Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for May 3, 2008

YourClassical

Bloch's "Greatest Hit"

Ernest Bloch (1880 - 1959) Schelomo Mischa Maisky, cello; Israel Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. DG 427 347

1:59
YourClassical

Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf"

Sergei Prokofiev (1873 - 1943) arr. Albert Markov Peter and the Wolf Alexander Markov, violin; Dmitri Cogan, piano Erato 98481

1:59
YourClassical

Mozart and Gershwin go pop?

W.A. Mozart (1756 - 1791): Marriage of Figaro Wind Suite Amadeus Ensemble; Julius Rudel, cond. MusicMasters 67118 George Gershwin (1899 - 1937): Catfish Row Suite, fr Porgy and Bess Chicago Symphony; James Levine, cond. DG 445 768

1:59
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Happy Birthday, Duke Ellington!

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (1899-1974) The River Suite Detroit Symphony; Neeme Järvi, cond. Chandos 9154

1:59
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Handel with "no strings attached"

George Frederic Handel (1685 - 1759) Music for the Royal Fireworks Academy of St Martin in the Fields; Neville Marriner, cond. Argo 414596

1:59
YourClassical

Serebrier assists Stokie (and Ives)

Charles Ives (1874-1954) Symphony No. 4 Los Angeles Philharmonic; Gustavo Dudamel, cond. DG 4839505 Jose Serebrier (b. 1938) Partita (Symphony No. 2) London Philharmonic; José Serebrier, cond. Reference 90

1:59
YourClassical

Puccini victorious

Giacomo Puccini (1858 -1924) Nessun dorma, fr Turandot Academy of St Martin in the Fields; Neville Marriner, cond. EMI 49552

2:00
YourClassical

Seasonal music by Haydn

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809) Ländler, fr The Seasons Academy of St Martin in the Fields; Neville Marriner, cond. Philips 438715

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.