Composers Datebook®

A star-spangled bummer for Stravinsky?

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) The Star Spangled Banner (arrangement) London Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. BMG/RCA 68865

On This Day

Births

  • 1730 - Italian opera composer Antonio Sacchini, in Florence;

  • 1835 - Russian composer, pianist and conductor Nicolai Rubinstein (brother of Anton), in Moscow (Julian date: June 2); He is probably best known for his severe criticism of Tchaikovksy's Piano Concerto No. 1 when the new work was submitted to him for consideration in 1874; He eventually changed his mind, and conducted the work as part of all-Russian concerts at the Paris Exposition in 1878;

Deaths

  • 1594 - Flemish composer Orlande de Lassus (aka Orlando di Lasso, Orlandus Lassus, Roland Delattre), in Munich, age 61 or 62 (exact date of his birth is not known);

  • 1911 - Norwegian composer, conductor and violinist Johan Svendsen, age 70, in Copenhagen;

Premieres

  • 1876 - Delibes: ballet, "Sylvia," in Paris;

  • 1927 - Gliere: ballet, "The Red Poppy," in Moscow;

  • 1952 - Americanized version of Kurt Weill's "The Threepenny Opera" translated by Marx Blitzstein premieres at Brandeis University as part of the first Festival of the Creative Arts, with Leonard Bernstein conducting;

  • 1962 - Stravinsky: "The Flood," on CBS Television;

  • 1985 - John Harbison: Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet and Strings, in Sarasota, Fla., with oboist Sarah Bloom and clarinetist Charles Russo, with the New College Festival Orchestra, Paul Wolfe conducting;

  • 2001 - Daniel S. Godfrey: revised version of String Quartet No. 3, at the Seal Bay Music Festival in Rockport, Maine, by the Cassett Quartet;

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Composers Datebook® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Composers Datebook® Episodes

YourClassical

Graupner (and Haydn) in Boston

Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1808): Symphony No. 100 (‘Military’); London Classical Players; Roger Norrington, conductor; EMI 55192

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

Del Tredici's 'In Wartime'

David Del Tredici (1937-2023): ‘In Wartime’; University of Texas Wind Ensemble; Jerry Junkin, conductor; Reference Recording 104

2:00
YourClassical

Herbert's earthquake benefit

Victor Herbert (1859-1924): Cello Concerto No. 1; Lynn Harrell, cello; St. Martin’s Academy; Sir Neville Marriner, conductor; London 417 672

2:00
YourClassical

Diamond's Elegy

David Diamond (1915-2005): ‘Elegy in Memory of Maurice Ravel’; Orchestra of St. Luke’s; John Adams, conductor; Nonesuch 79249

2:00
YourClassical

Nicholas Slonimsky, Date-Meister

Charles Ives (1874-1954): ‘Three Places in New England’; San Francisco Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; BMG 63703

2:00
YourClassical

Tchaikovsky in New York

Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): Orchestral Suite No. 3; Detroit Symphony; Neeme Järvi, conductor; Chandos 9419

2:00
YourClassical

Prokofiev and Rochberg chamber premieres

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): String Quartet No. 1; St. Petersburg String Quartet; Delos 3247 George Rochberg (1918-2005): Octet (‘A Grand Fantasia’); New York Chamber Ensemble; Stephen Rogers Radcliffe, conductor; New World 80462

2:00
YourClassical

Tower's Violin Concerto

Joan Tower (b. 1938): Violin Concerto; Elmar Oliveira, violin; Louisville Orchestra; Joseph Silverstein, conductor; D’Note 1016

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES

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.

About Composers Datebook®
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00