A Beethoven marathon in Vienna
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Symphony No. 5 Concertgebouw Orchestra; Bernard Haitink, conductor. Philips 442 076 Samuel Barber (1910-1981) Chorale Prelude on Silent Night Jeremy Fisell, organ GMCD 7145
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composer's Datebook - Dec. 22, 2022
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Bach and Hoover "double their pleasure, double their fun"
Katherine Hoover’s Double Concerto was premiered by the Southeastern Kansas Orchestra on today’s date in 1989.
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A ghost story by Henry James and Benjamin Britten
“The Turn of the Screw” has been adapted for both stage and screen, and on today’s date in 1954, an operatic version by the British composer Benjamin Britten received its premiere performance at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice.
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Milhaud's "Symphonies"
On today’s date in 1892, Darius Milhaud was born in Aix-en-Provence.
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Hot new operas by Saariaho and Wagner
Richard Wagner's "Die Walküre" had its first performance as part of his "Ring Cycle" on today's date in 1876, at Wagner's own theater in Bayreuth, a small town in Southern Germany.
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James MacMillan's "The World's Ransoming"
James MacMillan’s “The World’s Ransoming” was premiered at the Barbican Center in London on today’s date in 1996.
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Born on the Fourth of July?
Today we celebrate three legendary figures in American popular music.
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Brahms and Berg on busman holidays?
In the summers of 1877 and 1878, Johannes Brahms composed his Second Symphony and Violin Concerto.
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Elliott Carter's “Two Controversies and a Conversation”
On today’s date in 2012, a new chamber work by Carter with an odd title received its first performance at a concert in the New York Philharmonic’s CONTACT! Series.
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Alice Parker and ChoralQuest
Alice Parker’s “Dancing Songs” was premiered by the Amherst Regional Middle School Choir and their director David Ranen on today’s date in 2011.
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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.