Handel in New York

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

George Frederic Handel (1685–1759) Amen, from Messiah Ambrosian Singers; English Chamber Orchestra; Sir Charles Mackerras, cond. EMI 79543

On This Day

Births

• 1810 - French composer Felicien David, in Cadenet, Vaucluse;

• 1816 - English composer Sir William Sterndale Bennett, in Sheffield;

• 1938 - American composer and pianist Frederic Rzewski, in Westfield, Mass.;

Deaths

• 1756 - Burial date of the German composer and keyboard virtuoso Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, age c. 29, in Dresden;

• 1826 - German composer Franz Danzi, age 62, in Schwetzingen;

• 1944 - French composer and pianist Cécile Chaminade, age 86, in Monte Carlo;

Premieres

• 1742 - Handel: oratorio, "Messiah,"in Dublin (Gregorian date: April 24);

• 1789 - Mozart: Divertimento in Eb (K. 563) for string trio, in Dresden, by Anton Teiber (violin), Anton Kraft (cello), and the composer (viola);

• 1943 - Randall Thompson: "A Testament of Freedom" for men's voices and piano, at the University of Virginia; The orchestral version of this work premiered in Boston on April 6, 1945;

• 1952 - Morton Gould: Symphony No. 4 ("West Point Symphony") for band, during the West Point Military Academy Sesquicentennial Celebration in West Point, N.Y, by the Academy Band, with the composer conducting;

• 1961 - Luigi Nono: opera "Intolerance 1960," in Venice at the Teatro La Fenice;

• 1992 - Schnittke: opera "Life with an Idiot," in Amsterdam at the Dutch Opera;

• 1997 - Morten Lauridsen: "Lux Aeterna"for chorus and chamber orchestra, at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Paul Salamunovich conducting;

• 2000 - Danielpour: Piano Trio ("A Child's Reliquary"), at Hancher Auditorium at the University of Iowa, by the Kalichstein-Robinson-Laredo Trio;

Others

• 1823 - Franz Liszt, age 11, performs at the Imperial Redoutensaal in Vienna; Legend has it that Beethoven attended this performance and planted a kiss on the young performer's forehead, but in fact Beethoven did not attend the concert; According to Liszt, the incident occurred a few days before at Beethoven's home, after Liszt had performed one of Beethoven's works; See Dec. 1, 1822, for Liszt's Vienna debut;

• 1896 - The American Guild of Organists is founded in New York City;

• 1958 - American pianist Van Cliburn wins the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the first American to do so.