Seeing things at Wagner's 'Parsifal'
Richard Wagner (1813-1883): Act I excerpt from ‘Parsifal’; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; James Levine, conductor; DG 437 501
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - July 26, 2026
2:00
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Opera Glass?
Philip Glass (b. 1937): Violin Solo from ‘Einstein on the Beach’; Gregroy Fulkerson, violin; New World 80313
2:00
Arnaud's after-the-fact Olympic tune
Leo Arnaud (1904-1991): ‘Olympic Theme’; Cleveland Symphonic Winds; Frederick Fennell, conductor; Telarc 80099
2:00
Scarlatti (and Persichetti) Sonatas
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757): Sonata in C Minor; Elaine Comparone, harpsichord; Laurel 838 Vincent Pershichetti (1915-1987): Sonata No. 4; Elaine Comparone, harpsichord; Laurel 838
2:00
A Verdi premiere in London
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): ‘I Masnadieri Overture’; Hungarian State Opera Orchestra; Iper Giorgio Morandi, conductor; Naxos 8.554077
2:00
Hindemith's St. Francis ballet
Paul Hindemith (1895-1963): ‘Nobilissima Visione’; San Francisco Symphony; Herbert Blomstedt, conductor; London 433 809
2:00
Morton Feldman salutes his piano teacher
Morton Feldman (1926-1987): ‘Madame Press died last week at 90’; Orchestra of St. Luke’s; John Adams, conductor; Nonesuch 79249
2:00
The 'Leningrad Symphony' on NBC
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1976): Symphony No. 7 (‘Leningrad’); NBC Symphony; Arturo Toscanini, conductor; RCA Toscanini Edition Vol. 22
2:00
Pauline Viardot-Garcia
Pauline Viardot-Garcia (1821-1910): ‘12 Poems by Pushkin, Fet and Turgenev: No. 12: Les Étoiles’; Laetitia Grimaldi, soprano; Ammiel Bushakevitz, piano; Bis 2546
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.