Symphonic Rouse
Christopher Rouse (b. 1949) Symphony No. 2 Houston Symphony; Christoph Eschenbach, cond. Telarc 80452
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Richard Strauss, hero
Richard Strauss (1864 - 1949) Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life), Op. 40 Minnesota Orchestra; Eiji Oue, cond. Reference 83
Biblical Handel (and Lloyd-Webber)
George Frederic Handel (1685 - 1757) Joseph and His Brethren Choir of New College, Oxford; The King's Consort; Robert King, cond. Hyperion 67171 Andrew Lloyd Webber (b. 1948) Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Original Canadian Cast Recording Polygram 314 517 266
Timely Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti (b. 1911) The Consul Soloists and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra; Richard Hickox, cond. Chandos 9706
Pizzetti in New York
Ildebrando Pizzetti (1880 - 1968) Rondo Veneziano BBC Scottish Symphony; Osmo Vänskä, cond. Hyperion 67084
Beach's Piano Quintet
Amy Beach (1867 - 1944) Piano Quintet, Op. 67 Martin Roscoe, piano; Endellion Quartet ASV 932
Chopin debuts in Paris
Frederic Chopin (1810 - 1949) Etude No. 10, fr Op. 10 Maurizio Pollini, piano DG 413 794
Sondheim's "A Little Night Music"
Stephen Sondheim (b. 1930) A Little Night Music Boston Pops; John Williams, cond. Philips 416 499
Grieg's "Peer Gynt" premieres
Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907) Peer Gynt Suites CSSR State Philharmonic; Stephen Gunzenhauser, cond. Naxos 550140
Supersized Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg (1874 – 1951) Gurrelieder Berlin Philharmonic and Choirs; Simon Rattle, cond. EMI 57303
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.