Robert Russell Bennett takes the prize (twice)
Robert Russell Bennett (1894 – 1891) Abraham Lincoln (A Likeness in Symphony Form) Moscow Symphony; William T. Stromberg, cond. Naxos 8.559004
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Stravinsky strikes a chord
Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1981) Violin Concerto in D Maxim Vengerov, violin; London Symphony; Mstislav Rostropovich, cond. EMI Classics 56966
Adams at the opera
John Adams (b. 1947) Nixon in China Orchestra of St. Luke's; Edo de Waart, cond. Nonesuch 794543
Beethoven and Sibelius take the Fifth
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) Symphony No. 5 Royal Philharmonic; René Leibowitz, cond. Chesky 17 Jean Sibelius (1865 – 1957) Symphony No. 5 Lahti Symphony; Osmo Vänska BIS 1288
Mennin tackles "Moby Dick"
Peter Mennin (1923 – 1983) Concertato (Moby Dick) Albany Symphony; David Alan Miller, cond. Albany 260
Gershwin's String Quartet
George Gershwin (1898 – 1937) Lullaby Manhattan String Quartet Newport Classics 60033
Moross's First, Copland's Third
Jerome Moross (1913 – 1983) Symphony No. 1 London Symphony; JoAnn Falletta, cond. Koch International 7188 Aaron Copland (1900 – 1990) Symphony No. 3 Minnesota Orchestra; Eiji Oue, cond. Reference 93
Schuman starts on third
William Schuman (1910 – 1992) Symphony No. 3 New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony Classical 63163
Bernstein does Becker
John Becker (1886 - 1961) Symphonia Brevis (Symphony No. 3) Louisville Orchestra; Robert Whitney, cond. Albany 027
Britten for young persons
Benjamin Britten (1913 – 1976) The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; André Previn, cond,. Telarc 80460
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.