Synopsis
Music Played in Today's Program
Jacques Fromental Halevy (1799 — 1862) La Juive Ambrosian Chorus and Philharmonia Orchestra; Antonio de Almeida, cond Philips 420 190
On This Day
Births
1648 - (or possibly 1649) Baptismal date of English composer and organist John Blow, in Newark, Nottinghamshire;
1685 - German-born British composer George Frideric Handel, as "Georg Friedrich Händel," in Halle (Saxony);
1900 - American composer Elinor Remick Warren, in Los Angeles;
1920 - American composer Hall Overton, in Bangor, Michigan;
Deaths
1704 - Austrian composer and organist Georg Muffat, age 50, in Passau, Germany;
1934 - English composer Sir Edward Elgar, age 76, in Worcester;
1983 - English composer Henry Howells, age 90, in London;
Premieres
1732 - Handel: oratorio “Esther” in London at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, by an ensemble including the Children of the Chapel Royal, on the occasion (in England) of Handel’s 47th birthday (Gregorian date: Mar. 5);
1835 - Halévy: opera "La Juive" (The Jewess), at the Paris Opéra;
1854 - Liszt: symphonic poem, "Les Préludes," in Weimar, conducted by the composer;
1882 - Chadwick: Symphony No. 1, by the Boston Symphony;
1903 - Rachmaninoff: Piano Preludes Nos. 1, 2, and 5, from Op. 23 and “Variations on a Theme of Chopin,” Op. 22, in Moscow, by the composer (Julian date: Feb. 10);
1913 - Schoenberg: "Gurre-Lieder," in Vienna;
1916 - Griffes: "White Peacock" for piano, by Winifred Christie in New York City;
1923 - Ernest Schelling: "A Victory Ball," by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski conducting;
1945 - Villa-Lobos: Choros No. 12 for orchestra, by the Boston Symphony with the composer conducting;
1956 - Leon Kirchner: Piano Concerto No. 1, in New York City, composer at the piano;
1962 - Stravinsky: "A Sermon, A Narrative and A Prayer," in Basle(Switzerland), conducted by Paul Sacher (to whom the work is dedicated).
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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.