Britten's Mahler premiere in Aldeburgh
Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911) Blumine, fr Symphony No. 1 Israel Philharmonic; Zubin Mehta, cond. EMI 69816 Thomas Adès (b. 1971) Asyla City of Birmingham Symphony; Sir Simon Rattle, cond. EMI 56818
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Victor Herbert classics, light and otherwise
Victor Herbert (1859 - 1924) Babes in Toyland Razumovsky Symphony; Keith Brion, cond. Naxos 559 025 Victor Herbert (1859 - 1924) Cello Concerto No. 1 in D, Op. 8 Lynn Harrell, cello; St. Martin's Academy; Neville Marriner, cond. London 417 672
Bernard Herrman's low-budget classic
Bernard Herrmann (1911 - 1975) Psycho (A Narrative for Orchestra) London Philharmonic; Bernard Herrmann, cond. London 443 895
A surprise commission for Mr. Sousa
John Philip Sousa (1854 - 1932) The Washington Post March Dallas Wind Symphony; Jerry Junkin, cond. Reference 94 John Philip Sousa (1854 - 1932) Peaches and Cream Foxtrot Cincinnati Pops; Erich Kunzel, cond. Moss MMG-10005
A star-spangled bummer for Stravinsky?
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) The Star Spangled Banner (arrangement) London Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. BMG/RCA 68865
Blind Tom
Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins (1849-1908) Battle of Manassas John Davis, p. Newport Classics 85660
Music for the birds by Dvořák and Rautavaara
Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904) String Quartet, Op. 96 (American) Vlach Quartet Naxos 8.553371 Einojuhani Rautavaara (b. 1928) Cantus Arcticus, Op. 61 Lahti Symphony; Osmo Vänskä BIS 1038
Hovhaness and the world's biggest vocal soloist
Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000) And God Created Great Whales Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3157
Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde"
Richard Wagner (1813-1883) Act II Prelude, from Tristan und Isolde Bayreuth Festival Orchestra; Karl Böhm Philips 434 425
Mahler and Salonen on busman holidays
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) Symphony No. 3 Los Angeles Phil.; Esa Pekka Salonen, cond. Sony Classical 60250 Esa Pekka Salonen (b. 1958) Mimo II Bengt Rosengren, ob; Swedish Radio Symphony; Esa Pekka Salonen, cond. Daphne 1002
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.