Handel passes the hat
George Frederic Handel (1685-1757): Organ Concerto No. 14; Peter Hurford, organ; Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra; Joshua Rifkin, conductor; London 430 569
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - March 20, 2026
2:00
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Carpenter perambulates
John Alden Carpenter (1876-1951): ‘Adventrues in a Perambulator’; National Symphony of Ukraine; John McLaughlin Williams, conductor; Naxos 8.559065
2:00
Rachmaninoff makes the cut
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943): Piano Concerto No. 4; Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano; Cleveland Orchestra; Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor; London 458 930
2:00
Moby Crumb?
George Crumb (1929-2022): ‘Vox Balaenae’ (‘Voice of the Whale’); Zizi Mueller, flute; Fred Sherry, cello; James Gemmell, piano; New World 357
2:00
Massenet's 'Meditation'
Jules Massenet (1842-1912): ‘Meditation’ from ‘Thaïs’; Nigel Kennedy, violin; English Chamber Orchestra; EMI 57330
2:00
King Louis XIII's 'Blackbird' Ballet
Louis XIII Roi de France (1601-1643): ‘Ballet de la Merlaison’; Ancient Instrument Ensemble of Paris; Jacques Chailley, conductor; Nonesuch LP H-71130
2:00
Toscanini and Copland
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘El Salòn Mèxico’; NBC Symphony; Arturo Toscanini, conductor
2:00
Adamo at the opera
Charles Ives (1874-1954): ‘The Alcotts’ from ‘Concord Sonata’; Anthony de Mare, piano; CRI 837 Mark Adamo (b. 1962): ‘Little Women’; Houston Grand Opera; Patrick Summers, conductor; Ondine 988
2:00
Verdi's 'Simon Boccanegra'
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): ‘Simon Boccanegra’; La Scala Chorus and Orchestra; Claudio Abbado, conductor; DG 449 752
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.