A Strauss tale too good to be true
Richard Strauss (1861-1949): ‘Ariadne auf Naxos’; Vienna Philharmonic; James Levine, conductor; DG 419 225
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Oct. 25, 2024
2:00
William Grant Still's 'Africa'
William Grant Still (1895-1978): ‘Land of Romance’ and ‘Land of Superstition,’ from ‘Africa’; Fort Smith ASym; John Jeter, conductor; Naxos 8.559174
2:00
Piston's 'New England Sketches'
Walter Piston (1894-1976): ‘Three New England Sketches’; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Delos 3106
2:00
Handel and Colgrass at the organ
George Frederic Handel (1685-1757): Organ Concerto, No. 4; Simon Preston, organ; Festival Orchestra; Yehudi Menuhin, conductor; EMI 72626 Michael Colgrass (1932-2019): ‘Snow Walker’; David Schrader, organ; Grant Park Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar, conductor; Cedille 90000 063
2:00
A quirky piece by Marga Richter
Marga Richter (1926-2020): ‘Quantum Quirks of a Quick Quaint Quark’; Czech Radio Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz; MMC 2006
2:00
Hanson's futile efforts
Howard Hanson (1896-1981): ‘Pastorale’; Randall Ellis, oboe; Susan Jolles, harp; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Delos 3105
2:00
Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel
Franz Schubert (1797-1828): ‘Gretchen am Spinnrade,’ D118; Elly Ameling, soprano; Dalton Baldwin, piano; Phillips 420870
2:00
Saeverud's 'Minnesota Symphony'
Harald Saeverud (1897-1992): Symphony No. 8 (‘Minnesota’); Stavanger Symphony; Ole Kristian Ruud, conductor; BIS 972
2:00
Copland's 'Letter from Home'
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘Letter from Home’; St. Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; EMI 49766
2:00
Kodaly's obscure and popular opera
Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967): ‘Háry János Suite’; Budapest Festival Orchestra; Ivan Fischer, conductor; Philips 462 824
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.