Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge

Composers Datebook - Dec. 3, 2024

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Bach Begins the church year

J.S. Bach (1685-1750): Cantata No. 62 ‘Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland’; Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists; John Eliot Gardiner, conductor; Archiv 463 588

2:00
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Messiaen in Boston

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992): ‘Turangalila Symphony’; Concertgebouw Orchestra; Riccardo Chailly, conductor; London 436 626

2:00
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2:00
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Picker picks a plot

Tobias Picker (b. 1954): ‘Therese Raquin’; Dallas Opera Orchestra; Graeme Jenkins, conductor; Chandos 9659

2:00
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Scarlatti Arrives

Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757): Harpsichord Sonata; Gustav Leonhardt, harpsichord; Sony 61820

2:00
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Griffes for pleasure

Charles Tomlinson Griffes (1884-1920): ‘The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan’; Boston Symphony; Seiji Ozawa, conductor; New World 273

2:00
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Korngold writes a symphony

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957): Symphony; Philadelphia Orchestra; Franz Welser-Most, conductor; EMI 56169

2:00
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A belated Schumann premiere

Robert Schumann (1810-1856): Violin Concerto; Gidon Kremer, violin; Philharmonia Orchestra; Riccardo Muti, conductor; EMI 69334

2:00
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Bach's wake up call?

J.S. Bach (1685-1750): Cantata No. 140 (‘Wachet auf, Ruft uns die Stimme’); Bach Ensemble; Helmuth Rilling, conductor; Laudate 98.857

2:00

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.