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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Stravinsky at the circus

Igor Stravinsky (1882 –1971) Circus Polka London Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. RCA 68865

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Athena on the air

Athena Adamopoulos (b. 1987) Soliloquy Yo Yo Ma, cello; Christopher O'Riley, piano Live recording courtesy of From The Top (PRI)

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The murderous Mr. Copland

Aaron Copland (1900 –1990) Symphony for Orchestra and Organ Wayne Marshall, organ; Dallas Symphony; Andrew Litton, cond. Delos 3221

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Handel in London

George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1757) Bourrée from Rodrigo Hallé Orchestra; Sir John Barbirolli, cond. EMI 63956 George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1757) Overture to Teseo The English Concert;Trevor Pinnock, cond. Archiv 419 219

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Singleton in Atlanta

Alvin Singleton (b. 1940) After Fallen Crumbs Atlanta Symphony; Louis Lane, cond. Nonesuch 79231

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The Sessions Violin Concerto

Roger Sessions (1896 –1985) Violin Concerto Paul Zukofsky, violin; French Radio-Television Orchestra; Gunther Schuller, cond. CRI 676

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Some fantastic Martinu

Bohuslav Martinu (1890 – 1959) Symphony No. 6 (Fantaisies symphoniques) Czech Philharmonic;Vaclav Neumann, cond. Supraphon 111895

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Frederick the Great's revenge?

Carl Heinrich Graun (1703 – 1759) Montezuma Overture German Chamber Academy;Johannes Gortizki, cond. Capriccio 60032

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Exploding Boulez

Pierre Boulez (1925 - 2016) explosante-fixe Sophie Cherrier, solo midi flute; Ensemble Intercontemporain; Pierre Boulez, cond. DG 445 833

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Liszt gets political

Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886) Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 Valentina Lisitsa, piano Audiofon 72055

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.