Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composer's Datebook - Mar. 17, 2023

YourClassical

Moby Crumb?

George Crumb (b. 1929) Vox Balaenae (Voice of the Whale) Zizi Mueller, flute; Fred Sherry, cello; James Gemmell, piano New World 357

2:00
YourClassical

Massenet's "Meditation"

Jules Massenet (1842 - 1912) Meditation, fr Thaïs Nigel Kennedy, violin; English Chamber Orchestra EMI 57330

2:00
YourClassical

King Louis XIII's "Blackbird" Ballet

Louis XIII Roi de France (1601 - 1643) Ballet de la Merlaison Ancient Instrument Ensemble of Paris; Jacques Chailley, conductor. Nonesuch LP H-71130

2:00
YourClassical

Toscanini and Copland

Aaron Copland (1900 –1990) — El salòn Mèxico (NBC Symphony; Arturo Toscanini, conductor.)

2:00
YourClassical

Adamo at the opera

Charles Ives (1874 - 1954) The Alcotts, fr Concord Sonata Anthony de Mare, piano CRI 837 Mark Adamo (b. 1962) Little Women Houston Grand Opera; Patrick Summers, conductor. Ondine 988

2:00
YourClassical

Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra"

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901) Simon Boccanegra La Scala Chorus and Orchestra; Claudio Abbado, conductor. DG 449 752

2:00
YourClassical

Ruggles and Cowell anniversaries

Carl Ruggles (1897 - 1971) Sun-Treader Cleveland Orchestra; Christoph von Dohnanyi, conductor. Cleveland Orchestra 75th Anniversary CD Edition 093-75 Henry Cowell (1897 - 1965) Homage to Iran Leopold Avakian, violin; Mitchell Andrews, piano; Basil Bahar, Persian drum CRI 836

2:00
YourClassical

Rachmaninoff's Vespers

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943) Vespers (All-Nght Vigil), Op. 37 USSR State Academic Russian Choir; Alexander Sveshnikov, conductor. Pipeline Music custom CD (from Amazon.com)

2:00
YourClassical

Tabloid Paganini?

Niccolo Paganini (1782 - 1840) Caprice No. 10 James Ehnes, violin Telarc 80398

2:00
YourClassical

Kernis' Violin Concerto

Aaron Jay Kernis (b. 1960) Violin Concerto James Ehnes, violin; Seattle Symphony; Ludovic Morlot, conductor. Onyx CD 4189

2:00

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.