Hollywood Anniversaries
It was on today’s date in 1937 that George Gershwin died at 10:35 in the morning in a Hollywood hospital after an operation for a brain tumor.
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composer's Datebook - July 11, 2022
2:00
Handel declines, Schuman accepts
On today’s date in 1733, Georg Friderich Handel paid a visit to Oxford to conduct the premiere performance of his new oratorio, “Athalia,” at the Sheldonian Theater.
2:00
Respighi's The Pines of Rome
Today marks the birthday in 1879 of Ottorino Respighi, a rare Italian composer more famous for orchestral works than operas.
2:00
"The Composer is Dead!"
“The Composer Is Dead” – a collaboration between composer Nathaniel Stookey and novelist Daniel Handler – premiered on this date in 2006.
2:00
"The Ballad of Baby Doe"
On today’s date in 1956, one of the most successful of all American operas had its first performance at the Center Opera House in Colorado.
2:00
Noteworthy Boulanger and Zwilich
It was on this day in 1913 that the French Academy of Fine Arts presented its highest award, the Prix de Rome, to Lili Boulanger.
2:00
The Theme to Seinfeld
On today’s date in 1989, NBC transmitted the pilot episode of a sitcom that 180 episodes later would be recognized as a TV classic.
2:00
Born on the Fourth of July?
Today we celebrate three legendary figures in American popular music.
2:00
Plucky music with Landowska and Harbach
J. S. Bach (1685-1750) – Little Prelude in C, S. 934 (Wanda Landowska, harpsichord) Pearl 9489 Barbara Harbach (b. 1946) – Cante Flamenco, from Tres Danzas para Clavecin (Barbara Harbach, harpsichord) Gasparo 290
2:00
Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"
On this date in 1723, church-goers in Leipzig were presented with Bach’s “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben.”
2:00
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.