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Archives Find past shows by date:  Complete archive Your purchase from Public Radio Market helps support the American Composers Forum and Composers Datebook.  |
February 19-25, 2007
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Monday, February 19
Haydn and Asia Symphonies ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Franz Josef Haydn (1732 — 1808): Symphony No. 99 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Sir Colin Davis, cond. Philips 442 614 & Daniel Asia (b. 1953): Symphony No. 4 New Zealand Symphony; James Sedares, cond. Summit 256 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Haydn Outline overview of Haydn and his music On Daniel Asia ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1743—Italian composer and cellist Luigi Boccherini, in Lucca; 1880—American composer Arthur Shepherd, in Paris, Idaho; 1906—Welsh composer Grace Williams, in Barry, Glamorganshire; 1912—American band leader and arranger Stan Kenton, in Wichita, Kan.; 1926—Rumanian-born Hungarian composer György Kurtág, in Lugoj; Deaths: 1605—Italian composer Orazio Vecchi, age 54, in Modena; 1941—Irish composer and arranger Sir Hamilton Harty, age 61, in Brighton; 1975—Italian composer Luigi Dallapiccola, age 71, in Florence; Premieres: 1736 — Handel: cantata “Alexander’s Feast,” at Covent Garden Theatre (Gregorian date: Mar. 1) ; Also on the program were Handel’s Concerto grosso in C (HWV 318), Harp Concerto, Op. 4, no. 6 (HWV 294) and Organ Concerto, Op. 4, no. 1; 1914 — Zandonai: opera "Francesca da Rimini," in Turin; 1923 — Sibelius: Symphony No. 6, in Helsinki, with composer conducting; 1929 — Bartók: String Quartet No. 3, in London, by the Waldbauer Quartet; 1932 — Copland: "Symphonic Ode," commissioned for the 50th Anniversary of the Boston Symphony and conducted by Serge Koussevitzky; For the 75th Anniversary of the Boston Symphony, Copland revised this score and dedicated it to the memory of Koussevitzky; The revised version was premiered by the Boston Symphony conducted by Charles Munch on February 3, 1956; 1941 — Morton Gould: "Spirituals for Orchestra," in New York City, conducted by the composer; 1949 — Irving Fine: Partita for winds, in New York City, by the New Art Wind Quintet; 1949 — Douglas Moore: opera "The Emperor's New Clothes," in New York; 1961 — Stravinsky: Anthem ("The dove descending breaks the air)", in Los Angeles, Robert Craft conducting; 1985 — Peter Maxwell Davies: Symphony No. 3,at Manchester's Free Trade Hall, by the BBC Philharmonic, Edward Downes conducting; 1990 — Daniel Asia: Symphony No. 1, by the Seattle Symphony, Christopher Kendall conducting; 1999 — John Adams: "Naïve and Sentimental Music," at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, with Esa-Pekka Salonen, conducting.
