Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

YourClassical

Schubert and the Maiden?

Franz Schubert (1797–1828) String Quartet in d (Death and the Maiden) Emerson String Quartet DG 459 151

YourClassical

Armer's musical sci-fi in SF

Elinor Armer (b. 1939) Uses of Music in Uttermost Parts SF Chamber Singers; Women's Philharmonic; JoAnn Falletta, cond. Koch 7331

YourClassical

A battle for Verdi

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 –1901) La Battaglia di Legnano ORF Symphony; Lamberto Gardelli, cond. Philips 422 435

YourClassical

Harris's "1933" in 1934

Roy Harris (1898 – 1979) Symphony 1933 (No. 1) Louisville Orchestra; Jorge Mester, cond Albany 012

YourClassical

Strauss raw and cooked

Richard Strauss (1864 –1949) Elektra Alessandra Marc, sop.;Vienna Philharmonic; Giuseppe Sinopoli, cond. DG 453 429 Richard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier Waltz Suite Philadelphia Orchestra; Eugene Ormandy, cond. Sony 60989

YourClassical

Bellini's "Puritans"

Vincenzo Bellini (1801 –1835) A te, o cara , from I Puritani Raul Gimenez, tenor; Scottish Chamber Orchestra; Michelangelo Veltri, cond. Nimbus 5224

YourClassical

MacDowell premieres

Edward MacDowell (1860 –1908) Piano Concerto No. 1 Seta Tanyel, piano; BBC Scottish Symphony; Martyn Brabbins, cond. Hyperion 67165 Edward MacDowell Suite No. 2 (Indian) Ulster Orchestra; Takuo Yuasa, cond. Naxos 8.559075

YourClassical

Rorem's "Evidence"

Ned Rorem (b. 1923): Evidence of Things Not Seen Vocal soloists; Michael Barrett and Steven Blier, pianists New World 575

YourClassical

A minute with Bolcom and Gosfield and

William Bolcom (b. 1939) A 60-second Ballet for Chickens Guy Livingston, piano Wergo 6649 Annie Gosfield (b. 1960) Brooklyn, October 5, 1941 Guy Livingston, piano Wergo 6649

YourClassical

Ott on Second

David Ott (b. 1947) Symphony No. 2 Grand Rapids Symphony; Catherine Comet, cond. Koss 3301

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.