Wagner in New York (and Philadelphia)
On today’s date in 1871, Theodore Thomas conducted the first American performance of “Kaiser March,” a brand-new work by Richard Wagner.
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composer's Datebook - 20220622
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Sean Hickey's Cello Concerto
In 2007, the American composer Sean Hickey was commissioned by Russian cellist Dmitry Kouzov to write a new concerto, which received its premiere performance on today’s date two years later, in 2009.
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Anderson and Golijov for the record
On June 20, 1962, Leroy Anderson was at New York’s Manhattan Center, conducting for Decca Records the premiere of his “Clarinet Candy.”
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A Monster Concert for Peace
Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791 -1864) Coronation March, from Le Prophète New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 46709 Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901) Anvil Chorus, from Il Trovatore Chicago Symphony and Chorus; Sir Georg Solti, cond. London 466 075
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Pleyel in the Old World (and the New)
Ignace Joseph Pleyel was born near Vienna on today’s date in 1757.
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Bach and Mattheson
Back in 1714, today’s date fell on a Sunday, and, if you had happened to be attending a church service at the German Court of the Duke of Weimar, you might have heard some new music by the Duke’s court composer and organist, Johann Sebastian Bach.
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Charles Ives and Henry Brant
On today’s date in 1995, Henry Brant conducted the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Ottawa, Canada, in the premiere of one of his orchestrations – in this case, a symphonic version of the “Concord” Piano Sonata of Charles Ives.
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Byrne and Eno in Minneapolis
On today’s date in 1980, David Byrne’s “High Life for Strings” premiered at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
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Godfrey's Quartet No. 3
On June 14th, 2001, Daniel Godfrey’s String Quartet No. 3 received its premiere by the Cassatt Quartet at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockport.
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Milhaud's "French Suite"
Milhaud’s “Suite Française” was premiered by the Goldman Band in New York City on today’s date in 1945, and rapidly became one of the best-known and most often performed of Milhaud’s works, and one of the established classics of the wind-band repertory.
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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.