Tuesday, February 20
Tchaikovsky's twisted tutu ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1840 — 1893): Swan Lake Ballet Suite Chicago Symphony; Sir Georg Solti, cond. London 425 516 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Tchaikovsky On the tangled history of his Ballet "Swan Lake" ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1749—Baptism of German composer, violinist and famous London impresario Johann Peter Salomon, in Bonn; 1770—Italian composer and guitarist Ferdinando Carulli, in Naples; 1791—Austrian composer and pianist Carl Czerny, in Vienna; 1802—Belgian composer and violinist Charles-Auguste de Bériot, in Louvain; 1911—American composer Robert McBride, in Tucson, Arizona; 1929—Japanese composer Toshiro Mayuzumi, in Yokohama; Deaths: 1961—Australian-born American composer and pianist Percy Grainger, age 78, in White Plains, N.Y.; Premieres: 1722 — first concert performance of Handel: “Water Music” (Julian date: Feb. 9); 1724 — Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 22 ("Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe") and No. 23 ("Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn" performed on Estomihi Sunday as part of Bach's first annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1723/24); 1724 — Handel: opera “Giulio Cesare (Julius Ceasar)” in London at The King’s Theatre in the Haymarket (Gregorian date: Mar. 2); 1816 — Rossini: opera, "The Barber of Seville," in Rome at the Teatro Argentina, with the composer conducting; 1827 — Mendelssohn: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Overture, in Stettin (first public performance), with Carl Loewe conducting; 1877 — Tchaikovsky: ballet “Swan Lake,” in Moscow (Gregorian date: Mar. 4); 1881 — Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 ("Romantic"), with Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Hans Richter; This was the second (revised) version of Bruckner's original 1874 score; 1897 — Kalinnikov: Symphony No. 1 in g, in Kiev (Julian date: Feb. 8); 1907 — Rimsky-Korsakov: opera “Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh,” in St. Petersburg at the Mariinsky Theater, Blumenfeld conducting (Julian date: Feb. 7); 1910 — Debussy: orchestral suite, "Ibéria," at a Colonne Concert in Paris, conducted by Pierné; 1937 — Prokofiev: "Lt. Kijé" Suite (first public performance)in Paris, with composer conducting; A radio performance of this film music suite was broadcast in Moscow on December 21, 1934; 1942 — Menotti: one-act opera "The Island God," at the Metropolitan Opera in New York; 1943 — Orff: opera "Die Kluge" (The Clever Girl), in Frankfurt at the Städtische Bühnen; 1962 — Henri Lazaroff: Viola Concerto, in Monaco; 2003 — Tan Dun: "The Map," multi-media concerto for cello and orchestra, by the Boston Symphony, with the composer conducting and Yo-Yo Ma the soloist; Other: 1626—English composer and lutenist John Dowland, age c. 63, is buried in London; This date suggests Dowland most likely died in mid-February, although some older sources improbably cite Jan. 20 as his death date (That was the day Dowland's son assumed his father's post as a royal court musician).
Wednesday, February 21
Respighi in New York ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Ottorino Resphigi (1879 — 1936): Roman Festivals Philadelphia Orchestra; Riccardo Muti, cond. Angel/EMI 47316 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Respighi and his music ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1801—Czech composer Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda, in Prague; 1836—French composer Léo Delibes, in St. Germain du Val, Sarthe; 1844—French composer and organist Charles Marie Widor, in Lyons; Deaths: 1996—American composer and conductor Morton Gould, age 82, in Orlando, Fla. Premieres: 1727 — Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 52 ("Ich habe genug") performed on the Feast of the Purification as part of Bach's third annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1725/27); 1744 — Handel: oratorio “Semele,” in London (Julian date: Feb. 10); 1749 — Handel: oratorio “Susanna” in London (Julian date: Feb. 10); 1886 — Mussorgsky (arr. Rimsky-Korsakov): opera “Khovanschchina,” posthumously, in St. Petersburg (Julian date: Feb. 9); 1907 — Delius: opera, "A Village Romeo and Juliet," in Berlin; 1909 — Liadov: “Enchanted Lake” for orchestra, in St. Petersburg (Julian date: Feb. 8); 1917 — Rachmaninoff: “Etudes-tableaux,” Op. 39 (Gregorian date: March 6); 1920 — Milhaud: ballet "Le Boeuf sur la toît," in Paris; 1929 — Respighi: orchestral suite, "Roman Festivals," by the New York Philharmonic, Toscanini conducting; 1946 — Roy Harris: "Memories of a Child's Sunday," by the New York Philharmonic with the composer conducting; 1948 — Cowell: Suite for Woodwind Quintet, by an ensemble at the McMillan Theater of Columbia University in New York City; This work was written in 1933 for the French flutist Georges Barrère, but the score and parts remained lost until 1947.
