Composers Datebook®

Schoenberg arrives for "Trick or Treat"

Composers Datebook for October 31, 2009

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Arnold Schoenberg (1874 – 1951) Violin Concerto, Op 36 Zvi Zeitlin, violin; Bavarian Radio Symphony; Rafael Kubelik, cond. DG 431 740

On This Day

Births

  • 1833 - Russian composer Alexander Borodin, in St. Petersburg (Gregorian date: Nov. 12);

  • 1806 - American composer Louise Talma, in Arcachon, France;

  • 1949 - Cuban-American composer and conductor Odaline de la Martinez, in Matanzas, Cuba;

Deaths

  • 1870 - Hungarian composer Mihály Mosonyi (Michael Brand), age 55, in Pest;

Premieres

  • 1724 - Handel: opera "Tamerlano" in London at the King's Theater in the Haymarket (Gregorian date: Nov. 11); This was the London debut of the Italian tenor Francesco Borosini in a work by Handel;

  • 1865 - Brahms: "Theme and Variations" in d (after slow movement of Brahms' String Sextet No. 1), in Frankfurt am Main;

  • 1866 - Offenbach: operetta, "La Vie Parisienne," in Paris, at the Palais-Royal;

  • 1875 - Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 4 in c, Op. 44, in Paris at a concert conducted by Edouard Colonne, with the composer as soloist;

  • 1891 - Mascagni: opera "L'amico Fritz," at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome;

  • 1924 - Hindemith: "Kammermusik" No. 2, Op. 36, no. 1, in Frankfurt, with Clemens Kraus conducting and Emma Lübbecke-Job the piano soloist;

  • 1932 - Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 5, by the Berlin Philharmonic, Wilhelm Furtwängler conducting, with the composer as soloist;

  • 1947 - Chávez: "Toccata" for percussion, in Mexico City;

  • 1949 - Mark Blitzstein: opera "Regina," in New York City;

  • 1955 - Hovhaness: Symphony No. 2 ("Mysterious Mountain"), by the Houston Symphony, Leopold Stokowski conducting;

  • 1966 - Stravinsky: "The Owl and the Pussycat" (dedicated to Vera Stravinsky), in Los Angeles; This was Stravinsky's last composition;

  • 1970 - Crumb: "Ancient Voices of Children," in Washington, D.C.;

  • 1985 - Rorem: "String Symphony," by the Atlanta Symphony, Robert Shaw conducting.

Others

  • 1739 - Handel completes in London his Concerto Grosso in b, Op. 6, no. 12 (see Julian date: Oct. 20);

  • 1933 - Arnold Schoenberg, accompanied by his wife, baby daughter, and family pet terrier "Witz," arrives in New York on the liner Isle de France.

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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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