Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Christoph Willibald von Gluck (1714-1787): ‘Act Two Aria’ from ‘Armide’; Rockwell Blake, tenor; Monte Carlo Philharmonic; Patrick Fournillier, conductor; EMI 55058 Christoph Willibald von Gluck (1714-1787): ‘Don Juan Ballet Music’; Rhine Chamber Orchestra of Cologne; Jan Corazolla, conductor; Christophorus 74507
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Jerome Kern (1885-1945): Selections from ‘Show Boat’; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic; Carl Davis, conductor; EMI 4573
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): Piano Blues No. 3; James Tocco, piano; MPR 201
Pablo Casals (1876-1973): ‘Song of the Birds’; Patrick Demenga, cello; Gerard Wyss, piano; Novalis 150117 Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘Billy the Kid Ballet’; Dallas Symphony; Eduardo Mata, conductor; Dorian 90170
William Schuman (1910-1992): Symphony No. 5 (‘Symphony for Strings’); I Musici de Montreal; Yuli Turovsky, conductor; Chandos 9848
Hannibal Lokumbe (b. 1948): ‘African Portar’; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim; Teldec 81792
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): ‘Overture and Act II excerpt’ from ‘La Forza del Destino’; John Alldis Choir; London Symphony; James Levine, conductor; RCA/BMG 39502
Joaquin Rodrigo (1902-1999): ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’; Manuel Barrueco, guitar; Philharmonic Orchestra; Placido Domingo, conductor; EMI 56175
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): ‘L’histoire du Soldat Suite’; Philharmonia Orchestra; Robert Craft, conductor; Koch 7504 Wynton Marsalis (b. 1961): ‘The Fiddler’s Tale’; Wynton Marsalis, trumpet; Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Sony 60979
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.
