Synopsis
Music Played in Today's Program
Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971) Fireworks, Op. 4 Montréal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, cond. London 414 409
Igor Stravinsky Agon Ballet London Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. BMG 68865
On This Day
Births
1818 - French opera composer Charles Gounod, in Paris;
1882 - Russian-born American composer Igor Stravinsky, in Oranienbaum (now Lomonosov), near St. Petersburg (Julian date: June 5); In the 19th century, the Julian calendar lagged behind the Gregorian by 12 days, and in the 20th by 13 days; For most of his life in Europe and America, Stravinsky chose to observe his birthday on June 18, but "officially" it was celebrated on June 17;
1916 - Finnish composer Einar (Sven) Englund, in Ljugard, Gotland (Sweden);
Deaths
1983 - American composer Peter Mennin, age 60, in New York;
Premieres
1903 - Victor Herbert: operetta, "Babes In Toyland," in Chicago;
1908 - Stravinsky: "Fireworks," for the marriage of Rimsky-Korsakov's daughter to Maxmillian Steinberg (Julian date: June 4);
1944 - Prokofiev: Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 94a (transcription of the Flute Sonata, Op. 94), in Moscow, by violinist David Oistrakh and pianist Lev Oborin;
1957 - Stravinsky: ballet score "Agon," at a 75th birthday concert for Stravinsky in Los Angeles conducted by Robert Craft; The first ballet performance of "Agon" occurred at the New York City Ballet on December 1, 1957, choreographed by Georges Balanchine;
1959 - Barber: "A Hand of Bridge," at Festival of Two Worlds in Spoletto, Italy;
1983 - Bernstein: opera "A Quiet Place" (first version), by Houston Grand Opera, John DeMain conducting; A revised version of this opera premiered at La Scala in Milan, Italy, on June 19, 1984, conducted by John Mauceri;
1988 - Elliott Carter: Oboe Concerto, in Zurich, by the Zurich Collegium Musicum conducted by John Carewe, with Heinz Holliger as soloist;
Others
1733 - Performances by J.S. Bach's "Collegium Musicum" in Leipzig resume after a period of mourning for Elector Friedrich August I;
1914 - Finnish composer Jean Sibelius awarded honorary degree by Yale University.
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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.
