Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

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Tchaikovsky in Paris

Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971) The Firebird (1919 revision) Minnesota Orchestra; Eiji Oue, cond. Reference 70 Peter Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) Valse-Scherzo Gil Shaham, violin; Russian National Orchestra; Mikhail Pletnev, cond. DG 457 064

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Brahms and the clarinet

Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897) Clarinet Sonata, Op. 120, no. 2 Michael Collins, clarinet; Mikhail Pletnev, piano Virgin 91076

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Thomson's "portrait" Concerto

Virgil Thomson (1896 – 1989) Flute Concerto Mary Stolper, flute; Czech National Symphony; Paul Freeman, cond. Cedille 046

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Wagner gets a Ride in New York

Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883) Ride of the Valkyries, fr Die Walkuere Berlin Philharmonic; Claudio Abbado, cond. DG 471 627

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Barber at the Met

Samuel Barber (1910 – 1981) Anthony and Cleopatra Spoleto Festival soloists and orchestra; Christian Badea, cond New World 322

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Ives at Yaddo

Charles Ives (1874 – 1954) String Quartet No. 2 Emerson Quartet DG 435 864

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Bernstein takes a chance

Leonard Bernstein (1900 –1990) Concerto for Orchestra (Jubilee Games) Israel Philharmonic; ard Bernstein, cond. DG 429 231

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The Schumanns in love

Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856) (transcribed by Franz Liszt) Widmung Michael Ponti, piano Marco Polo 223.127 Robert Schumann Widmung, fr Op. 25 Sophie Daneman, soprano; Julius Drake, piano EMI 72828

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Leroy Anderson in the studio

Leroy Anderson (1908 – 1975) Jazz Pizzicato and The Waltzing Cat Decca studio orchestra; Leroy Anderson, cond. MCA 9815

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.