The Amazing Mr. Ornstein
Leo Ornstein (1892? - 2002) Piano Sonata No. 7 Janice Weber, piano Naxos 8.559104
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
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, cond. Ondine 988
Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra"
Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901) Simon Boccanegra La Scala Chorus and Orchestra; Claudio Abbado, cond. DG 449 752
Ruggles and Cowell anniversaries
Carl Ruggles (1897 - 1971) Sun-Treader Cleveland Orchestra; Christoph von Dohnanyi, cond. 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
Chamber Diamond
David Diamond (1915 - 2005) Clarinet Quintet David Shifrin, clarinet; Chamber Music Northwest Delos 3088
Tabloid Paganini?
Niccolo Paganini (1782 - 1840) Caprice No. 10 James Ehnes, violin Telarc 80398
Sir Thomas Beecham
Handel (1685 – 1757) arr. Beecham Love in Bath Ballet Suite Royal Philharmonic; Sir Thomas Beecham, cond. EMI 63374
Daniel Pinkham
Daniel Pinkham (1923 - 2006) Serenades Maurice Murphy, trumpet; London Symphony; James Sedares, cond. Koch International 7179
Beethoven's Op. 127
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) String Quartet in Eb, Op. 127 LaSalle Quartet DG 453 768
Barber sings Barber
Samuel Barber (1910 - 1981) Dover Beach Samuel Barber, baritone; Curtis String Quartet Pearl 0049
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.