Messiaen in Boston
Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992) Turangalila Symphony Concertgebouw Orchestra; Riccardo Chailly, cond. London 436 626
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Stravinsky and Balanchine count to 12
Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) Agon Ballet Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra; Michael Stern, cond. Denon 78972
Hermann's "Wuthering Heights"
Tobias Picker (b. 1954) Therese Raquin Dallas Opera Orchestra; Graeme Jenkins, cond. Chandos 9659
Leo Ornstein, "Wild Man"
Leo Ornstein (1892? – 2002) Wild Men's Dance and Piano Sonata No. 7 Janice Weber, piano Naxos 8.559104
Griffes for pleasure
Charles Tomlinson Griffes (1884 - 1920) The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan Boston Symphony; Seiji Ozawa, cond. New World 273
Korngold writes a symphony
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897 – 1957) Symphony, Op. 40 Philadelphia Orchestra; Franz Welser-Most, cond. EMI 56169
A belated Schumann premiere
Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856) Violin Concerto in D Minor Gidon Kremer, violin; Philharmonia Orchestra; Riccardo Muti, cond. EMI 69334
Bach's "wake up" call?
J.S. Bach (1685 – 1750) Cantata No. 140 (Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme) Bach Ensemble; Helmuth Rilling, cond. Laudate 98.857
Diamond's "Rounds"
David Diamond (1915-2005) Rounds Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Nonesuch 79002
Short (but tough) Copland
Aaron Copland (1900 – 1990) Short Symphony (Symphony No. 2) San Francisco Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. BMG 68541
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.