"Parsifal" in New York
Richard Wagner (1813–1883) Parsifal (excerpt) SW German Radio Symphony; Erich Leinsdorf, cond. Hannsler 93.040
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
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
Strauss, De Lancie and the Oboe Concerto
Richard Strauss (1864 — 1949) Oboe Concerto John de Lancie, oboe; Chamber Orchestra; Max Wilcox, cond. RCA/BMG 7989
Zwilich's Third
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939) Symphony No. 3 Louisville Orchestra; James Sedares, cond. Koch 7278
Handel meets Streisand
George Frederic Handel (1685 — 1759) Lascia ch'io pianga , from Rinaldo Barbra Streisand, soprano; Columbia Symphony; Claus Ogerman, cond. CBS/Sony 33452 John Gay (1685 — 1732) The Beggar's Opera The Broadside Band; Jeremy Barlow, cond. Hyperion 66591
Halvey's "La Juive"
Jacques Fromental Halevy (1799 — 1862) La Juive Ambrosian Chorus and Philharmonia Orchestra; Antonio de Almeida, cond Philips 420 190
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.