Claude Debussy out to sea?
Claude Debussy (1862-1918): ‘La Mer’; New Philharmonia; Pierre Boulez, conductor; Sony 68327
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Oct. 15, 2025
2:00
Lully and Moliere send in the clowns
Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687): ‘Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme’; Comedy-Ballet Le Concert des Nations; Jordi Savall, conductor; Alia Vox 9807
2:00
Rebecca Clarke gets her due
Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979): ‘Vivace’ from Viola Sonata; Philip Dukes, viola; Sophia Rahman, piano; Naxos 8.557934
2:00
Columbus Day music
Victor Herbert (1859-1924): ‘Columbus Suite’; Slovak Radio Symphony; Keith Brion, conductor; Naxos 8.559027 James DeMars (b. 1952): ‘Premonitions of Christopher Columbus’; Tos Ensemble with R. Carlos Nakai, Native American flute; Canyon 7014
2:00
Concertos by Nielsen and Adams
Carl Nielsen (1865-1931): Clarinet Concerto; Kjell-Inge Stevennson, clarinet; Danish Radio Symphony; Herbert Blomstedt, conductor; EMI 69758 John Adams (b. 1947): ‘Gnarly Buttons’; Michael Collins, clarinet; London Sinfonietta; John Adams, conductor; Nonesuch 79453
2:00
Berio's 'Sinfonia' in New York
Luciano Berio (1925-2003): ‘Sinfonia’; New Swingle Singers; French National Orchestra; Pierre Boulez, conductor; Erato 88151
2:00
A birthday Beatle
Lennon and McCartney (arr. Toru Takemitsu): ‘Here, There and Everywhere’; John Williams, guitar; Sony 66704
2:00
Sharon Isbin and John Corigliano
John Corigliano (b. 1938): ‘Troubadours’; Sharon Isbin, guitar; St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; Hugh Wolff, conductor; Virgin 55083
2:00
Music and politics with Rimsky-Korsakov and John Adams
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908): ‘The Golden Cockerel Suite’; Russian National Orchestra; Mikhail Pletnev, conductor; DG 447 084 John Adams (b. 1947): ‘The Chairman Dances’; San Francisco Symphony; Edo de Waart, conductor; Nonesuch 79453
2:00
Brahms and Rzewski for amateurs
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): ‘Liebeslieder Waltz’ No. 18; Silke-Thora Matthies and Christian Köhn, piano; Naxos 553140 Frederic Rzewski (1938-2021): ‘The Days Fly By’; Ursula Oppens, piano; Companion CD to Boosey and Hawkes ‘The Carnegie Hall Millennium Piano Book’ ASIN: B003AG8IUK
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.