Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

YourClassical

The Amazing Mr. Ornstein

Leo Ornstein (1892? - 2002) Piano Sonata No. 7 Janice Weber, piano Naxos 8.559104

YourClassical

Adamo at the opera

Charles Ives (1874 - 1954) The Alcotts, fr Concord Sonata Anthony de Mare, piano CRI 837 Mark Adamo (b. 1962) Little Women Houston Grand Opera; Patrick Summers, cond. Ondine 988

YourClassical

Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra"

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901) Simon Boccanegra La Scala Chorus and Orchestra; Claudio Abbado, cond. DG 449 752

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Ruggles and Cowell anniversaries

Carl Ruggles (1897 - 1971) Sun-Treader Cleveland Orchestra; Christoph von Dohnanyi, cond. Cleveland Orchestra 75th Anniversary CD Edition 093-75 Henry Cowell (1897 - 1965) Homage to Iran Leopold Avakian, violin; Mitchell Andrews, piano; Basil Bahar, Persian drum CRI 836

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Chamber Diamond

David Diamond (1915 - 2005) Clarinet Quintet David Shifrin, clarinet; Chamber Music Northwest Delos 3088

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Tabloid Paganini?

Niccolo Paganini (1782 - 1840) Caprice No. 10 James Ehnes, violin Telarc 80398

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Sir Thomas Beecham

Handel (1685 – 1757) arr. Beecham Love in Bath Ballet Suite Royal Philharmonic; Sir Thomas Beecham, cond. EMI 63374

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Daniel Pinkham

Daniel Pinkham (1923 - 2006) Serenades Maurice Murphy, trumpet; London Symphony; James Sedares, cond. Koch International 7179

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Beethoven's Op. 127

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) String Quartet in Eb, Op. 127 LaSalle Quartet DG 453 768

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Barber sings Barber

Samuel Barber (1910 - 1981) Dover Beach Samuel Barber, baritone; Curtis String Quartet Pearl 0049

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.