Composers Datebook®

Diamond arrives, Thompson departs

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

David Diamond (b. 1915) Rounds Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Nonesuch 79002

Randall Thompson (1899 - 1984) Alleluia Dale Warland Singers; Dale Warland, cond. MPR 201

On This Day

Births

  • 1879 - Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, in Bologna

  • 1915 - American composer David Diamond, in Rochester, N.Y.

  • 1938 - Japanese-American composer Paul Chihara, in Seattle

Deaths

  • 1747 - Italian opera composer, Giovanni Bonocini, age 76, in Vienna; He was the famous (and unsuccessful) rival of Handel's for the favor of the opera-loving public in London

  • 1960 - American composer Edward Burlington Hill, age 87, in Francesrtown, New Hampshire

  • 1984 - American composer and teacher Randall Thompson, age 85, in Boston

Premieres

  • 1957 - Hartmann: opera "Simplicius Simplicissimus" (revised version), in Mannheim at the Nationaltheater; This opera was premiered in a concert version in Munich by the Bavarian Radio on April 2, 1948

  • 1969 - Lennox Berkeley: Symphony No. 3, in Cheltenham, England

  • 2001 - Steven Stucky: "Three Little Pieces for David," for piano (written for the 65th birthday of conductor David Zinman), by Yefim Bronfman at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado.

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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.

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