Synopsis
Music Played in Today's Program
Pauline Viardot-Garcia (1821 - 1910) Cinderella Sandrine Piau, soprano; Nicholas Kok, piano Opera Rara 212
On This Day
Births
1670 - Italian opera composer Giovanni Bononcini, in Modena; In 1720 he joined the Royal Academy of Music in London, where one faction favored Bononcini's works over those by Handel
1821 - French mezzo-soprano PaulineViardot-Garcia; She arranged some of Chopin's mazurkas as songs and performed them with the composer in concert; She also wrote an opera, "La Derniére Sorcière," that was performed in Weimar in 1869, and a chamber opera version of "Cendrillon (Cinderella)" which was performed privately in 1904
1872 - Czech composer Julius Fucik, in Prague; A student of Dvorák's, he composed the famous "circus" march, "Entrance of the Gladiators";
1894 - Dutch-born American composer Bernard Wagenaar, in Arnhem; He was the son of the Dutch composer Johan Wagenaar (1862-1941); He came to the U.S. in 1920, was a violinist with the New York Philharmonic from 1921-23, and in 1927 became a composition teacher at the Juilliard Graduate School
1933 - Canadian composer R. Murray Schafrer, in Sarnia, Ontario
1954 - American composer Tobias Picker, in New York
Deaths
1949 - Czech composer Vitezslav Novák, age 78, in Skutec, Slovakia
Premieres
1713 - Handel: "Utrecht Te Deum," in London (Julian date: July 7)
1791 - Cherubini: opera, "Lodoiska, in Paris
1920 - Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 5, in Moscow
1972 - Panufnik: Violin Concerto, in London, with Yehudi Menuhin as soloist
1976 - Stockhausen: multi-media work "Sirius," in Washington, D.C., at the Smithsonian Institute
1984 - Sallinen: String Quartet No. 5 ("Pieces of Mosaic"), at the Kuhmo Festival in Finland, by the Kronos Quartet
Love the music?
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.
Your Donation
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.