Mahler's musical love-letter?
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) Symphony No. 5 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Riccardo Chailly, cond. London 458 860
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Bolcom's Bicentennial send-up
William Bolcom (b. 1938) Piano Concerto William Bolcom, piano; Rochester Philharmonic; Sydney Hodkinson, cond. Vox Box 7509
A hostess with the most-est nabs Ravel AND Gershwin
George Gershwin (1898-1937) Rhapsody in Blue Alicia Zizzo, piano Carlton 66005
Sleep on it, Giuseppe
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) La Traviata Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Sir Georg Solti, cond. London 448 119
MacDowell and the fickle finger of fame
Edward MacDowell (1860-1908) Piano Concerto No. 2 in d André Watts, piano; Dallas Symphony; Andrew Litton, cond. Telarc 80429
Happy Birthday, Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741) The Four Seasons Enrico Onofri, violin; Il Giardino Armonico; Giovanni Antonini, cond. Teldec 97671
"Please don't have Carmen die at the end, I pray you . . ."
Georges Bizet (1838-1875) Carmen Suite Orchestre de la Bastille; Myung-Whun Chung, cond. DG 431 778
Fritz (Delius) in Florida
Frederick Delius (1862-1934) Florida Suite Welsh National Opera Orchestra; Sir Charles Mackerras, cond. Argo 430 206
A fanfare for Women's History Month
Joan Tower (b.1938) Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1 Colorado Symphony; Marin Alsop, cond. Koch International 7469
Tsontakis tackles TSE
George Tsontakis (b. 1951) Four Symphonic Quartets Monte Carlo Philharmonic; James DePreist, cond. Koch International 7384
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.