A "pathetic" symphony by Tchaikovsky
Peter Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique) Russian National Orchestra; Mikhail Pletnev, cond. DG 449 967

Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge

Peter Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique) Russian National Orchestra; Mikhail Pletnev, cond. DG 449 967

Steven Mackey (b. 1956) Eating Greens New World Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. RCA/BMG 63826

Robert Ward (b. 1917) The Crucible New York City Opera; Emerson Buckley, cond. Albany 25/26

John Corigliano (b. 1938) Poem in October Robert White, tenor;Thomas Nyfenger, f.;Humbert Lucarelli, ob.;Joseph Rabbai, cl.;American String Quartet;Maurice Peress, cond. and hc. RCA 60395

Cindy McTee (b. 1953) Symphony No. 1 (Ballet for Orchestra) Detroit Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, cond. Naxos 8.559765

Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1981) Violin Concerto in D Maxim Vengerov, violin; London Symphony; Mstislav Rostropovich, cond. EMI Classics 56966

John Adams (b. 1947) Nixon in China Orchestra of St. Luke's; Edo de Waart, cond. Nonesuch 794543

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) Symphony No. 5 Royal Philharmonic; René Leibowitz, cond. Chesky 17 Jean Sibelius (1865 – 1957) Symphony No. 5 Lahti Symphony; Osmo Vänska BIS 1288

Bohuslav Martinu (1890 - 1959) Symphony No. 5 Czech Philharmonic; Karel Ancerl, cond. Supraphon SU-3694-2
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.