The versatile Mr. Previn
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) Quintet in Eb for Piano and Winds, Op. 16
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Strauss goes batty?
Johann Strauss II (1825 – 1899) Die Fledermaus Overture Vienna Symphony; Robert Stolz, cond. BMG 72916
Stravinsky's Birthday Greeting
Peter Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) Symphony No. 2 Russian National Orchestra; Mikhail Pletnev, cond. DG 449 967 Patty Hill Happy Birthday English Chamber Orchestra; Donald Fraser, cond. BMG 61488 Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971) Greeting Prelude London Symphony: Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. BMG 68865
Offenbach, Wagner and Satsuma in New York
Offenbach (arr. Rosenthal) Cancan, from Gaite Parisienne Montréal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, cond. London 430 718 Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883) Act 3 Prelude, fr Lohengrin Berlin Philharmonic; Daniel Barenboim , cond. Teldec 81791 Kozaburo Hirai Sonata Kazue Frances Asawa, flute; Kazue Kudo, koto Crystal 316
Wallingford Riegger
Wallingford Riegger (1885 – 1961) Wind Quintet New York Woodwind Quintet Bridge 9068
Verdi's Quartet
Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901) String Quartet in e Pina Carmirelli Quartet Bridge 9108
Liszt vs. Thalberg
Sigismund Thalberg (1812 - 1871) Fantasy on Rossini's "The siege of Corinth" Francesco Nicolosi, piano Marco Polo 8.223367 Franz Liszt (1811 - 1886) Fantasia on Italian Operatic Melodies Andreas Pistorius, piano Capriccio 10076
Corigliano reconjures his "Ghosts"
John Corigliano (b. 1938) Phantasmagoria Yo Yo Ma, cello; Emanuel Ax, piano Sony 60747
The reclusive Mr. Alkan departs the scene
Charles Valentin Alkan (1813 – 1888) Etudes Nos. 5 and 1, fr Op. 35 Bernard Ringeissen, piano Naxos 555495
The Vienna Philharmonic and American composers
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) Symphony No. 7 Vienna Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. DG 419 434 André Previn (b. 1930) Diversions Vienna Philharmonic; André Previn, cond. DG 471 028
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.