Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

YourClassical

Adams and Rouse anniversaries

John Adams (b. 1947) The Chairman Dances Baltimore Symphony; David Zinman, cond. Argo 444 454 Christopher Rouse (1949-2019) Bonham Baltimore Symphony; David Zinman, cond. Argo 444 454 Iscariot Colorado Symphony; Marin Alsop, cond. BMG 68410

YourClassical

Romantic themes by Tchaikovsky and others

Charles Gounod (1818 - 1893) Romeo et Juliette Overture Munich Radio Orchestra; Leonard Slatkin, cond. BMG 68440 Peter Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893) Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture Philadelphia Orchestra; Eugene Ormandy, cond. CBS/Sony 45736

YourClassical

Victor Herbert and ASCAP

Victor Herbert (1895 - 1924) Hang March, fr Babes in Toyland Razumovsky Symphony; Keith Brion, cond. Naxos 8.559025 Stephen Sondheim (b. 1930) Into the Woods Original Cast; Paul Gemignani, cond. RCA/BMG 6796

YourClassical

Haydn's imperial anthem

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809) String Quartet, Op. 76, no. 3 (Emperor) Emerson Quartet DG 427 657

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Donizetti's "Daughter" in 1840 and 1940

Gaetano Donizetti (1797 - 1848) La Fille deRegiment excerpt Joan Sutherland, soprano; Covent Garden Orchestra; Richard Bonynge, cond. London 414 520 Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle (1760 - 1836)/arr. Berlioz La Marseillaise Jessye Norman, soprano; Paris Orchestra; Semyon Bychkov, cond. Philips 422 922

YourClassical

Beethoven in Boston

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) Symphony No. 5 Royal Philharmonic; Rene Leibowitz, cond. Chesky 17 Charles Ives (1874 – 1954) Sonata No. 2 (Concord, Mass., 1840 – 1860) Marc-Andre Hamelin, piano New World 378

YourClassical

Verdi's "Falstaff"

Antonio Salieri (1750 - 1825) Falstaff Overture London Mozart Players; Matthias Bamert, cond. Chandos 9877 Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901) Finale, fr Falstaff Cincinnati Pops; Erich Kunzel, cond. Telarc 80364

YourClassical

Wagner on the banks of the Mississippi?

Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883) Das Rheingold excerpt Soloists and Bavarian Radio Symphony; Bernard Haitink, cond. EMI 54633 Parsifal excerpt Netherlands Radio Philharmonic; Edo de Waart, cond. BMG 44786

YourClassical
YourClassical

Brant's "Angels and Devils"

Henry Brant (1913 - 2008) Angels and Devils Bonita Boyd, flute; Eastman Wind Ensemble; Donald Hunsberger, cond. Centaur 2014

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.