Composers Datebook®

Mendelssohn and Glass for chorus

Composers Datebook for August 26, 2019
DOWNLOAD

Synopsis

On today's date in 1846, Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio "Elijah" was performed for the first time at a choral festival in Birmingham, England.

Mendelssohn had visited England a number of times, and contemporary English audiences took both Mendelssohn and his music very much to heart. Mendelssohn himself conducted the Birmingham premiere of "Elijah," which was so well received that no fewer than eight numbers from the new work had to be encored. In fact, Mendelssohn's "Elijah" went on to become one of the best-loved and most-often performed choral works written in the 19th century.

Like many of Handel's 18th century oratorios, the story of "Elijah" came from the first books of the Bible — texts sacred to both the Jewish and Christian traditions.

In August of the year 1999, a new choral symphony was premiered at the Salzburg Music Festival in Austria, whose text was drawn from a number of the world's great sacred books, including the Book of Genesis from the Hebrew Bible alongside texts from the Sanskrit "Rig Veda," the Arabic "Koran," and texts from the Persian, Asian, and African sacred traditions. This work was the Fifth Symphony of the American composer Philip Glass, commissioned and conceived as a millennium celebration for the Salzburg Festival.

"Besides being a compendium of reflection on the process of global transformation and evolution," said Glass, "I hope that the work served as a strong and positive celebration of the millennium year."

Music Played in Today's Program

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Elijah Overture Gürzenich Orchestra and Cologne Philharmonic; James Conlon, cond. EMI Classics 56475

Philip Glass (b. 1937) Dedication of Merit, fr Symphony No. 5 Morgan State University Choir; Vienna Radio Symphony; Dennis Russell Davies, cond. Nonesuch 79618

On This Day

Births

  • 1887 - Nicaraguan composer Luis Delgadillio, in Managua;

  • 1915 - British composer Humphrey Searle, in Oxford;

Deaths

  • 1958 - British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, age 85, in London;

Premieres

  • 1815 - Weber: Clarinet Quintet in Bb, Op. 34, in Munich, featuring clarinetist Heinrich Bärmann;

  • 1846 - Mendelssohn: oratorio "Elijah," at Birmingham Festival in England, with composer conducting;

  • 1954 - Alan Rawsthorne: "Practical Cats" (after T.S. Eliot), for speaker and orchestra, at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland

  • 1956 - Martinu: "Frescoes of Piero della Francesca," for orchestra, at the Salzburg Festival in Austria

  • 1957 - Panufnik: "Rhapsody" for orchestra, in London

  • 2001 - André Previn: "Tango, Song and Dance," at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and pianist Lambert Orkis.

Others

  • 1717 - French flutist and composer Jacques-Martin Hotteterre is appointed royal flutist (“flutte de la chamber de Roy”) at a salary of 6000 livres

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

Britten's 'Cantata Academica'

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): ‘Cantata Academica’ (‘Carmen Basiliense’); Jennifere Vyvyan, soprano; Helen Watts, mezzo-soprano; Peter Pears, tenor; Owen Brannigan, bass; London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra; George Malcolm, conductor; Decca 4251532

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

Anton Arensky

Anton Arensky (1861-1906): Piano Trio No. 1; Rembrandt Trio; Dorian 90146

2:00
YourClassical

A modern Monteverdi premiere

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643): ‘L’Incoronazione di Poppea’; soloists; Vienna Concentus Music Vienna; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor; Teldec 42547

2:00
YourClassical

Leoni in San Francisco

Franco Leoni (1864-1937): ‘L’Oracolo’; Tito Gobbi, baritone; National Philharmonic; Richard Bonynge, conductor; London OSA-12107; LP

2:00
YourClassical

Schoenberg for Winds

Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951): ‘Theme and Variations’; Peabody Conservatory Wind Ensemble; Harlan D. Parker, conductor; Naxos 8.570403

2:00
YourClassical

Mahler's Ninth

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): Symphony No. 9; Columbia Symphony; Bruno Walter, conductor; Sony 64452

2:00
YourClassical

Mendelssohn's Second

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): Symphony No. 2 (‘Hymn of Praise’); Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and Chorus; Edo de Waart, conductor; Fidelio 9202

2:00
YourClassical

Harry Partch and Terry Riley

Harry Partch (1901-1974): ‘Delusion of the Fury’; Ensemble of Unique Instruments; Danlee Mitchell, conductor; innova 406 Terry Riley (b. 1935): ‘In C’; SUNY at Buffalo Ensemble; Terry Riley, conductor; CBS 7178

2:00
YourClassical

Reinhold Gliere

Reinhold Glière (1875-1956): ‘Russian Sailors’ Dance,’ from ‘The Red Poppy’; Philadelphia Orchestra; Eugene Ormandy, conductor; BMG 63313 Reinhold Glière (1875-1956): Symphony No. 3; Ilya Murometz; London Symphony; Leon Botstein, conductor; Telarc 80609

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