Synopsis
Music Played in Today's Program
César Franck (1822-1890) Violin Sonata in A Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin; Lambert Orkis, piano DG 445 826
Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994) Partita Krzysztof Bakowski, violin; Polish National Radio Orchestra; Antoni Wit, cond. Naxos 8.553202
On This Day
Births
1870 - French composer Florent Schmitt, in Blámont;
1913 - American composer Vivian Fine, in Chicago;
Deaths
1825 - Russian composer Dimitri Bortniansky, age c. 74, in St. Petersburg (Gregorian date: Oct. 10);
1964 - English composer Sir George Dyson, age 81, in Winchester;
Premieres
1918 - Stravinsky: "The Soldier's Tale" for narrator and seven instruments, in Lausanne at the Théatre Municipal with Ernest Ansermet conducting;
1961 - Bartók: "Scherzo" for Piano and Orchestra, an early work by the late composer, in Budapest;
1972 - Petrassi: Concerto for Orchestra No. 8, in Chicago;
1997 - James MacMillan: Symphony ("Vigil"), at the Barbican in London, by the London Symphony, Mstislav Rostropovich conducting;
Others
1951 - Sci-fi classic "The Day the Earth Stood Still" opens in theaters across America, featuring memorable score by Bernard Herrmann that included eerie, other-worldly sounds imitating the electronic instrument known as a "Theremin" (after its Russian-born inventor, Leon Theremin); In the movie, actress Patricia Neal's rendition of the space alien command "Gort: Klaatu barada nikto" prevents Earth's destruction by a death-ray robot from outer space.
2007 - Conductor Philip Brunelle awarded the "Champion of New Music" Award by the American Composers Forum at their 2007 Annual Meeting in St. Paul, Minn.; This award recognizes artists who have commissioned and performed a significant number of new works by living composers.
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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.