Composers Datebook®

Rawsthorne's version of "Cats"

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Alan Rawsthorne (1905 – 1971) excerpt, fr Practical Cats Robert Donat, speaker; Philharmonia Orchestra; Alan Rawsthorne, cond. EMI Classsics 66935

On This Day

Births

  • 1887 - Nicaraguan composer Luis Delgadillio, in Managua;

  • 1915 - British composer Humphrey Searle, in Oxford;

Deaths

  • 1958 - British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, age 85, in London;

Premieres

  • 1815 - Weber: Clarinet Quintet in Bb, Op. 34, in Munich, featuring clarinetist Heinrich Bärmann;

  • 1846 - Mendelssohn: oratorio "Elijah," at Birmingham Festival in England, with composer conducting;

  • 1954 - Alan Rawsthorne: "Practical Cats" (after T.S. Eliot), for speaker and orchestra, at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland

  • 1956 - Martinu: "Frescoes of Piero della Francesca," for orchestra, at the Salzburg Festival in Austria

  • 1957 - Panufnik: "Rhapsody" for orchestra, in London

  • 2001 - André Previn: "Tango, Song and Dance," at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and pianist Lambert Orkis.

Others

  • 1717 - French flutist and composer Jacques-Martin Hotteterre is appointed royal flutist (“flutte de la chamber de Roy”) at a salary of 6000 livres

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

Higdon's 'Splendid Wood'

Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962): ‘Splendid Wood’; New England Conservatory Percussion Ensemble; Naxos 8.559683

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

"Citizen Kane" scores big

Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975): ‘Citizen Kane’ film score (opening); National Philharmonic; Charles Gerhardt, conductor; RCA CD 707

2:00
YourClassical

Thomas' 'Sun Threads'

Augusta Read Thomas (b. 1964): ‘Eagle at Sunrise’ from ‘Sun Threads’; Walden Chamber Players; ART CD 1992007

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Meyerbeer's 'African Maid'

Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864): ‘O Paradis’ from ‘L’Africaine’; Ben Heppner, tenor; London Symphony; Myung-Whun Chung, conductor; DG 471 372

2:00
YourClassical

Bostic's 'State of Grace'

Kathryn Bostic (b. 1970): “State of Grace”; Kathryn Bostic, vocal and piano; Pittsburgh Symphony strings; KBMusic digital download

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Beethoven waits for Liszt

Franz Liszt (1811-1886): ‘Reminiscences de Robert le Diable’; Leslie Howard, piano; Hyperion 66861

2:00
YourClassical

Stockhausen's 'Sunday' from 'Light'

Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007): ‘Lichter-Wasser (Sonntags-Gruss)’ from ‘Sonntag aus Licht’; Barbara van den Boom, soprano; Hubert Mayer, tenor; Antonio Pérez Abellán, synthesizer; SW Radio Symphony Baden-Baden/Freiburg; Karlheinz Stockhausen, conductor; Stockhausen Verlag CD 58

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
00:00
Infinity:NaN