Thursday, February 22
Thomson's Hymn Tune Symphony ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Virgil Thomson (1896 - 1989): Symphony on a Hymn Tune Monadnock Festival Orchestra; James Bolle, cond. Albany 017 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Virgil Thomson More on Thomson ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1810—Polish composer and pianist Frederic Chopin, in Zelazowa Wola (This is the date contained in the composer's baptismal certificate; Chopin himself gave March 1, 1810, as his birthdate); 1817—Danish composer Niels W. Gade, in Copenhagen; 1961—American composer Lowell Liebermann, in New York City; Deaths: 1903—Austrian composer Hugo Wolf, age 42, in Vienna; Premieres: 1878 — Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, in Moscow, with Nikolai Rubinstein conducting (Julian date: Feb. 10); 1881 — Bruch: "Scottish Fantasy," Op. 46, in Liverpool, with the composer conducting and Joseph Joachim as soloist; 1890 — Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in Bb, Op. 8 (revised version), in Vienna, at one of the Rosé Chamber Concerts, with the composer at the piano; The first version of this Trio, composed in 1854, received one of its first public performances ever in New York City on November 27, 1855; 1907 — Ravel: "Introduction and Allegro," in Paris; 1938 — Kabalesvky: opera "Colas Breugnon," in Leningrad; 1941 — Paul Creston: Symphony No. 1, in New York City; 1941 — Morton Gould: "Latin American Symphonette," in Brooklyn, N.Y.; 1945 — Virgil Thomson: "Symphony on a Hymn Tune," in New York City, with the composer conducting; 1962 — Benjamin Lees: "Concerto for Orchestra" No. 1, in Rochester, N.Y.
Friday, February 23
Halvey's "La Juive" ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Jacques Fromental Halevy (1799 — 1862): La Juive Ambrosian Chorus & Philharmonia Orchestra; Antonio de Almeida, cond Philips 420 190 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Halevy ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1648—(or possibly 1649) Baptismal date of English composer and organist John Blow, in Newark, Nottinghamshire; 1685—German-born British composer George Frideric Handel, as "Georg Friedrich Händel," in Halle (Saxony); 1905—American composer Elinor Remick Warren, in Los Angeles; 1920—American composer Hall Overton, in Bangor, Michigan; Deaths: 1704—Austrian composer and organist Georg Muffat, age 50, in Passau, Germany; 1934—English composer Sir Edward Elgar, age 76, in Worcester; 1983—English composer Henry Howells, age 90, in London; Premieres: 1732 — Handel: oratorio “Esther” in London at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, by an ensemble including the Children of the Chapel Royal, on the occasion (in England) of Handel’s 47th birthday (Gregorian date: Mar. 5); 1835 — Halévy: opera "La Juive" (The Jewess), at the Paris Opéra; 1854 — Liszt: symphonic poem, "Les Préludes," in Weimar, conducted by the composer; 1882 — Chadwick: Symphony No. 1, by the Boston Symphony; 1903 — Rachmaninoff: Piano Preludes Nos. 1, 2, and 5, from Op. 23 and “Variations on a Theme of Chopin,” Op. 22, in Moscow, by the composer (Julian date: Feb. 10); 1913 — Schoenberg: "Gurre-Lieder," in Vienna; 1916 — Griffes: "White Peacock" for piano, by Winifred Christie in New York City; 1923 — Ernest Schelling: "A Victory Ball," by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski conducting; 1945 — Villa-Lobos: Choros No. 12 for orchestra, by the Boston Symphony with the composer conducting; 1956 — Leon Kirchner: Piano Concerto No. 1, in New York City, composer at the piano; 1962 — Stravinsky: "A Sermon, A Narrative and A Prayer," in Basle(Switzerland), conducted by Paul Sacher (to whom the work is dedicated).
