Premiere of Brahms' 'Schicksalslied'
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): ‘Schicksalslied’ (‘Song of Destiny’); Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; Robert Shaw, conductor; Telarc CD 80176
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Oct. 18, 2026
2:00
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Boulez and Jarre
Pierre Boulez (1925-2016): ‘Le Marteau Sans Maître’; Orchestre Du Domaine Musical; Pierre Boulez, conductor; PCA 101 Maurice Jarre (1924-2009): ‘Lara’s Theme’ from ‘Dr. Zhivago’; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Maurice Jarre, conductor; Sony 42307
2:00
A domestic postscript from Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss (1864-1949): ‘Parergon to the Symphonia Domestica’
2:00
Missa Salisburgensis
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber (1644-1704): ‘Missa Salisburgensis’; Musica Antiqua Köln; Reinhard Goebel, conductor; DG Archive 457 611
2:00
Dvorak's Violin Concerto
Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904): Violin Concerto
2:00
Zwilich celebrates
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939): ‘Celebration’; Indianapolis Symphony; John Nelson, conductor; New World 336
2:00
Prokofiev's Sixth and Seventh
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): Symphony No. 6; National Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; RCA/BMG 68801; and Symphony No. 7; French National Orchestra; Mstislav Rostropovich, conductor; Erato 75322
2:00
The school of Monk
Thelonious Monk (1917-1982): ‘Ruby, My Dear’; Thelonious Monk, piano; Columbia Legacy CK-63533
2:00
Vivaldi’s 'Juditha Triumphans'
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): ‘Sinfonia’ from ‘Juditha Triumphans’; Academia Montis Regalis; Magdalena Kozena, mezzo soprano; Juditha Maria José Trullu, mezzo soprano; Holofernes Marina Comparato, mezzo soprano; Vagaus Anke Herrmann, soprano; Abra Tiziana Carraro, soprano; Alessandro De Marchi, conductor; Naïve Vivaldi Edition OP-30314
1:59
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.