Wagner on the run
Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883) The Flying Dutchman Overture Berlin State Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim, cond. Teldec 88063 Richard Wagner Act I Prelude, from Lohengrin Berlin Philharmonic; Daniel Barenboim, cond. Teldec 81791
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Bernstein in Prague
Roy Harris (1898 - 1979) Symphony No. 3 New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 60594 Leonard Bernstein (1918 - 1990) Symphony No. 1 (Jeremiah) Christa Ludwig, mezzo-soprano; Israel Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. DG 463 462
Otto Klemperer, composer
Otto Klemperer (1885 - 1973) Symphony No. 2 New Philharmonia Orchestra/; Otto Klemperer, cond. EMI 64147 Otto Klemperer (1885 - 1973) A Merry Waltz Philharmonia Orchestra; Otto Klepmerer, cond. EMI 63917
New York "novelties" by Liszt et. al.
Schubert arr. Franz Liszt Wanderer Fantasy Leslie Howard, piano; Budapest Symphony; Karl Anton Rickenbacher, cond. Hyperion 67403
Korngold in the Vienna Woods (and Sherwood Forest)
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897 - 1957) Soldiers March , from Die Käthrin Austrian State Radio Orchestra; Gottfried Kassowitz, cond. Erich Wolfgang Korngold The Adventures of Robin Hood film music National Philharmonic; Charles Gerhardt, cond. BMG 0912
Bernstein at the temple
Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) Psalm 148 Angelina Reaux, mezzo-soprano; Barry Snyder, piano Naxos 8.559407 Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) Hashkiveinu soloists; BBC Singers; Avner Itai, cond. Naxos 8.559407
Maxwell Davies at a wedding (with sunrise)
Peter Maxwell Davies (1934 - 2016) An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise George MacIlwham, bag-pipes; Royal Philharmonic; Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, cond. Collins 1444
Tavener's "wake up" call?
John Tavener (1944 - 2013) Wake up . . . and die Yo Yo Ma, vcl; Baltimore Symphony cellists; David Zinman, cond. Sony 62821
Beethoven's Second on first?
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) Symphony No. 2 New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 61835
Thomson's "Mother of Us All"
Virgil Thomson (1896 - 1989) The Mother of Us All Santa Fe Opera; Raymond Leppard, cond. New World 288
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.