The Gong Show
François-Joseph Gossec (1734-1829): ‘Marche Lugubre’; The Wallace Collection; John Wallace, conductor; Nimbus 5175
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - April 4, 2026
2:00
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Offenbach, Wagner and Satsuma in New York
Jacques Offenbach (1819-1890) (arr. Rosenthal): ‘Cancan’ from ‘Gaite Parisienne’; Montréal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, conductor; London 430 718 Richard Wagner (1813-1883): Act 3 Prelude from ‘Lohengrin’; Berlin Philharmonic; Daniel Barenboim, conductor; Teldec 81791 Kozaburo Hirai (1910-2002): Sonata; Kazue Frances Asawa, flute; Kazue Kudo, koto; Crystal 316
2:00
Wallingford Riegger
Wallingford Riegger (1885-1961): Wind Quintet; New York Woodwind Quintet; Bridge 9068
2:00
Variations on a tune by Handel
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): ‘Variations on Handel’s ‘See, the conquering hero comes’’; Henry Wood, conductor; Fantasia on British Sea Songs
1:59
Liszt vs. Thalberg
Sigismund Thalberg (1812-1871): ‘Fantasy on Rossini’s ‘The siege of Corinth’’; Francesco Nicolosi, piano; Marco Polo 8.223367 Franz Liszt (1811-1886): ‘Fantasia on Italian Operatic Melodies’; Andreas Pistorius, piano Capriccio 10076
2:00
The 'Naqoyqatsi' Cello Concerto by Philip Glass
Philip Glass (b. 1938): Cello Concerto No. 2 (‘Naqoyqatsi’); Matt Haimovitz, cello; Cincinnati Symphony; Dennis Russell Davies, conductor; Orange Mountain Music CD 0087
2:00
David Dzubay's "Ra"
David Dzubay (b. 1964): ‘Ra’; University of North Texas Wind Symphony, Eugene Corporon, conductor; Klavier 11137
2:00
The Vienna Philharmonic and American composers
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Symphony No. 7; Vienna Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; DG 419 434 André Previn (1930-2019): Diversions Vienna Philharmonic; André Previn, conductor; DG 471 028
2:00
Symphonic Mayuzumi
Toshiro Mayuzumi (1929-1997): ‘Nirvana Symphony’; Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony; Hiroyuki Iwaki, conductor; Denon 78839
2:00
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.