Handel in New York
George Frederic Handel (1685–1759) Amen, from Messiah Ambrosian Singers; English Chamber Orchestra; Sir Charles Mackerras, cond. EMI 79543
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Henri Lazarof
Henri Lazarof (1932 - 2013) Violin Concerto Yukiko Kamei, violin; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Naxos 8.559159
A Purcell premiere?
Henry Purcell (1659–1695) Dido and Aeneas Suite Freiburg Baroque Orchestra; Thomas Hengelbrock, cond. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 77231
Skrowaczewski's "Imaginary Passacaglia"
Stanislaw Skrowaczewski (1923 - 2017) Passacaglia Immaginaria Saarbrucken Radio Symphony; Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, cond. Albany 481
Rorem's "Water Music"
Ned Rorem (b. 1923) Water Music Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Jeffrey Kahane, cond. BMG 63512
Larsen's Calamity Jane songs
Libby Larsen (b. 1950) Songs from Letters Benita Valente, soprano; Scottish Chamber Orchestra; Joel Revzen, cond. Koch 7481
A Passion for Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) St. John Passion Collegium Vocale; Philippe Herreweghe, cond. Harmonia Mundi 90.1748/49
Rozsa's Piano Concerto
Miklós Rózsa (1907-1995) Piano Concerto Evelyn Chen, piano; New Zealand Symphony; James Sedares, cond. Koch 7402
Barber's Cello Concerto
Samuel Barber (1910 -1981) Cello Concerto Yo Yo Ma, cello; Baltimore Symphony; David Zinman, cond. CBS/Sony 44900
A Sondheim opening (and closing)
Steven Sondheim (b. 1930) Me and My Town ,from Anyone can Whistle Angela Lansbury; orchestra; Paul Gemignani, cond. RCA Victor 60515
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.