Supersized Schoenberg

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Arnold Schoenberg (1874 – 1951) Gurrelieder Berlin Philharmonic and Choirs; Simon Rattle, cond. EMI 57303

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).