Stravinsky on a date?

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.