Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

YourClassical

Pop music by Rimsky-Korsakov and Michael Daugherty

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) Song of India, from Sadko (arr Kreisler) Gil Shaham, vn; Akira Eguchi, p. DG 447 640 Michael Daugherty (b. 1954) Candelabra Rhumba, from Le tombeau de Liberace Paul Crossley, piano; London Sinfonietta; Markus Stenz, cond. Argo 458 145

YourClassical

Bach at Starbucks?

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Harpsichord Concerto in f, S. 1056 Gustav Leonhardt, Herbert Tachezi, hc; Leonhardt Consort Teldec 35778 Coffee Cantata, S. 211 Christine Schaefer, sop.; Stuttgart Bach-Collegium; Helmuth Rilling, cond. Hanssler 98.161

YourClassical

Ravel left and right

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Piano Concerto in D (for the Left Hand) Leon Fleisher, piano; Baltimore Symphony; Sergui Commissiona, cond. Philips 456 775 Piano Concerto in G Krystian Zimerman, piano; Cleveland Orchestra; Pierre Boulez, cond. DG 449 213

YourClassical

Danielpour's home-town tribute

Richard Danielpour (b. 1956) Toward the Splendid City Philharmonia Orchestra; Zdenek Macal, cond. Sony 60779

YourClassical

The productive Mr. Donizetti and Mr. Williams

Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) Don Pasquale Overture Philharmonia Orchestra; Riccardo Muti, cond. EMI 54490 John Williams (b. 1932) Devil's Dance, from Witches of Eastwick Boston Pops; John Williams, cond. Philips 422 385

YourClassical

Wagner's "shaggy dog" story

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) The Flying Dutchman Overture Concertgebouw Orchestra; Edo de Waart, cond Philips 400 089

YourClassical

Haydn arrives in England

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Symphony No. 92 in G (Oxford) Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra; Adam Fischer, cond. Nimbus 5269

YourClassical

Antheil's "Joyous" Symphony

George Antheil (1900-1959) Symphony No. 5 (Joyous) Frankfurt Radio Symphony; Hugh Wolff, cond. CPO 999 706

YourClassical

A Lehar premiere in Vienna

Franz Lehár (1870-1948) The Merry Widow excerpts Budapest Philharmonic; Janos Sandor, cond. Laserlight 15046

YourClassical

Handel writes home from Dublin

George Frederic Handel (1685-1757) Sinfonia, from Messiah Atlanta Symphony; Robert Shaw, cond. Telarc 80103

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.