Synopsis
Music Played in Today's Program
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) The Golden Cockerel Suite Russian National Orchestra; Mikhail Pletnev, cond. DG 447 084
John Adams (b. 1947) The Chairman Dances San Francisco Symphony; Edo de Waart, cond. Nonesuch 79453
On This Day
Births
1746 - American composer of hymns, anthems, and "fuging tunes," William Billings, in Boston;
Deaths
1918 - English composer Sir Hubert Parry, age 70, at Knight's Croft, Rustington (Sussex);
Premieres
1893 - Gilbert & Sullivan: operetta "Utopia Unlimited," at the Savoy Theatre in London;
1905 - Victor Herbert: operetta "Mlle. Modiste," in Trenton, N.J.;
1909 - Rimsky-Korsakov: opera "The Golden Cockerel," posthumously, in Moscow at the Solodovnikov Theater, Emil Cooper conducting (Julian date: Sept. 24);
1951 - Lukas Foss: Piano Concerto No. 2, in Venice, with the composer as soloist;
1955 - Milhaud: Symphony No. 6, by the Boston Symphony with the composer conducting;
1956 - Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 6, in Leningrad, by the Beethoven Quartet;
1961 - Henry Cowell: Symphony No. 15 ("Thesis"), in Murray, Ky., by the Louisville Orchestra, Robert Whitney conducting;
1963 - José Serebrier: "Poema Elegiaco," by the American Symphony Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski conducting;
1976 - Del Tredici: "Final Alice," in Chicago, with soprano Barbara Hendricks and the Chicago Symphony conducted by Sir Georg Solti;
1983 - Arvo Pärt: "If Bach Had Raised Bees" for harpsichord, electric bass guitar, tape and ensemble, in Graz, Austria;
1994 - Daniel Asia: "Gateways" for orchestra, by the Cincinnati Symphony, Herrman Michael conducting;
2000 - Jake Heggie: opera "Dead Man Walking," at the San Francisco Opera, Patrick Summers conducting.
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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.