Toch in Neverland

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Ernst Toch (1887 — 1964) Peter Pan (A Fairy Tale for Orchestra) NDR Symphony, Hamburg; Leon Botstein, cond. New World 80609

On This Day

Births

• 1778 - Spanish composer and guitarist Fernando Sor, in Barcelona;

• 1870 - American composer and virtuoso pianist Leopold Godowsky, in Soshly, near Vilnius;

• 1946 - English composer Colin Matthews, in London;

Deaths

• 1741 - Austrian composer Johann Joseph Fux, age c. 80, in Vienna;

• 1883 - German composer composer Richard Wagner, age 69, in Venice;

• 1968 - Italian composer Ildebrando Pizetti, age 87, in Rome;

Premieres

• 1724 - Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 181 ("Leichgesinnte Flattergeister") and No. 18 ("Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee") performed on Sexagesimae Sunday as part of Bach's first annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1723/24);

• 1725 - Handel: opera “Rodelinda,” in London at the King’s Theater in the Haymarket (Gregorian date: Feb. 24); On May 6/17 that same year, the score to this opera was published, the first Handel score to be offered to the public by subscription;

• 1867 - Johann Strauss, Jr.: "Blue Danube" Waltz, in Vienna;

• 1881 - Tchaikovsky: opera “The Maid or Orleans,” in St. Petersburg (Gregorian date: Feb. 25);

• 1926 - Honegger: opera "Judith" (2nd version), at the Monte Carlo Opéra;

• 1943 - William Schuman: "Prayer in Time of War," by the Pittsburgh Symphony, Fritz Reiner conducting;

• 1944 - Antheil: Symphony No. 4, by the NBC Symphony, Leopold Stokowski conducting;

• 1956 - Toch: "Peter Pan (A Symphonic Fairy Tale)" for orchestra, in Seattle;

• 1959 - Martinu: "The Parables" for orchestra, by the Boston Symphony, Charles Munch conducting;

• 1961 - Bernstein: "Symphonic Dances," from "West Side Story," by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Lukas Foss;

• 1978 - Roger Reynolds: "Fiery Winds" for orchestra, in New York;

Others

• 1727 - Handel applies for British citizenship (Gregorian date: Feb. 24); Handel received his official citizenship seven days later, on Feb. 20/Mar. 3;

• 1914 - ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) is formally organized in New York City, with composer Victor Herbert as its first director.