Holst and Hammersmith
Gustav Holst (1874-1934): ‘Hammersmith’; Dallas Wind Symphony; Howard Dunn, conductor; Reference Recordings 39
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - April 17, 2025
2:00
Persichetti and Leon for band
Vincent Pershichetti (1915-1987): Symphony No. 6 (‘Symphony for Band’); Eastman Wind Ensemble; Frederick Fennell, conductor; Mercury 432 754 Tania Leon (b. 1943): ‘Alegre’; American Composers Forum Bandquest CD-ROM; Hal Leonard
2:00
Handel's famous 'Largo'
George Frederic Handel (1685-1759): ‘Largo,’ from ‘Xerxes’; Boston Pops; Arthur Fiedler, conductor; BMG 62698
2:00
Delibes on stage and TV
Léo Delibes (1836-1891): ‘Flower Duet,’ from ‘Lakmé’; BBC Concert Orchestra; Barry Wordsworth, conductor; London 473 371 Léo Delibes: ‘Flower Duet,’ from ‘Lakmé’; Natalie Dessay and Delphine Haidan, sopranos; Toulouse Capitole Orchestra; Michel Plasson, conductor; EMI 67830
2:00
Gould at West Point
Morton Gould (1913-1996): ‘West Point Symphony’ (‘Symphony for Band’); Eastman Wind Ensemble; Frederick Fennell, conductor; Mercury 434 320
2:00
Henri Lazarof
Henri Lazarof (1932-2013): Violin Concerto; Yukiko Kamei, violin; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Naxos 8.559159
2:00
A Purcell premiere?
Henry Purcell (1659-1695): ‘Dido and Aeneas Suite’; Freiburg Baroque Orchestra; Thomas Hengelbrock, conductor; Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 77231
2:00
Skrowaczewski's 'Imaginary Passacaglia'
Stanislaw Skrowaczewski (1923-2017): ‘Passacaglia Immaginaria’; Saarbrucken Radio Symphony; Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, conductor; Albany 481
2:00
Festival Music for Vienna, by Strauss
Richard Strauss (1864-1949): ‘Festmusik der Stadt Wien’; Locke Brass Consort; James Stobart, conductor; Chandos 8419
2:00
Larsen's 'Calamity Jane' songs
Libby Larsen (b. 1950): ‘Songs from Letters’; Benita Valente, soprano; Scottish Chamber Orchestra; Joel Revzen, conductor; Koch 7481
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.