William Billings
William Billings (1746-1800): ‘Emmaus’ and ‘Shiloh’; His Majestie's Clerkes; Paul Hillier, conductor; Harmonia Mundi 90.7048
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
William Billings (1746-1800): ‘Emmaus’ and ‘Shiloh’; His Majestie's Clerkes; Paul Hillier, conductor; Harmonia Mundi 90.7048
Paul Hindemith (1895-1963): ‘Kammermusik No. 4’; Konstanty Kulka, violin; Concertgebouw Orchestra; Riccardo Chailly, conductor; London 433 816
Andrzej Panufnik (1914-1991): ‘Old Polish Suite’; Polish Chamber Orchestra; Mariusz Smolij, conductor; Naxos 8.570032
Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835): ‘Sinfonia’ from ‘Il Pirata’; German Opera Orchestra, Berlin; Marcello Viotti, conductor; Berlin Classics 11152
Leonardo Balada (b. 1933): ‘Concierto Magico’; Eliot Fisk, guitar; Barcelona and Catalonia National Orchestra; Jose Serebrier, conductor; Naxos 8.555039
Philip Glass (b. 1937): Concerto for Harpsichord and Chamber Orchestra; Christopher D. Lewis, harpsichord; West Side Chamber Orchestra/Kevin Mallon; Naxos 8.573146
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): ‘The Firebird’ (1919 revision); Minnesota Orchestra; Eiji Oue, conductor; Reference 70 Peter Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): ‘Valse-Scherzo’; Gil Shaham, violin; Russian National Orchestra; Mikhail Pletnev, conductor; DG 457 064
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Clarinet Sonata No. 2; Michael Collins, clarinet; Mikhail Pletnev, piano; Virgin 91076
Virgil Thomson (1896-1989): Flute Concerto; Mary Stolper, flute; Czech National Symphony; Paul Freeman, conductor; Cedille 046
Richard Wagner (1813-1883): ‘Ride of the Valkyries’; from ‘Die Walküre’; Berlin Philharmonic; Claudio Abbado, conductor; DG 471 627
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.