Synopsis
Music Played in Today's Program
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Serenade No. 1 in D L.A. Chamber Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Nonesuch 79065
On This Day
Births
1860 - Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz, in Camprodón;
1873 - Estonian composer Rudolf Tobias, in Kaina on Haiiumaa Island;
1897 - Austrian composer Eric Wolfgang Korngold, in Brno;
1922 - Greek composer Iannis Xenakis, in Braila, Roumania;
1948 - English composer Michael Berkley, in London; He is the son of English composer, Sir Lennox Berkeley (1903-89);
Deaths
1910 - Russian composer Mily Balakirev, age 73, in St. Petersburg (Julian date: May 16);
1911 - British lyricist Sir William S. Gilbert (of "Gilbert & Sullivan" fame), age 74, from a heart attack after rescuing a drowning woman, at Harrow Weald, England;
1935 - Czech composer Josef Suk, age 61, in Benesov;
1951 - Czech composer Josef Bohuslav Foerster, age 91, in Vestec, near Stará Boleslav;
Premieres
1901 - Paderewski: "Manru," in Dresden; Also staged at the Metropolitan Opera in 1902;
1905 - Scriabin: Symphony No. 3 ("'Divine Poem"), in Paris, Arthur Nikisch conducting;
1913 - Stravinsky: "Le Sacre du printemps" (The Rite of Spring), in Paris, by Diaghilev's Ballet Russe, Pierre Monteux conducting;
1954 - Cowell: Symphony No. 11 ("Seven Rituals"), by the Louisville Orchestra, Robert S. Whitney conducting;
1970 - Rautavaara: Piano Concerto, in Helsinki, with composer as soloist, and the Finnish Radio Symphony, Paavo Berglund conducting;
Others
1873 - American premiere of Brahms's Serenade No. 1 in D, at Steinway Hall, by the New York Symphony, Theodore Thomas conducting;
1963 - The New York Philharmonic "Promenade" concert series is inaugurated.
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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.