David Wilde's " The Cellist of Sarajevo"
David Wilde (b. 1935) The Cellist of Sarajevo Yo Yo Ma, cello Sony 64114
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Copland brings New York to London
Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990) Music for a Great City Saint Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, cond. RCA/BMG 60149
A belated Webern premiere
Anton von Webern (1883 - 1945) Im Sommerwind Cleveland Orchestra; Christoph von Dohnanyi, cond. London 436 240
Beethoven's "Bridgetower" Sonata?
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47 (Kreutzer) Pamela Frank, violin; Claude Frank, piano MusicMasters 67087
"You're in the Army now, Mr. Barber . . . "
Samuel Barber (1910 – 1981) Commando March Cleveland Symphonic Winds; Frederick Fennell, cond.
Verdi's tribute to a great Italian writer
Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901) Sanctus, fr Requiem Chicago Symphony Chorus and Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim, cond. Erato 96357
Leoncavallo's "Painted Smiles?"
Ruggero Leoncavallo (1857 – 1919) excerpts, fr Pagliacci Luciano Pavarotti, tenor; Philadelphia Orchestra; Riccardo Muti, cond. Philips 438 132
Ives makes the "Pops" circuit
Charles Ives (1874 –1954) arr. Wm. Schuman (1910 – 1992) Variations on "America" New York Philharmonic; Kurt Masur, cond. Teldec 74007
Wagner in London
Richard Wagner (arr. De Vlieger) (1813 – 1881) Ring des Nibelungen Suite Netherlands Radio Philharmonic; Edo de Waart, cond. Fidelio 9201
Satie's "surreal" premiere in wartime Paris
Erik Satie (1866 - 1925) Parade Yuji Takahashi and Alain Planes, piano four hands Denon 7487
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.