Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra"
Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901) Simon Boccanegra La Scala Chorus and Orchestra; Claudio Abbado, cond. DG 449 752

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

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901) Simon Boccanegra La Scala Chorus and Orchestra; Claudio Abbado, cond. DG 449 752

Carl Ruggles (1897 - 1971) Sun-Treader Cleveland Orchestra; Christoph von Dohnanyi, cond. Cleveland Orchestra 75th Anniversary CD Edition 093-75 Henry Cowell (1897 - 1965) Homage to Iran Leopold Avakian, violin; Mitchell Andrews, piano; Basil Bahar, Persian drum CRI 836

David Diamond (1915 - 2005) Clarinet Quintet David Shifrin, clarinet; Chamber Music Northwest Delos 3088

Niccolo Paganini (1782 - 1840) Caprice No. 10 James Ehnes, violin Telarc 80398

Alan Hovhaness (1911 - 2000) Symphony No. 21 (Ani) Trinity College of Music Wind Orchestra; Keith Brion, cond. Naxos 8.559385

Daniel Pinkham (1923 - 2006) Serenades Maurice Murphy, trumpet; London Symphony; James Sedares, cond. Koch International 7179

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) String Quartet in Eb, Op. 127 LaSalle Quartet DG 453 768

Samuel Barber (1910 - 1981) Dover Beach Samuel Barber, baritone; Curtis String Quartet Pearl 0049

Christopher Rouse (b. 1949) Symphony No. 2 Houston Symphony; Christoph Eschenbach, cond. Telarc 80452

Richard Strauss (1864 - 1949) Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life), Op. 40 Minnesota Orchestra; Eiji Oue, cond. Reference 83
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.