The Sessions Violin Concerto
Roger Sessions (1896 –1985) Violin Concerto Paul Zukofsky, violin; French Radio-Television Orchestra; Gunther Schuller, cond. CRI 676
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Some fantastic Martinu
Bohuslav Martinu (1890 – 1959) Symphony No. 6 (Fantaisies symphoniques) Czech Philharmonic;Vaclav Neumann, cond. Supraphon 111895
Frederick the Great's revenge?
Carl Heinrich Graun (1703 – 1759) Montezuma Overture German Chamber Academy;Johannes Gortizki, cond. Capriccio 60032
Exploding Boulez
Pierre Boulez (1925 - 2016) explosante-fixe Sophie Cherrier, solo midi flute; Ensemble Intercontemporain; Pierre Boulez, cond. DG 445 833
Liszt gets political
Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886) Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 Valentina Lisitsa, piano Audiofon 72055
Rachmaninoff dances
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943) Symphonic Dances Minnesota Orchestra; Eiji Oue, cond. Reference 96
Rouse's "Concert de Gaudi"
Christopher Rouse (1949-2019) Concert de Gaudi Sharon Isbin, guitar;Gulbenkian Orchestra; Muhai Tan, cond. Teldec 81830
Gabrieli gets the gig
Giovanni Gabrieli (c. 1556 – 1612) Deus, in nomine tuo Gregg Smith Singers; Texas Boys Choir;Vittorio Negri, cond. CBS 62426 Giovanni Gabrieli (c. 1556 – 1612) Canzona No. 27 Hesperion XX EMI 63141
Gilbert and Sullivan take on the pirates
Gilbert and Sullivan The Pirates of Penzance D'Oyly Carte Opera; Royal Philharmonic;Isidore Godfrey, cond. London 425 196
Handel and Mattheson bury the hatchet (and not in each other)
George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1757) Oboe Concerto No. 3 Heinz Holliger, oboe; English Chamber Orchestra; Raymond Leppard, cond. Philips 454 363
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.