Composers Datebook®

Rossini's first big hit

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Mauro Giuliani (1781 — 1829) Tancredi Variations, Op. 87 Ricardo Gallén, guitar Naxos 8.555284

On This Day

Births

  • 1941 - American composer Stephen Albert, in New York;

Deaths

  • 1497 - Flemish composer Johannes Ockeghem, age c. 76, in Tours;

Premieres

  • 1724 - Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 144 ("Nimm, was dein ist, und gehe hin") performed on Septuagesimae Sunday as part of Bach's first annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1723/24);

  • 1727 - Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 157 ("Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn") for a funeral service in Leipzig;

  • 1813 - Rossini: opera "Tancredi," in Venice at the Teatro La Fenice;

  • 1851 - R. Schumann: Symphony No. 3 ("Rhenish"), in Düsseldorf, conducted by the composer;

  • 1930 - Roussel: "Petite Suite" for orchestra, in Paris;

  • 1933 - Henry Brant: "Angels and Devils" for solo flute and flute ensemble, at a Pan-American Association of Composers concert at Carnegie Chapter Hall in New York City, with the famous French-born flautist Georges Barrère as the soloist; On the same program, Brant accompanied soprano Judith Litante at the piano in the premiere performances of three songs by Charles Ives: "Afterglow," "Ann Street," and "Like a Sick Eagle";

  • 1941 - Hindemith: Cello Concerto, at the Sanders Theater (Cambridge, Mass.) by the Boston Symphony conducted by Serge Koussevitzky, with Gregor Piatigorsky the soloist;

  • 1944 - Schoenberg: Piano Concerto, by the NBC Symphony conducted by Leopold Stokowski, with Eduard Steuermann as soloist;

  • 1959 - Poulenc: opera "La voix humaine" (The Human Voice), in Paris at the Opéra Comique;

  • 1976 - John La Montaine: opera "Be Glad, Then, America," at University Park, Pa.;

  • 1996 - Stephen Paulus: "Dramatic Suite," for flute, viola, cello and piano, in St. Cloud, Minn., by members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center;

Others

  • 1838 - Mendelssohn finishes his String Quartet in Eb, Op. 44, no. 3.

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

Maazel's 'Ring without Words'

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) arr. Lorin Maazel (1930-2014): ‘Ring without Words’; Berlin Philharmonic; Lorin Maazel, conductor; Telarc 80154

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

Maxwell Davies at a wedding (with sunrise)

Peter Maxwell Davies (1934-2016): ‘An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise’; George MacIlwham, bagpipes; Royal Philharmonic; Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, conductor; Collins 1444

2:00
YourClassical

Alexis Alrich's Marimba Concerto

Alexis Alrich (b. 1955): Marimba Concerto; Evelyn Glennie, marimba; City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong; Jean Thorel, conductor; Naxos 8.574218

2:00
YourClassical

Beethoven's Second on first?

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Symphony No. 2; New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; Sony 61835

2:00
YourClassical

Thomson's 'Mother of Us All'

Virgil Thomson (1896-1989): ‘The Mother of Us All’; Santa Fe Opera; Raymond Leppard, conductor; New World 288

2:00
YourClassical

Larsen's 'Lyric' Third

Libby Larsen (b. 1950): Symphony No. 3 (‘Lyric’) London Symphony; Joel Revzen, conductor; Koch 7370

2:00
YourClassical

Debussy's Violin Sonata

Claude Debussy (1862-1918): Violin Sonata; Midori, violin; Robert McDonald, piano; Sony 89699

2:00
YourClassical

Dvorak salutes the flag

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904): ‘The American Flag’; soloists; choirs; Berlin Radio Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; CBS/Sony 60297

2:00
YourClassical

Moog moods by Carlos and Voegeli

J.S. Bach (1685-1750) arr. Carlos: Fugue No. 7, from ‘WTC Book 1’;l Wendy Carlos, Moog synthesizer; Sony 7194 Don Voegeli (1920-2009): ‘All Things Considered’ theme (1974 version); Don Voegeli, Moog synthesizer NPR recording

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