Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook - July 31, 2024

YourClassical

Morton Gould's 'Pavanne'

Morton Gould (1913-1996): ‘Pavanne,’ from ‘American Symphonette No. 2’; St. Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; RCA 60778

2:00
YourClassical

Mendelssohn in Scotland

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): Symphony No. 3 (‘Scottish’); London Symphony; Peter Maag, conductor; London 466 990

2:00
YourClassical

Dvorak and friends

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): String Quartet No. 10; Takacs Quartet; London 466 197

2:00
YourClassical

Ligeti in Salzburg

György Ligeti (1923-2006): ‘Mysteries of the Macabre,’ from ‘Le Grand Macabre’; Sibylle Ehlert, soprano; Philharmonia Orchestra; Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; Sony 62311

2:00
YourClassical

Herrmann delivers a new symphony

Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975): Symphony No. 1; National Philharmonic; Bernard Herrmann, conductor; Unicorn-Kanchana 2063

2:00
YourClassical

Wolfgang, Jr.

Franz Xaver Mozart (1791-1844): Piano Concerto No. 1; Klaus Hellwig, piano; Cologne Radio Symphony; Roland Bader, conductor; Koch-Schwann 311004

2:00
YourClassical

Duke and the Philadelphia Orchestra

Duke Ellington (1899-1974) (arr. Peress): ‘New World A-Comin’’; Sir Roland Hanna, piano; American Composers Orchestra; Maurice Peress, conductor; MusicMasters 7011

2:00
YourClassical

Richard Strauss' 'Peace Day'

Richard Strauss (1864-1949): ‘Friedenstag’; Bavarian Radio Symphony; Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor; EMI 56850

2:00
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Bernstein's dachshunds

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990): ‘Slava! A Political Overture’; Israel Philharmonic Orchestra; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; Naxos 8.559813

2:00
YourClassical

Wagner plays Faust

Richard Wagner (1813-1883): ‘A Faust Overture’; Philadelphia Orchestra; Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor; EMI 56165

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.