'Music for Two Big Instruments'
Alex Shapiro (b. 1962): ‘Music for Two Big Instruments’; Alan Baer, tuba; Bradley Haag, piano; innova 683
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Feb. 11, 2026
2:00
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Hanson's 'Merry Mount' at the Met
Howard Hanson (1896-1981): ‘Merry Mount Suite’; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Delos 3105
2:00
Mozart starts keeping track
Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791): Piano Concerto No. 14; Murray Perahia, piano and conductor; English Chamber Orchestra CBS/Sony 415 Freemason Cantata; Boston Early Music Festival; Andrew Parrott, conductor; Denon 9152
2:00
Virgil Thomson and Wallace Stevens in Hartford
Virgil Thomson (1896-1989): ‘Four Saints in Three Acts’; Orchestra of Our Time; Joel Thome, conductor; Nonesuch 79035
2:00
Borodin's String Quartet No. 2
Alexander Borodin (1833-1877): String Quartet No. 2; Cleveland Quartet; Telarc 80178
2:00
Stephen Paulus and the Commissioning Club
Stephen Paulus (1949-2014): ‘Dramatic Suite’; Judith Ranheim, flute; Chouhei Min, violin; Korey Konkol, viola; Mina Fisher, cello; Thelma Hunter, piano; innova 539
1:59
Verdi's 'Otello' premieres
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): ‘Act I Excerpt’ from ‘Otello’; Ambrosian Chorus; New Philharmonia Orchestra; John Barbirolli, conductor; EMI Classics 65296
2:00
The passing of Iannis Xenakis
Iannis Xenakis (1922-2001): ‘Opening of A Colone’; New London Chamber Choir; Critical Band; James Wood, conductor; Hyperion 66980 Huuem-Duhey; Edna Michell, violin; Michael Kanka, cello Angel 57179
2:00
Kurtag's Tribute
György Kurtág (b. 1926): ‘Omaggio a Luigi Nono’; SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart; Marcus Creed, director; SWR Music; 93.174
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.