Synopsis
Music Played in Today's Program
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Fidelio Overture Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra; Kurt Masur, cond. Philips 438 706
Samuel Barber (1910-1981) Symphony No. 1, Op. 9 Baltimore Symphony; David Zinman, cond. Argo 436 288
On This Day
Births
1803 - French opera composer Adolph-Charles Adam, in Paris
1880 - Swiss-born American composer Ernest Bloch, in Geneva
1904 - French-born American composer and arranger Leo (Noël) Arnaud, in Lyon
1922 - American composer Leo Kraft, in New York City
Deaths
1739 - Italian composer Benedetto Marcello, in Brescia
1971 - British composer Alan Rawsthorne, in Cambridge, England
Premieres
1926 - Hindemith: Concert Music for Winds, Op. 4, in Donaueschingen, Germany, with Hermann Scherchen conducting
1938 - R. Strauss: opera, "Friedenstag" (Peace Day), in Munich at the National Theater, Clemens Krauss conducting, with vocal soloists Hans Hotter (Commandant) and Viorca Ursuleac (Maria);
1964 - Ginastera: opera, "Don Rodrigo," at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires
1983 - Elisabetta Brusa: "Favole" (Fables) for chamber orchestra, by the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, George Hanson conducting
1995 - Michael Torke: opera "Strawberry Fields," at Cooperstown, N.Y., by the Glimmerglass Opera, Stewart Robinson conducting
Others
1838 - Mendelssohn finishes in Berlin his String Quartet in D, Op. 44, no. 1; In a letter dated July 30 that year, he writes to the violinist Ferdinand David: "I have just finished my third Quartet, in D Major, and like it very much. I hope it may please you as well. I rather think it will, since it is more spirited and seems to me likely to be more grateful to the players than the others."
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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.