Bernstein in Prague

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Roy Harris (1898 - 1979) Symphony No. 3 New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 60594

Leonard Bernstein (1918 - 1990) Symphony No. 1 (Jeremiah) Christa Ludwig, mezzo-soprano; Israel Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. DG 463 462

On This Day

Births

• 1567 - Baptismal date of Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi, in Cremona;

• 1808 - Irish composer Michael William Balfe, in Dublin;

• 1908 - Swedish composer Lars-Erik Larsson, in Akarp (near Lund);

• 1941 - American composer and pianist Richard Wilson, in Cleveland;

Premieres

• 1913 - Debussy: ballet "Jeux" (Games), at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées by the Ballet Russe, Pierre Monteux conducting;

• 1920 - Stravinsky: ballet "Pulcinella," by Ballet Russe; at the Paris Opéra, with Ernest Ansermet conducting;

• 1939 - Douglas Moore: opera "The Devil and Daniel Webster," in New York City;

• 1949 - Hindemith: Concerto for Winds, Harp and Orchestra, in New York;

• 1949 - Randall Thompson: Symphony No. 3, Columbia University, in New York, Thor Johnson conducting;

• 1958 - Cage: Piano Concerto, in New York City;

• 1960 - Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 7, in Leningrad, by the Beethoven Quartet;

• 1972 - Rochberg: String Quartet No. 3, at Tully Hall in New York City, by the Concord Quartet;

• 1992 - Stephen Paulus: "Air on Seurat (The Grand Canal)", for cello and piano, at the National Cello Competition at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Ariz.;

• 1993 - Steve Reich: opera "The Cave," in Vienna at the Wiener Festspielhaus;

Others

• 1750 - First documented report of an audience standing during the "Hallelujah" chorus of Handel's "Messiah"; On May 1 and 15 in 1750, "Messiah" had been performed as a benefit for the Foundling Hospital charity (Gregorian dates: May 12 and 26, respectively).