Composers Datebook®

Handel and the Royals

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1759) Rinaldo Overture Academy of Ancient Music; Christopher Hogwood, cond. Philips 434 992

On This Day

Births

  • 1931 - American composer Lucia Dlugoszewski, in Detroit;

Deaths

  • 1970 - Estonian composer Heino Eller, age 83, in Tallinn;

  • 1986 - French composer and organist Maurice Duruflé, age 84, in Paris;

Premieres

  • 1929 - Shostakovich: opera "The Nose," in Leningrad at the Malïly Opera Theater;

  • 1937 - Blitzstein: opera-review, "The Cradle Will Rock," in New York City, composer at piano;

  • 1950 - Persichetti: "Divertimento for Band," by the Goldman Band, with the composer conducting;

  • 1961 - Schoenberg: "Jacob's Ladder," in Vienna, posthumously; at 35th Festival of the International Society for Contemporary Music;

  • 1973 - Britten: opera "Death in Venice," in Snape at The Maltings;

Others

  • 1708 - While in Italy, Handel completes the score to his "Aci, Galatea e Polifemo," presumably for the wedding of the Duke of Alvito to Donna Beatrice Sanseverino on July 19th that year;

  • 1710 - Handel is appointed Kapellemeister to Georg Ludwig, Elector of Hanover (the future King George I), at a salary of 1000 thaler under condition that Handel receive an immediate 12-month leave of absence to London;

  • 1891 - Czech composer Antonin Dvorák receives an honorary degree from Cambridge University in England.

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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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