Composers Datebook®

On today’s date in 1882, the eminent German conductor Hermann Levi led the first performance of Richard Wagner’s new opera, “Parsifal.”

On today’s date in 1937, one of Copland’s less familiar works had its premiere performance – on the radio.

Paul Hindemith’s “Concert Piece for Wind Orchestra” premiered on today’s date in 1926, at the Donaueschingen Music Festival.

On today’s date in 1940, the “Standing Room Only” signs went up early as a crowd of 23,000 stormed the Hollywood Bowl to hear the great Paul Robeson perform.

Manuel de Falla’s ballet “The Three-Cornered Hat” received its premiere performance at the Alhambra Theatre in London on today’s date in 1919.

On today’s date in 1824, Mendelssohn wrote a letter describing the Como Inglese di Basso as "a large brass instrument with a fine, deep tone, that looks like a watering can or a stirrup pump."

On today’s date in 1945, the weather in DC was clear and warm when Alexander Smallens conducted an outdoor Watergate Concert that included the recently-composed suite from Aaron Copland’s ballet “Rodeo,” and “Newsreel,” an orchestral suite by William Schuman.

James MacMillan’s “The World’s Ransoming” was premiered at the Barbican Center in London on today’s date in 1996.

On today’s date in 1984, the Kronos Quartet was at the Kukmo Music Festival in Finland, where they gave the premiere performance of the 5th String Quartet of the Finnish composer, Aulis Sallinen, subtitled “Pieces of Mosaic.”

In 1985, three hundred years after the birth of Handel, American composer Libby Larsen composed a Symphony she titled “Water Music,” written as a tribute to Handel and as an expression of her own enthusiasm for sailing.