Tchaikovsky in New York
Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): Orchestral Suite No. 3; Detroit Symphony; Neeme Järvi, conductor; Chandos 9419
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - April 26, 2025
2:00
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Prokofiev and Rochberg chamber premieres
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): String Quartet No. 1; St. Petersburg String Quartet; Delos 3247 George Rochberg (1918-2005): Octet (‘A Grand Fantasia’); New York Chamber Ensemble; Stephen Rogers Radcliffe, conductor; New World 80462
2:00
Tower's Violin Concerto
Joan Tower (b. 1938): Violin Concerto; Elmar Oliveira, violin; Louisville Orchestra; Joseph Silverstein, conductor; D’Note 1016
2:00
Gabriela Lena Frank's 'Three Latin American Dances'
Gabriela Lena Frank (b. 1972): ‘Three Latin American Dances’; Utah Symphony; Keith Lockhart, conductor; Reference Recording 105
2:00
Husa's 'Apotheosis of this Earth'
Karel Husa (1921-2016): ‘Apotheosis of this Earth’; Ithaca College Wind Ensemble; Rodney Winther, conductor; Mark 3170
2:00
Copland's 'Hurricane' for kids
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘The Second Hurricane’; High School of Music and Art; New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; Sony 60560
2:00
Biblical Torke
Michael Torke (b. 1961): ‘Song of Isaiah’; Present Music; innova 590
2:00
Anthony Braxton's operas
Anthony Braxton (b. 1945): excerpt from Act 2 of ‘Trillium J’; soloists and ensemble; Anthony Braxton, conductor; New Braxton House 906
1:59
'King's Row,' Korngold and 'Star Wars'
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957): ‘Main Title,’ from ‘King’s Row’; National Philharmonic; Charles Gerhardt, conductor; RCA LSC-3330 (LP) & 7890-2-RG (CD)
1:58
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.