita'

John Sheppard (1515-1558): ‘Media Vita’; Tallis Scholars; Peter Phillips, conductor; Gimell 16

2:00
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Harbison's Great American Opera?

John Harbison (b. 1938): ‘Remembering Gatsby’; Minnesota Orchestra; Edo de Waart, conductor; Vol. 11, from ‘Minnesota Orchestra at 100’ special edition boxed CD set

2:00
YourClassical

Stravinsky's 'Symphony of Psalms'

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): ‘Symphony of Psalms’; The Monteverdi Choir; London Symphony; John Eliot Gardiner, conductor; DG 436 789

2:00
YourClassical

Quincy Jones and 'The Color Purple'

Quincy Jones (1933-2024): ‘The Color Purple: Main Theme’; Itzhak Perlman, violin; Pittsburgh Symphony; John Williams, conductor; Sony 63005

2:00

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.