Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

YourClassical

Elmer Bernstein in Aranjuez?

Joaquin Rodrigo (1902-1999) Concierto de Aranjuez Christopher Parkening, guitar; Royal Philharmonic; Andrew Litton, cond. EMI Classics 54665 Elmer Bernstein (b. 1922-2004) Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra Christopher Parkening, guitar; London Symphony; Elmer Bernstein, cond. EMI Classics 56589

YourClassical

Prokofiev and Leifs agree: "There's no place like home!"

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) Piano Concerto No. 3 in C, Op. 26 Martha Argerich, piano; Montréal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, cond. EMI Classics 56654 Jón Leifs (1899-1968) Saga Symphony Iceland Symphony; Osmo Vänskä, cond. BIS 730

YourClassical

Cowell in Tehran

Henry Cowell (1897-1965) Persian Set Manhattan Chamber Orchestra; Richard Auldon Clark, cond. Koch International 7220

YourClassical
YourClassical

Mr. Parker and Mr. Ives

Horatio Parker (1863-1919) Introduction, from Hora Novissima Nebraska Chamber Orchestra; John Levick, cond. Albany TROY-124/5 Charles Ives (1874-1954) Scherzo, from Symphony No. 1 Chicago Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. Sony 44939

YourClassical

Harris in China and Zhou in America

Roy Harris (1898-1979) Symphony No. 3 Dallas Symphony; Eduardo Mata, cond. Dorian 90170 Zhou Long (b. 1953) Lan Hua Hua (Shanbei) Shanghai Quartet Delos 3233

YourClassical

Bernstein meets Wharton

Elmer Bernstein (1922-2004) Farewell Dinner, from The Age of Innocence film score Studio orchestra; Elmer Bernstein, cond. EMI Classics 57451

YourClassical

Mahler, Mickey and Masur?

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) Symphony No. 8 (Symphony of a Thousand) London Philharmonic; Klaus Tennstedt, cond. EMI Classics 64476 Aaron Kernis (b. 1960) Second Symphony (Alarm) City of Birmingham Symphony; Hugh Wolff, cond. Argo 448 900

YourClassical

Hanslick and Thomson, critics at large

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) Act III excerpts, from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Deutschen Oper Berlin Orchestra; Eugen Jochum, cond. DG 415 281 Virgil Thomson (1896-1989) Digging (A Portrait of Howard Rea) London Gabrieli Brass Ensemble; Christopher Larkin, cond. Hyperion 66517

YourClassical

Berlioz and the Parisian prudes

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) Benvenuto Cellini and Roman Carnival Overtures Staatskapelle Dresden; Sir Colin Davis, cond. BMG/RCA 68790

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.