Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook - Jan. 4, 2025

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Danielpour's hometown tribute

Richard Danielpour (b. 1956): ‘Toward the Splendid City’; Philharmonia Orchestra; Zdenek Macal, conductor; Sony 60779

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The productive Mr. Donizetti and Mr. Williams

Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848): ‘Don Pasquale Overture’; Philharmonia Orchestra; Riccardo Muti, condcutor; EMI 54490 John Williams (b. 1932): ‘Devil’s Dance’, from ‘Witches of Eastwick’; Boston Pops; John Williams, conductor; Philips 422 385

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Wagner's 'shaggy dog' story

Richard Wagner (1813-1883): ‘The Flying Dutchman Overture’; Berlin State Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim, conductor; Teldec 88063

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On the Mall with Goldman

Edwin Franko Goldman (1878-1956): ‘On the Mall’; Eastman Wind Ensemble; Frederick Fennell, conductor; Mercury 434 334

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Martinu and Hanson premieres

Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959): Violin Concerto No. 2; Josef Suk, violin; Czech Philharmonic; Vaclav Neumann, conductor; Supraphon 11 0702 Howard Hanson (1896-1981): Piano Concerto; Alfred Mouledous, piano; Eastman-Rochester Orchestra; Howard Hanson, conductor; Mercury 434 370

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Prokofiev in peace and (cold) war

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): ‘March’ from ‘The Love of Three Oranges’; Montreal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, conductor; London 440 331

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The Seattle Symphony

Max Bruch (1838-1920): Violin Concerto No. 2; Nai-Yuan Hu, violin; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Delos 3156 John Luther Adams (b. 1953): ‘Become Ocean’; Seattle Symphony; Ludovic Morlot, conductor; Cantaloupe 21161

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Septet by Saint-Saëns

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921): ‘Préambule’ from Septet; Trio a Cordes Francais; EMI 47543

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Bruckner in Boston

Anton Bruckner (1824-1896): Symphony No. 5; Saarbrucken Radio Symphony; Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, conductor; Arte Nova 43305

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Brahms up and down

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): ‘Academic Festival Overture’; New York Philharmonic; Kurt Masur, conductor; Teldec 77291 Johannes Brahms: ‘Tragic Overture’; Vienna Symphony; Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor; Philips 438 760

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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.

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