Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composer's Datebook - Dec. 28, 2022

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2:00
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Airs and poems by Kernis and Chausson

Ernest Chausson (1855-1899) Poème; Isaac Stern, violin; Orchestre de Paris; Daniel Barenboim, conductor. CBS/Sony 64501 Aaron Jay Kernis (b. 1960) Air for Violin; Minnesota Orchestra; Josha Bell, violin; David Zinman, conductor. Argo 460 226

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A $400 finale for Sibelius

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) Tapiola, Op. 112 Helsinki Philharmonic; Paavo Berglund, conductor. EMI 68646

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Toscanini and Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741): Concerto Grosso in d, Op. 3, no. 11 NBC Symphony; Arturo Toscanini, conductor. (r. Dec. 25, 1937)

2:00
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Safe passage for Rachmaninoff

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Piano Concerto No. 1 in f#, Op. 1 Krystian Zimerman, piano; Boston Symphony Orchestra; Seiji Ozawa, conductor. DG 4796868

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Humperdinck's "Into the Woods?"

Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921) Hansel and Gretel Suite Royal Philharmonic; Rudolf Kempe, conductor. EMI 68736

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A Beethoven marathon in Vienna

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Symphony No. 5 Concertgebouw Orchestra; Bernard Haitink, conductor. Philips 442 076 Samuel Barber (1910-1981) Chorale Prelude on Silent Night Jeremy Fisell, organ GMCD 7145

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Diamond's First

David Diamond (1915-2005) Symphony No. 1 Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, conductor. Delos 3119

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Mozart in Salzburg, Bloch in America

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Violin Concerto No. 5 Jean-Jacques Kantorow, violin; Netherlands Chamber Orchestra; Leopold Hager, cond. Denon 7504 Ernest Bloch (1880-1959) America: An Epic Rhapsody Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3135

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Wendy Carlos "synthesizes" Purcell and Bach

Henry Purcell (arr. Wendy Carlos) Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary Wendy Carlos, synthesizers Eastside Digital 81362 J.S. Bach (arr. Wendy Carlos) Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 Wendy Carlos, synthesizers CBS/Sony 42309

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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.