Brahms in Vienna
Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897) Symphony No 4 in e Vienna Philharmonic; Carlos Kleiber, cond. DG 457 706
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
"The Handmaid's Tale" opera by Ruders
Poul Ruders (b. 1949) The Handmaid's Tale Royal Danish Orchestra; Michael Schonwandt, cond. DaCapo 9.224165-66
Shostakovich and his "Leningrad" Symphony
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975) Symphony No. 7 (Leningrad) Kirov Orchestra and Rotterdam Philharmonic; Valery Gergiev, cond. Philips 376-02
Strong's "Sintram" Symphony
George Templeton Strong (1856–1948) Symphony No. 2 (Sintram) Moscow Symphony; Adriano, cond. Naxos 8.559018
"Parsifal" in New York
Richard Wagner (1813–1883) Parsifal (excerpt) SW German Radio Symphony; Erich Leinsdorf, cond. Hannsler 93.040
Goffredo Petrassi
Goffredo Petrassi (1904 - 2003) Sestina d'autunno Compania; Andrea Molino, cond. Stradivarius 33347
Debussy in Boston
Claude Debussy (1862–1918) La Mer Chicago Symphony; Daniel Barenboim, cond. Teldec 81702
Rorem's "Book of Hours"
Ned Rorem (b. 1923) Book of Hours The Fibonacci Sequence Naxos 8.559128
Les Tombeaux de Ravel (and Daugherty)
Maurice Ravel (1875 — 1937) Le Tombeau de Couperin Orpheus Chamber Orchestra DG 449 186 Michael Daugherty (b. 1954) Le Tombeau de Liberace Paul Crossley, piano; London Sinfonietta; Markus Stenz, cond. Argo 458 145
Carter's Cello Sonata
Elliot Carter (1908 - 2012) Cello Sonata Anthony Ross, cello; Evelyne Brancart, piano Boston Records 1006
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.