Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge

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Previn and Adams salute Emily

Andre Previn (b. 1930) Three Dickinson Songs Renée Fleming, soprano; André Previn, piano DG 471 028 John Adams (b. 1947) Harmonium San Francisco Symphony and Chorus; Edo de Waart, cond. ECM 1277

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Brahms makes his debut

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 1 Sviatoslav Richter, piano Philips 438 477

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Prokofiev in Chicago

Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953) Piano Concerto No. 3 Alexander Toradze, piano; Kirov Orchestra; Valery Gergiev, cond. Philips 462 048

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Bloch's "American" Concerto

Ernest Bloch (1880–1959) Violin Concerto Oleh Krysa, violin; Malmo Symphony; Sakari Oramo, cond. BIS 639

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Barber in Rome (part 2)

Samuel Barber (1910–1981) String Quartet Op. 11 Tokyo String Quartet RCA/BMG 61387

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Barber in Rome (part 1)

Samuel Barber (1910–1981) Symphony No. 1 Saint Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, cond. RCA/BMG 60732

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Henry Brant

Henry Brant (1913-2008) Western Springs La Jolla Symphony and Chorus; Henry Brant, et. al. cond. CRI 827

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Cowell at the Forum

Henry Cowell (1897–1965) String Quartet No. 3 (Mosaic Quartet) Colorado String Quartet Mode 72/73

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Music for Emily

Mary Howe (1882–1964) Three Pieces after Emily Dickinson Chamber Arts Society of the Catholic University of America CRI 785

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Glinka's Russian operas

Mikhail Glinka (1804–1857) A Life for the Tsar Suite Armenian Philharmonic; Loris Tjeknavorian, cond. ASV 1075 Mikhail Glinka (1804–1857) Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture Bavarian Radio Symphony; Esa-Pekka Salonen, cond. Philips 416 288

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.