Composers Datebook®

Schoenberg hissed

Composers Datebook - Feb. 5, 2025
DOWNLOAD

Synopsis

In Vienna, on today’s date in 1907, the String Quartet No. 1 by Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg had its first performance by the Rosé Quartet, an ensemble headed by Arnold Rosé, the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic and Gustav Mahler’s brother-in-law.

One eyewitness reported: “Many found the work impossible, and left the hall during the performance, one rather humorously through the emergency exit. As the hissing continued afterward, Gustav Mahler, who was present, approached one of the unsatisfied and said: ‘You should not hiss!’ — to which the unhappy audience member responded: ‘Don’t worry — I hiss your symphonies, too!’”

In 1936, Schoenberg was living in Los Angeles, where one of his students was the Hollywood composer Alfred Newman. Newman arranged to have all four of Schoenberg’s quartets recorded by the visiting Kolisch Quartet at the United Artists Studios in Hollywood. To do this, Newman had to first obtain permission from none other than film mogul Samuel Goldwyn.

“And so, a hack movie-musician, a movie producer, and a movie studio made possible the recording of four important modern compositions. Once in a while, you see, we can be unfaithful to the great god Profit,” recalled Newman years later.

Music Played in Today's Program

Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951): String Quartet No. 1; Kolisch Quartet; Music and Arts 1056

On This Day

Births

  • 1810 - Norwegian composer and violinist Ole Bull, in Bergen

  • 1909 - Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz, in Lódz

  • 1943 - French-American composer Ivan Tcherepnin, in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris

Deaths

  • 1907 - German composer Ludwig Thuille, 45, in Munich

  • 1962 - French composer Jacques Ibert, 71, in Paris

Premieres

  • 1887 - Verdi: opera Otello, in Milan at the Teatro all Scala, with composer conducting (and cellist Arturo Toscanini in the orchestra)

  • 1895 - Ippolitov-Ivanov: Caucasian Sketches, in Moscow, with the composer conducting (Julian date: Jan. 24)

  • 1907 - Schoenberg: String Quartet No. 1, in Vienna, by the Rosé Quartet

  • 1939 - Carl Orff: opera Der Mond (The Moon), in Munich at the Nationaltheater

  • 1958 - Tippett: Symphony No. 2, in London, by the BBC Symphony, with Adrian Boult conducting

  • 1969 - Thea Musgrave: Clarinet Concerto, in London

  • 1970 - Elliott Carter: Concerto for Orchestra by the New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez conducting

  • 1995 - Olly Wilson: Shango Memory for orchestra, by the New York Philharmonic, Neeme Järvi conducting

  • 2000 - Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Symphony No. 4 (The Gardens), for chorus, children’s chorus and orchestra, by Michigan State University ensembles conducted by Leon Gregorian

Others

  • 1875 - American premiere of J.S. Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins, at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, with the Theodore Thomas Orchestra and soloists S.E. Jacobsohn and Richard Arnold. The same performers also gave the New York City premiere at Steinway Hall the following day. Following a Dec. 10, 1881, New York Philharmonic performance under Thomas with the same soloists, the New York Times reviewer wrote: “The concert possesses no interest to anyone but a violinist and even for a musically disposed audience is not a felicitous selection.”

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Composers Datebook® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Composers Datebook® Episodes

YourClassical

Hanson's Fifth

Howard Hanson (1896-1981): Symphony No. 5 (‘Sinfonia Sacra’); Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Delos 3130

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

Carter times Three

Elliot Carter (1908-2012): ‘Symphony for Three Orchestras’; New York Philharmonic; Pierre Boulez, conductor; Sony 68334

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Miakovsky for band

Nikolai Miaskovsky (1881-1950): Symphony No. 19; Stockholm Concert Band; Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Gennady, conductor; Chandos 9444

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

'Music for Prague' in Prague

Karel Husa (1921-2016): ‘Music for Prague 1968’; Eastman Wind Ensemble; Donald Hunsberger, conductor; CBS/Sony MK-44916

2:00
YourClassical

Harris No. 3

Roy Harris (1898-1979): Symphony No. 3; Dallas Symphony; Eduardo Mata, conductor; Dorian 90170

2:00
YourClassical

Puccini speaks!

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): ‘Madame Butterfly Suite’; Rome Symphony; Domenico Savino, conductor; MCA 9834-A The 1912 recording of the voice of Puccini: Grammofono 2000 #AB-78779

2:00
YourClassical

Krenek spielt auf?

Ernst Krenek (1900-1991): ‘Jonny Spielt Auf’; Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra; Lothar Zagrosek, conductor; London 436 631

2:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES

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.

About Composers Datebook®
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00