Bernstein's air-conditioned urban jungle
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990): ‘Prologue’ from ‘West Side Story’; orchestra and chorus; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; DG 415 255
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Aug. 19, 2025
2:00
Salieri slandered?
Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791): Symphony No. 25; Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; Neville Marriner, conductor; Fantasy 900 1791 Antonio Salieri (1750-1825): ‘La Locandiera Overture’; London Mozart Players; Matthias Bamert, conductor; Chandos 9877
2:00
Atterberg's '$10,000' Symphony
Franz Schubert (1797-1828): Symphony No. 8 (‘Unfinished’); Chamber Orchestra of Europe; Claudio Abbado, conductor; DG 423 655 Kurt Atterberg (1887-1974): Symphony No. 6 (‘Dollar Symphony’); Norrköping Symphony; Jun’ichi Hirokami, conductor; Bis 553
2:00
The king is dead
Michael Daugherty (b. 1954): ‘Dead Elvis’; Charles Ullery, bassoon; London Sinfonietta; David Zinman, conductor; Argo 458 145
2:00
A Mass for Machaut
Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300-1377): ‘Messe de Nostre Dame’
2:00
Bolcom's 'Five Fold Five'
William Bolcom (b. 1938): ‘Five Fold Five’; Detroit Chamber Winds; William Bolcom, piano Koch 7395
2:00
Martinu in California
Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959): ‘Sinfonietta ‘La Jolla’’; Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; Christopher Hogwood, conductor; London 433 660
2:00
'Twilight Butterfly' by Thomas
Augusta Read Thomas (b. 1964): ‘Twilight Butterfly’; Yvonne Redman, soprano; Julie Gunn, piano; Nimbus 6306
2:00
Bernstein in Hollywood
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990): ‘On the Waterfront Suite’; Israel Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; DG 415 253
2:00
Two by Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’; Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; Neville Marriner, conductor; EMI Classics 65690 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Symphony No. 41 (‘Jupiter’); Marlboro Festival Orchestra; Pablo Casals, conductor; CBS/Sony 47294
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.