Shostakovich on NBC
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975): Symphony No. 5; Cleveland Orchestra; Artur Rodzinski, conductor; Sony 19439928772
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - April 9, 2026
2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
Sign up for the free Composers Datebook newsletter now — every day in your inbox!
Bach and Mozart in New York
J.S. Bach (1685-1750) (arr. Respighi): ‘Passacaglia in c’; BBC Philharmonic; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; Chandos 9835 Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791): Sinfonia Concertante; Midori, violin; Nobuko Imai, viola; NDR Symphony; Christoph Eschenbach, conductor; Sony 89488
2:00
A Corigliano father and son act?
John Corigliano (b. 1938): Piano Concerto; James Tocco, piano; Louisville Orchestra; Lawrence Leighton Smith, conductor; First Edition FECD-0002
2:00
Salzedo and the Harp
Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961): ‘Scintillation’; Carlos Sazledo, harp Mercury; LP MG-80003
2:00
Strauss goes batty?
Johann Strauss II (1825-1899): ‘Die Fledermaus’ Overture; Vienna Symphony; Robert Stolz, conductor; BMG 72916
2:00
The Gong Show
François-Joseph Gossec (1734-1829): ‘Marche Lugubre’; The Wallace Collection; John Wallace, conductor; Nimbus 5175
2:00
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
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.