Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Georges Bizet (1838-1875): Prelude from ‘The Pearl Fishers’; Mexico City Philharmonic; Enrique Batiz, conductor; ASV 6133 Georges Bizet (1838-1875): ‘Au Fond du Temple Saint,’ from ‘The Pearl Fishers’; Placido Domingo, tenor; Sherrill Milnes, baritone; London Symphony; Anton Guadagno, conductor; BMG 62699
Michael Torke (b. 1961): ‘Overnight Mail’; Orkest de Volharding; Jurjen Hempel, conductor; Argo 455 684
Vivian Fine (1913-2000): ‘Concertante’; Reiko Honsho, piano; Japan Philharmonic; Akeo Watanabe, conductor; CRI 692
Gerald Finzi (1901-1956): Clarinet Concerto; Richard Stoltzman, clarinet; Guildhall String Ensemble; Robert Slater, conductor; BMG 60437
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
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.
