Summer in the city, Berlioz-style
Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886) St. Francis of Assisi Preaching to the Birds and Rhapsodie espagnole Stephen Hough, piano Virgin 61129
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook for August 21, 2008
1:59
Tower's Fifth
Joan Tower (b. 1938) Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 5 Colorado Symphony; Marin Alsop, cond. Koch 7469
1:59
Edward Collins escapes to Wisconsin
Edward J. Collins (1889 – 1951) Concert Piece in A minor Leslie Stifelman, piano; Concordia Orchestra; Marin Alsop, cond. Albany 267
1:59
Monteverdi gets mugged (and a new job)
Claudio Monteverdi (1567 – 1643) Che dar piu vi poss'io, fr 5th Book of Madrigals Consort of Musicke; Anthony Rooley, cond. L'oiseau Lyre 410 291
1:59
Arvo Part's "Brothers"
Frederick II, King of Prussia (1712 – 1786) Flute Concerto No. 3 Patrick Gallois, flute; CPE Bach Chamber Orchestra; Peter Schreier, cond. DG 439 895
1:59
Gershwin and Daugherty go Latin
George Gershwin (1898 – 1937) Cuban Overture New York Philharmonic; Zubin Mehta, cond. Teldec 46318 Michael Daugherty (b. 1954) Desi! Baltimore Symphony; David Zinman, cond. Argo 444 454
1:59
Leon Theremin's good vibrations
Bernard Herrmann (1911 – 1975) The Day the Earth Stood Still National Philharmonic; Bernard Herrmann, cond. London 443 899 Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971) Berceuse, fr The Firebird Clara Rockmore, theremin; Nadia Reisenberg, piano Delos 1014
1:59
A posthumous premiere for Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949) Die Liebe der Danae (Symphonic Fragment), Op. 83 Toronto Symphony; Andrew Davis, cond. CBS 45804
1:59
Of Wagner, Tubas, and Gyorgy Kurtag
Győrgy Kurtág (b. 1926) Stele, op. 33 SWR Symphony; Michael Gielen, cond. Hänssler 93001
1:59
Edison, for the record
Antonin Dvořák (1841 - 1904) arr. Kreisler Songs My Mother Taught Me Fritz Kreisler, violin Pearl 9324 George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1757) excerpt, fr Judas Maccabeus Edward Lloyd, tenor Koch Historic 7703 Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897) plays on an Edison cylinder (r. 1889) Johannes Brahms, p. Pearl 99049 Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897) Hungarian Dance No. 1 Idil Biret, piano Naxos 8.550355
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.