A Lehar premiere in Vienna
Franz Lehár (1870-1948): ‘The Merry Widow’ excerpts; Budapest Philharmonic; Janos Sandor, conductor; Laserlight 15046
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Dec. 30, 2025
2:00
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Quartets by Debussy and Ravel
While hardly twins, the String Quartets of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel are often linked in the minds of music lovers and record companies. Admired today for their grace and sheer beauty, back when these quartets were first performed in Paris, reactions were quite different.
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Humperdinck for the Animal Channel?
Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921): ‘Koenigskinder Excerpts’
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Airs and poems by Kernis and Chausson
Ernest Chausson (1855-1899): ‘Poème’; Isaac Stern, violin; Orchestre de Paris; Daniel Barenboim, conductor; CBS/Sony 64501 Aaron Jay Kernis (b. 1960): ‘Air for Violin’; Minnesota Orchestra; Josha Bell, violin; David Zinman, conductor; Argo 460 226
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A $400 finale for Sibelius
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): ‘Tapiola’; Helsinki Philharmonic; Paavo Berglund, conductor; EMI 68646
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Toscanini and Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): Concerto Grosso No. 11; NBC Symphony; Arturo Toscanini, conductor (r. Dec. 25, 1937)
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Safe passage for Rachmaninoff
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Piano Concerto No. 1; Krystian Zimerman, piano; Boston Symphony Orchestra; Seiji Ozawa, conductor; DG 4796868
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Humperdinck's 'Into the Woods'?
Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921): ‘Hansel and Gretel Suite’; Royal Philharmonic; Rudolf Kempe, conductor; EMI 68736
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Puccini's birthday
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): ‘Pinkerton’s Farewell’ and ‘The Death Of Butterfly’ from ‘Madama Butterfly’; Kostelanetz Orchestra; Andre Kostelanetz, conductor; Columbia MDK 46285
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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.