Mendelssohn's Second
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847) Symphony No. 2 (Hymn of Praise) Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and Chorus; Edo de Waart, cond. Fidelio 9202
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Harry Partch and Terry Riley
Harry Partch (1901 – 1974) Delusion of the Fury Ensemble of Unique Instruments; Danlee Mitchell, cond. innova 406 Terry Riley (b. 1935) In C SUNY at Buffalo ensemble; Terry Riley, cond. CBS 7178
Reinhold Gliere
Reinhold Glière (1875 – 1956) Russian Sailors' Dance, from The Red Poppy Philadelphia Orchestra; Eugene Ormandy, cond. BMG 63313 Reinhold Glière Symphony No. 3 (Ilya Murometz) London Symphony; Leon Botstein, cond. Telarc 80609
Wagner in New York (and Philadelphia)
Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883) American Centennialand Imperial Marches Hong Kong Philharmonic; Varujan Kojian, cond. Naxos 8.555386
Cocteau and Glass
Philip Glass (b. 1937) Beauty and the Beast Philip Glass Ensemble; Michael Riesman, cond. Nonesuch 79347
Anderson and Golijov for the record
Leroy Anderson (1908 - 1975) Clarinet Candy Decca studio orchestra; Leroy Anderson, cond. MCA 9815 Osvaldo Golijov (b. 1960) Rocketekya David Krakauer, clarinet; ensemble Naxos 8.559403
A Monster Concert for Peace
Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791 -1864) Coronation March, from Le Prophète New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 46709 Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901) Anvil Chorus, from Il Trovatore Chicago Symphony and Chorus; Sir Georg Solti, cond. London 466 075
Pleyel in the Old World (and the New)
Ignaz Pleyel (1757 – 1831) Symphony in G, Op. 68 London Mozart Players; Matthias Bamert, cond. Chandos 9525
Stravinsky on a date?
Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971) Fireworks, Op. 4 Montréal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, cond. London 414 409 Igor Stravinsky Agon Ballet London Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. BMG 68865
Handel and the Royals
George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1759) Rinaldo Overture Academy of Ancient Music; Christopher Hogwood, cond. Philips 434 992
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.