Meyerbeer at the Opera
Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864) Robert le Diable excerpt Samuel Ramey, bass; Munich Radio Orchestra; Jacques Delacôte, cond. EMI Classics 49582
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Born on the Fourth of July?
Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881) Souvenirs d'Amerique Tchaikovsky Chamber Orchestra; Lazar Gosman, cond. CBS/Sony 45529 George M. Cohan (1878-1942) George M! Overture New York City Opera Orchestra; Paul Gemignani, cond. MusicMaster 67099
Plucky music with Landowska and Harbach
J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Little Prelude in C, S. 934 Wanda Landowska, harpsichord Pearl 9489 Barbara Harbach (b. 1946) Cante Flamenco, from Tres Danzas para Clavecin Barbara Harbach, harpsichord Gasparo 290
Sibelius and "Finlandia"
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) Finlandia, Op. 26, no. 7 Finnish National Opera Chorus; Eri Klas, cond. Ondine 754
Brahms and Berg on busman holidays?
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Symphony No. 2 Concertgebouw Orchestra; Bernard Haitink, cond. Philips 442 068 Johannes Brahms Violin Concerto in D David Oistrakh, vn; ORTF Orchestra; Otto Klemperer, cond. EMI Classics 64632 Alban Berg (1885-1935) Violin Concerto Henryk Szeryng, vn; Bavarian Radio Symphony; Rafael Kubelik, cond. Deutsche Grammophon 431 740
Anton Arensky
Anton Arensky (1861 – 1906) Piano Trio No. 1 Rembrandt Trio Dorian 90146
A modern Monteverdi premiere
Claudio Monteverdi (1567 – 1643) L'incoronazione di Poppea soloists; Vienna Concentus Music Vienna; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, cond. Teldec 42547
Leoni in San Francisco
Franco Leoni (1864 – 1937) L'Oracolo Tito Gobbi, baritone; National Philharmonic; Richard Bonynge, cond. London OSA-12107 (LP)
Stanford and "The Irish"
Sir Charles Villiers Stanford ((1852 – 1924) Symphony No. 3 (Irish) Ulster Orchestra; Vernon Handley, cond. Chandos 8545
Mahler's Ninth
Gustav Mahler (1860 – 1911) Symphony No. 9 Columbia Symphony; Bruno Walter, cond. Sony 64452
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.