Verdi's "Otello" premieres
Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901) Act I excerpt, from Otello Ambrosian Chorus; New Philharmonia Orchestra; Sir John Barbirolli, cond. EMI Classics 65296
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook for February 5, 2008
1:59
The passing of Iannis Xenakis
Iannis Xenakis (1922-2001) Opening of A Colone New London Chamber Choir; Critical Band; James Wood, cond. Hyperion 66980 Huuem-Duhey Edna Michell, violin; Michael Kanka, cello Angel 57179
1:59
Mexico's Blas Galindo Dimas
Blas Galindo Dimas (1910-1993) Sones de mariachi Mexico City Philharmonic; Enrique Batiz, cond. EMI 49785
1:59
Haydn's "real" Miracle Symphony
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Symphony No. 96 in D Concertgebouw Orchestra; Sir Colin Davis, cond. Philips 442 611
1:59
George Walker's Pulitzer Prize
George Walker (b. 1922) Lilacs Faye Robinson, soprano; Arizona State University Symphony; Timothy Russell, cond. Summit 274
1:59
Vladimir Dukelsky (and Vernon Duke)
Vladimir Dukelsky (1903-1969) Zephyr et Flore Ballet Hague Residentie Orchestra; Gennady Rozhdestvensky, cond. Chandos 9766
2:01
Composer-conductors Damrosch and Loeffler
Charles Martin Loeffler (1861-1935) A Pagan Poem, Op. 14 orchestra; Leopold Stokowski , cond. EMI 65074
2:09
John Williams in the concert hall
John Williams (b. 1932) Violin Concerto Gil Shaham, violin; Boston Symphony; John Williams, cond. DG 471 326
2:08
Bolcom's "Ghost" Rags
William Bolcom (b. 1938) Poltergeist and Graceful Ghost Rags Paul Jacobs, piano Nonesuch 79006
2:08
Rorem's concerto for the "English" Horn
Ned Rorem (b. 1923) Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra Thomas Stacy, eh; Rochester Philharmonic; Michael Palmer, cond. New World 80489
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.