Mozart made to order
W.A. Mozart (1756-1791): Concerto for Flute and Harp; Emmanuel Pahud, flute; Marie-Pierre Langlamet, harp; Berlin Philharmonic; Claudio Abbado, conductor; EMI 57128
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - May 16, 2026
2:00
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Verdi's Requiem
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): 'Sanctus' from 'Requiem'; Monteverdi Choir; Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique; John Eliot Gardner, conductor; Decca 441142
2:00
Emilie Mayer
Emilie Mayer (1812-1883): Symphony No. 4; New Brandenburg Philharmonie; Stefan Malzew, conductor; Capriccio 5339
2:00
A less-than-magnificent reception for Bach's 'Magnificat'
J.S. Bach (1685-1750): ‘Magnificat’
2:00
Shostakovich gets on first
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975): Symphony No. 1; Cracow Philharmonic; Gilbert Levine, conductor; Arabesque 6610
2:00
Richard Writes to Gustav
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): Symphony No. 3; London Symphony Orchestra; Jascha Horenstein, conductor; Unicorn 2006-7
2:00
Barrington Pheloung and Inspector Morse
Barrington Pheloung (1954-2019): Theme from ‘Inspector Morse’; The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra; James Fitzpatrick, conductor; Silva Screen Records 4729
2:00
Ravel plays 'guess who' in Paris
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): ‘Valses Nobles et Sentimentales’; Minnesota Orchestra; Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, conductor; Analogue 007
2:00
Stravinsky's 'Dumbarton Oaks Concerto'
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): ‘Dumbarton Oaks Concerto’
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.