Holst (and Colin Matthews) in outer space
Gustav Holst The Planets Montréal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, cond. London 460 606 Colin Matthews (b. 1946) Pluto Hallé Orchestra; Mark Elder, cond. Hyperion 67270
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Wedding presents from Franck and Lutoslawski
César Franck (1822-1890) Violin Sonata in A Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin; Lambert Orkis, piano DG 445 826 Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994) Partita Krzysztof Bakowski, violin; Polish National Radio Orchestra; Antoni Wit, cond. Naxos 8.553202
In Memoriam: Schubert and Oldham
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Piano Sonata in Bb, D. 960 Alfred Brendel, piano Philips 456 573 Kevin Oldham (1960-1993) Concerto for Piano, Op. 14 Ian Hobson, piano; Kansas City Symphony; Bill McGlaughlin, cond. BMG.Catalyst 61979
Weill's "September Song"
Kurt Weill (1900-1950) September Song (arr. Morton Gould) Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; John Mauceri, cond. Philips 446 404
Shostakovich's 60th
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) Symphony No. 1, Op 10 St. Petersburg Philharmonic; Yuri Temikanov, cond. BMG 68844 Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) Cello concerto No. 2. Op 126 Msistislav Rostropovich, cello; Boston Symphony; Seiji Ozawa, cond. DG 437 952
Bach and Hoover "double their pleasure, double their fun"
J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Double Concerto in d, S. 1043 Vladimir Spivakov, Arkady Futer, violins; Moscow Virtuosi; Vladimir Spivakov, cond. RCA 7991 Katherine Hoover (1937 - 2018) Double Concerto David Perry, Suzanne Beia, violins; Wisconsin Philomusic; Vartan Manoogian, cond. Parnasus 96019
Mr. Copland (and Mrs. Kennedy)
Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Connotations New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 47236
Higdon welcomes Autumn
Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962) Autumn Music Moran Woodwind Quintet Crystal 754
Of froth and Friml
Rudolf Friml (1879-1972) Song of the Vagabonds, from The Vagabond King Eastman-Dryden Orchestra: Donald Hunsberger, cond. Arabesque 6562 Rudolf Friml (1879-1972) Chanson "In Love" New London Orchestra; Ronald Corp, cond. Hyperion 67067
Sibelius passes
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) Alla Marcia, from Karelia Suite Finnish Radio Symphony; Jukka-Pekka Saraste, cond. RCA 7765
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.