Variations (enigmatic and otherwise) by Elgar and Britten

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934) Enigma Variations. Op. 36 Philharmonia Orchestra; Andrew Davis, cond. Sony/CBS 44788

Benjamin Britten (1913- 1976) Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 English Chamber Orchestra; Benjamin Britten, cond. London 417 509

On This Day

Births

• 1717 - Baptismal date of Bohemian violinist and composer Johann Wenzel Anton Stamitz, in Nemecký Brod (Deutsch-Brod, now Havlíckuv Brod);

• 1842 - Austrian operetta composer Carl Zeller, in St. Peter in der Au;

• 1854 - Italian opera composer Alfredo Catalani, in Lucca;

Deaths

• 1915 - Russian composer Sergei Taneyev, age 58, in Dyud'kovo, near Zvenigorod (Julian date: June 6);

Premieres

• 1899 - Elgar: "Enigma Variations," in London, Queen's Hall, Hallé Orchestra conducted by Hans Richter;

• 1915 - Saint-Saëns: choral work, "Hail California," in San Francisco, composer conducting;

• 1926 - Antheil: "Ballet Mécanique," in Paris;

• 1984 - Bernstein: opera "A Quiet Place" (revised version), by La Scala Opera, John Mauceri conducting; The first version of this opera premiered at Houston Grand Opera on June 17, 1983, conducted by John DeMain.

Others

• 1869 - final concert of a five-day "Great National Peace Jubilee" involving an orchestra of 1000 and a chorus of 10,000 organized by bandmaster Patrick Gilmore performing in a specially-constructed hall in Boston’s Back Bay;