Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composer's Datebook - May 6, 2023

YourClassical

Rautavaara's "Angels"

Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928 - 2016) Angel of Dusk Olli Kosonen, double bass; Finnish Radio Symphony; Leif Segerstam, conductor. Finlandia 009

2:00
YourClassical

Britten in America

Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976) Paul Bunyan Overture English Chamber Orchestra; Philip Brunelle, conductor. Virgin 45093 Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976) Sea Interludes, fr Peter Grimes, Op 33a BBC Symphony; Andrew Davis, conductor. Teldec 73126

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Bloch's "Greatest Hit"

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

2:00
YourClassical

Higdon's "Splendid Wood"

Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962) Splendid Wood New England Conservatory Percussion Ensemble Naxos 8.559683

2:00
YourClassical

"Citizen Kane" scores big

Bernard Herrmann (1911 - 1975) Citizen Kane film score (opening) National Philharmonic; Charles Gerhardt, conductor. RCA CD 707

2:00
YourClassical

Thomas' "Sun Threads"

Augusta Read Thomas (b. 1964) Eagle at Sunrise, from Sun Threads Walden Chamber Players ART CD 1992007

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Meyerbeer's "African Maid"

Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791 – 1864) O paradis, from L'Africaine Ben Heppner, tenor; London Symphony; Myung-Whun Chung, conductor. DG 471 372

2:00
YourClassical

Bostic's "State of Grace"

Kathryn Bostic (b. 1970) – State of Grace (Kathryn Bostic, vocal and piano; Pittsburgh Symphony strings) KBMusic digital download

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.