'Truth Tones' for MLK
Trevor Weston: ‘Truth Tones’; Trinity Youth Chorus; Julian Wachner, conductor; Acis 72290
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Jan. 19, 2026
2:00
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Bernstein for young people
Giaocchino Rossini (1792-1868): ‘William Tell Overture’; New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; CBS/Sony 48226 Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): ‘La Valse’; New York Philharmonic; Pierre Boulez, conductor; CBS/Sony 45842
2:00
George Walker's Trombone Concerto
George Walker (1922-2018): Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra; Denis Wick, trombone; London Symphony; Paul Freeman, conductor; in Sony Black Composers Series CD set 19075862152
2:00
Prokofiev's 'Scythian Suite'
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): ‘Scythian Suite’; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Claudio Abbado, conductor; DG 447 419
2:00
The Mozarts in Vienna
Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791): String Quartet No. 14; Juilliard Quartet CBS/Sony 45826 Wolfgang Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 18; Richard Goode, piano; Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; Nonesuch 79439
2:00
Puccini's shocker
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): ‘Tosca’; Soloists and Philharmonia Orchestra; Giuseppe Sinopoli, conductor; DG 431 775
2:00
'Hello, Mr. Addinsell?'
Richard Addinsell (1904-1977): ‘Goodbye, Mr. Chips’; BBC Concert Orchestra; Kenneth Alwyn, conductor; Marco Polo 8.223732 Richard Addinsell (1904-1977): ‘Warsaw Concerto’; Cristina Ortiz, piano; Royal Philharmonic; Moseh Atzmon, conductor; London 414 348
2:00
Dvořák's 'American Quintet'
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): ‘American String Quintet’; Smetana Quartet; Josef Suk, viola; Denon 72507
2:00
A Kernis premiere wins the Pulitzer
Aaron Jay Kernis (b. 1960): String Quartet No. 2 (‘musica instrumentalis’); The Lark Quartet; Arabesque 6727
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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.