The Tales of Offenbach?
Jacques Offenbach (1819 - 1880) Tales of Hoffmann Suite Detroit Symphony; Paul Paray, cond. Mercury 434 332
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Maslanka for winds
David Maslanka (1943 - 2017) Wind Quintet No. 2 Manhattan Wind Quintet Albany 246
Larsen's symphonies
Libby Larsen (b. 1950) Symphony: Water Music Minnesota Orchestra; Sir Neville Marriner, cond. Nonesuch 79147 Libby Larsen (b. 1950) Solo Symphony Colorado Symphony; Marin Alsop, cond. Koch 7520
Mozart at his happiest?
Wolfgang Mozart (1756 – 1791) Idomeneo Overture Bavarian Radio Symphony; Sir Colin Davis, cond. Philips 422 537
Handel vs. Swift
George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1757) Messiah Oregon Bach Festival; Helmuth Rilling, cond. Hännsler 98.198
Creston's Saxophone Concerto
Paul Creston (1906 – 1985) Saxophone Concerto, Op. 26 James Abato, saxophone; Hollywood Bowl Symphony; Leopold Stokowski, cond. Archival broadcast recording (August 26, 1945)
Argento in Italy
Dominick Argento (b. 1927) Variations for Orchestra (The Mask of Night) Plymouth Music Series Orchestra; Philip Brunelle, cond. Virgin 91184
Post-traumatic Strauss?
Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949) Metamorphosen Vienna Philharmonic; Simon Rattle, cond. EMI 56580
Tavener's "The Whale"
John Tavener (1944 - 2013) The Whale London Sinfonietta and Chorus; David Atherton, cond. Capitol 98497
Chavez goes native
Carlos Chavez (1899 – 1978) Sinfonia India (Symphony No. 2) Simon Bolivar Symphony of Venezuela; Eduardo Mata, cond. Dorian 90179
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.