Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

YourClassical

Bizet's "The Pearl Fishers"

Georges Bizet (1838 – 1875) Prelude, fr The Pearl Fishers Mexico City Philharmonic; Enrique Batiz, cond. ASV 6133 Georges Bizet (1838 – 1875) "Au fond du temple saint," fr The Pearl Fishers Placido Domingo, tenor; Sherrill Milnes, baritone; London Symphony; Anton Guadagno, BMG 62699

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Torke's "Overnight Mail"

Michael Torke (b. 1961) Overnight Mail Orkest de Volharding; Jurjen Hempel, cond. Argo 455 684

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Vivian Fine

Vivian Fine (1913 – 2000) Concertante Reiko Honsho, piano; Japan Philharmonic; Akeo Watanabe, cond. CRI 692

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Gerald Finzi

Gerald Finzi (1901 – 1956) Clarinet Concerto Richard Stoltzman, clarinet; Guildhall String Ensemble; Robert Slater, cond. BMG 60437

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Wuorinen's "Genesis"

Charles Wuorinen (b. 1938) Genesis Minnesota Chorale and Minnesota Orchestra; Edo de Waart, cond. Koch 7336

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Hindemith's "Kammermusik" No. 4

Paul Hindemith (1895 – 1963) Kammermusik No. 4 Konstanty Kulka, violin; Concergebouw Orchestra; Riccardo Chailly, cond. London 433 816

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Eisler before the House

Hanns Eisler (1898 – 1962) Deutsche Sinfonie, Op. 50 Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra; Lothar Zagrosek, cond. London 448 389

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Vincenzo Bellini

Vincenzo Bellini (1801 – 1835) Sinfonia, fr Il Pirata German Opera Orchestra, Berlin; Marcello Viotti, cond. Berlin Classics 11152

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Leonardo Balada

Leonardo Balada (b. 1933) Concierto Magico Eliot Fisk, guitar; Barcelona and Catalonia National Orch.;Jose Serebrier, cond Naxos 8.555039

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Stravinsky back in the USSR

Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971) Orpheus Ballet Orpheus Chamber Orchestra DG 459 644 Traditional (arr. Stravinsky) Song of the Volga Boat Men Philharmonia Orchestra; Robert Craft, cond. Koch 7504

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.