Synopsis
Music Played in Today's Program
Roy Harris (1898 - 1979) Symphony No. 3 New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 60594
Leonard Bernstein (1918 - 1990) Symphony No. 1 (Jeremiah) Christa Ludwig, mezzo-soprano; Israel Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. DG 463 462
On This Day
Births
1567 - Baptismal date of Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi, in Cremona;
1808 - Irish composer Michael William Balfe, in Dublin;
1908 - Swedish composer Lars-Erik Larsson, in Akarp (near Lund);
1941 - American composer and pianist Richard Wilson, in Cleveland;
Premieres
1913 - Debussy: ballet "Jeux" (Games), at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées by the Ballet Russe, Pierre Monteux conducting;
1920 - Stravinsky: ballet "Pulcinella," by Ballet Russe; at the Paris Opéra, with Ernest Ansermet conducting;
1939 - Douglas Moore: opera "The Devil and Daniel Webster," in New York City;
1949 - Hindemith: Concerto for Winds, Harp and Orchestra, in New York;
1949 - Randall Thompson: Symphony No. 3, Columbia University, in New York, Thor Johnson conducting;
1958 - Cage: Piano Concerto, in New York City;
1960 - Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 7, in Leningrad, by the Beethoven Quartet;
1972 - Rochberg: String Quartet No. 3, at Tully Hall in New York City, by the Concord Quartet;
1992 - Stephen Paulus: "Air on Seurat (The Grand Canal)", for cello and piano, at the National Cello Competition at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Ariz.;
1993 - Steve Reich: opera "The Cave," in Vienna at the Wiener Festspielhaus;
Others
1750 - First documented report of an audience standing during the "Hallelujah" chorus of Handel's "Messiah"; On May 1 and 15 in 1750, "Messiah" had been performed as a benefit for the Foundling Hospital charity (Gregorian dates: May 12 and 26, respectively).
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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.