Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for November 17, 2007

YourClassical

Tchaikovsky's doubts and Stravinsky's toothache

Peter Tchaikovsky (1833-1893) Symphony No. 5 in e, Op. 64 Berlin Philharmonic; Claudio Abbado, cond. Sony 66276 Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) The Rite of Spring Cleveland Orchestra; Pierre Boulez, cond. Sony 64109

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YourClassical

Gluck sings the blues

Christoph Willibald von Gluck (1714-1787) Act 2 aria, from Armide Rockwell Blake, tenor; Monte Carlo Philharmonic; Patrick Fournillier, cond. EMI 55058 Christoph Willibald von Gluck Don Juan Ballet Music Rhine Chamber Orchestra of Cologne; Jan Corazolla, cond. Christophorus 74507

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Casals and Copland at the White House

Pablo Casals (1876-1973) Song of the Birds Patrick Demenga, cello; Gerard Wyss, piano Novalis 150117 Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Billy the Kid Ballet Dallas Symphony; Eduardo Mata, cond. Dorian 90170

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A cold welcome for Verdi?

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Overture and Act II excerpt, from La Forza del Destino John Alldis Choir; London Symphony; James Levine, cond. RCA/BMG 39502

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YourClassical

Senor Rodrigo's popular Concierto

Joaquin Rodrigo (1902-1999) Concierto de Aranjuez Manuel Barrueco, guitar; Philharmonic Orchestra; Placido Domingo, cond. EMI 56175

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YourClassical

Musical tales from Stravinsky and Marsalis

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) L'histoire du soldat Suite Philharmonia Orchestra; Robert Craft, cond. Koch 7504 Wynton Marsalis (b. 1961) The Fiddler's Tale Wynton Marsalis, trumpet; Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Sony 60979

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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.