Berlioz gets hot
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869): ‘Symphonie Funebre et Triomphale’; London Symphony; Colin Davis, conductor; Philips 416 283
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - July 28, 2025
2:00
Lindberg by Weill, Hindemith and Waxman
Kurt Weill (1900-1950): ‘Lindbergh’s Flight’; Cologne Radio Orchestra; Hermann Scherchen, conductor; Capriccio 60012 Franz Waxman (1906-1962): ‘The Spirit of St. Louis’; studio orchestra; Franz Waxman, conductor; BMG/RCA 2283
2:00
'Parsifal' in Bayreuth
Richard Wagner (1813-1883): ‘Transformation Music,’ from ‘Parsifal’; London Symphony; Sir Adrian Boult, conductor; EMI Classics 62539
2:00
Copland and Kernis on the air
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘Music for Radio’ (‘Saga of the Prairies’); Pacific Symphony; Keith Clark, conductor; Albany TROY-064 Aaron Jay Kernis (b. 1960): ‘Still Movement with Hymn’; Pamela Frank, violin; Paul Neubauer, viola; Carter Brey, cello; Christopher O’Riley, piano; Argo 448 174
2:00
Hindemith for winds
Paul Hindemith (1895-1963): ‘Concert Music for Winds’; Eastman Wind Ensemble; Donald Hunsberger, conductor; CBS MK-44916
2:00
A West-Coast premiere for Still
William Grant Still (1895-1978): Symphony No. 1 (‘Afro-American’); Detroit Symphony; Neeme Järvi, conductor; Chandos 9154
2:00
de Falla and Sierra
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946): ‘The Three-Cornered Hat’; Ballet Suisse Romande Orchestra; Ernest Ansermet, conductor; London 414 039 Roberto Sierra (b. 1953): ‘Eros’; Jeani Foster, flute; Stefanie Jacob, piano; Fleur de son Classics 57950
2:00
Mendelssohn for winds
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): ‘Overture for Winds’; London Symphony; Claudio Abbado, conductor; DG 423 104
2:00
Music at Watergate
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘Rodeo’; London Symphony; Aaron Copland, conductor; Sony Classical 60593 William Schuman (1910-1992): ‘Newsreel’; Milwaukee Symphony; Lukas Foss, conductor; Pro Arte 102
2:00
The long and the short of it
Richard Strauss (1864-1949): ‘Der Rosenkavalier: Suite’; New York Philharmonic; Lorin Maazel, conductor; DG 7890 Anton Webern (1883-1945): No. 4, from ‘Five Pieces for Orchestra’; Ensemble InterContemporain; Pierre Boulez, conductor; DG 437786 Morton Feldman (1926-1987): ‘For Philip Guston’; The California EAR Unit; Bridge 9078
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.