Beethoven, Bonaparte, and "Fidelio" in Vienna
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) Overture and Prisoner's Chorus, from Fidelio Dresden Opera Chorus and Orchestra; Bernard Haitink, cond. Philips 438 496
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Rameau and Adams go dancing
Jean Philippe Rameau (1683 – 1764) Dardanus Suite Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra; Nicholas McGegan, cond. Conifer 51313 John Adams (b. 1947) John's Book of Alleged Dances Kronos Quartet Nonesuch 79453
Paul Bowles' "Road to Morocco"
Paul Bowles (1910 – 1999) Suite and Concerto for Two Pianos EOS Ensemble; Jonathan Sheffer, cond. BMG/Catalyst 68409
David Amram, Renaissance Man
David Amram (b. 1930) Rondo a la Turca, fr Triple Concerto David Amram Jazz Quintet; Rochester Philharmonic; David Zinman, cond. Flying Fish 751
Coleridge-Taylor in Washington
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 – 1912) Hiawatha's Departure Welsh National Opera Chorus and Orchestra; Kenneth Alwyn, cond. Argo 430 956
Shostakovich and his String Quartets
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 – 1975) String Quartet No. 15, Op. 144 Emerson String Quartet DG 463 284
Danielpour's "American Requiem"
Richard Danielpour (b. 1956) An American Requiem Soloists, Pacific Chorale and Symphony; Carl St. Clair, cond. Reference 97
Ruth Crawford Seeger
Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901 – 1953) String Quartet Schoenberg Ensemble DG 449 925
Tchaikovsky and Brahms in New York
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897) Tragic Overture Chicago Symphony; Daniel Barenboim, cond. Erato 95192 Peter Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 44 Barry Douglas, piano; Philharmonia Orchestra; Leonard Slatkin, cond. RCA/BMG 61633
The indomitable Dame Ethel
Ethyl Smyth (1858 - 1944) The Wreckers Soloists and BBC Philharmonic; Odaline de la Martinez , cond. Conifer 51250
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.