Seeing things at Wagner's Parsifal
Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883) Act I excerpt, fr Parsifal Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; James Levine, cond. DG 437 501
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Opera Glass?
Philip Glass (b. 1937) Violin Solo, fr Einstein on the Beach Gregroy Fulkerson, violin New World 80313
Arnaud's after-the-fact Olympic tune
Leo Arnaud (1904 - 1991) Olympic Theme Cleveland Symphonic Winds; Frederick Fennell, cond. Telarc 80099 Meredith Willson (1902-1984) arr. Arnaud The Unsinkable Molly Brown Overture MGM studio orchestra CBS 45442
Scarlatti (and Persichetti) Sonatas
Domenico Scarlatti (1685 - 1757) Sonata in c, K. 363 Elaine Comparone, harpsichord Laurel 838 Vincent Pershichetti (1915 - 1987) Sonata No. 4 Elaine Comparone, harpsichord Laurel 838
A Verdi premiere in London
Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901) I masnadieri Overture Hungarian State Opera Orchestra; Iper Giorgio Morandi, cond. Naxos 8.554077
Hindemith's St. Francis ballet
Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963) Nobilissima Visione San Francisco Symphony; Herbert Blomstedt, cond. London 433 809
Morton Feldman salutes his piano teacher
Morton Feldman (1926 - 1987) Madame Press died last week at 90 Orchestra of St. Luke's; John Adams, cond. Nonesuch 79249
Olympic music by Richard Strauss and John Williams
Richard Strauss (1864 - 1949) Olympic Hymn Locke Brass Consort; James Stobart, cond. Chandos 8419 John Williams (b. 1932) Summon the Heroes Boston Pops; John Williams, cond. Sony 89364
Pauline Viardot-Garcia, Musical Superwoman?
Pauline Viardot-Garcia (1821 - 1910) Cinderella Sandrine Piau, soprano; Nicholas Kok, piano Opera Rara 212
Peter Schickele and P.D.Q. Bach
Peter Schickele (b. 1935) Pentangle Kenneth Albrecht, French horn; Louisville Orchestra; Jorge Mester, cond. Albany/First Edition 024
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.