Saturday, February 24
Handel meets Streisand ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: George Frederic Handel (1685 — 1759): Lascia ch'io pianga , from Rinaldo Barbra Streisand, soprano; Columbia Symphony; Claus Ogerman, cond. CBS/Sony 33452 & John Gay (1685 — 1732): The Beggar's Opera The Broadside Band; Jeremy Barlow, cond. Hyperion 66591 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Handel's life and works On Gay's "The Beggar's Opera" ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1766—English composer and organist Samuel Wesley, in Bristol England; He was the nephew of John Wesley (1703-1791), the founder of the Methodist Church; 1842—Italian opera composer and librettist Arrigo Boito, in Paudua; 1846—Italian song composer Luigi Denza, in Castellammare; His most famous song is "Funiculi, Finicula." Deaths: 1704—French composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier, age 78, in Paris; 1929—French composer André Messager, age 75, in Paris; Premieres: 1607 — Monteverdi: opera "Orfeo," at the Palazzo Ducale in Mantua; 1711 — Handel: opera, “Rinaldo, ”in London at the Queen’s Theater in the Haymarket (Gregorian date: Mar. 7); This was the first Handel opera produced in London, and the first Italian opera written specifically composed for the London stage; 1725 — Handel: opera “Rodelinda,” in London (Julian date: Feb. 13); 1730 — Handel: opera “Partenope,” in London at the King’s Theater in the Haymarket (Gregorian date: Mar. 7); 1745 — Rameau: comedy-ballet "La Princesse de Navarre" (to a text by Voltaire, for the wedding of the Dauphin with Maria Teresa of Spain), at Versailles; 1876 — Grieg: incidental music for Ibsen's play "Peer Gynt, "as part of a staged production in Christiania (Oslo), Norway; 1935 — Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 14, in Moscow; 1939 — Roy Harris: Symphony No. 3, by the Boston Symphony, Koussevitzky conducting; 1955 — Carlisle Floyd: opera "Susannah" at Florida State University in Tallahassee; According to Opera America, this is one of the most frequently-produced American operas during the past decade; 1956 — Piston: Symphony No. 5, in New York City; 1976 — Bernstein: musical "1700 Pennsylvania Avenue," in Philadelphia as a trial run at the Forrest Theater, conducted by Roland Gagnon; The show opened in New York City at the Mark Hellinger Theater in New York City on May 4, 1976, also conducted by Gagnon; 1979 — Berg: opera "Lulu" (first staging of complete version as arr. by Friedrich Cerha), at the Paris Opéra, with Pierre Boulez conducting; 1985 — Andrew Lloyd-Webber: "Requiem," in New York City at St. Thomas Episcopal Church; The London premiere occurred on April 21, 1984, in Westminster Abbey; The soloists in both cases were soprano Sarah Brightman and tenor Placido Domingo, with Lorin Maazel conducting; 2000 — Joan Tower: "The Last Dance," at Carnegie Hall, by the Orchestra of St. Luke's; Other: 1727—Handel applies for British citizenship (Julian date: Feb. 13); 1894 —First documented American performance of Handel's Concerto Grosso in D Minor (op. 6, no.10), by the Boston Symphony, Emil Paur conducting.
Sunday, February 25
Zwilich's Third ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Ellen Taafe Zwilich (b. 1939): Symphony No. 3 Louisville Orchestra; James Sedares, cond. Koch 7278 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Zwilich ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1727—French composer and organist Armand-Louis Couperin, in Paris; 1943—George Harrison (of the Beatles), in Liverpool, England; Deaths: 1643—Italian composer Marco da Gagliano, age 60, in Florence; 1682—Italian composer Alessandro Stradella, age 37, is murdered in Genoa, apparently in retaliation for running off with a Venetian nobleman's mistress; 1906—Russian composer Anton Arensky, age 44, in a tuberculosis sanatorium in Terijoki, Finland (Julian date: Feb. 12); Premieres: 1705 — Handel: opera "Nero," in Hamburg; This was Handel's second opera; 1850 — R. Schumann: "Concertstück (Concert Piece)" for Four Horns and Orchestra, by the horn quartet of Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Julius Rietz conducting that orchestra; 1877 — Tchaikovsky: symphonic-fantasy “Fancesca da Rimini,” in Moscow (Gregorian date: Mar. 9); 1881 — Tchaikovsky: opera “The Maid or Orleans,” at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg (Julian date: Feb. 13); 1888 — Benjamin Godard: opera "Jocelyn," in Brussels; 1905 — Koussevitzky: Double-Bass Concerto, in Moscow, with the composer as soloist (Julian date: Feb. 12); 1911 — Victor Herbert: opera "Natoma.", in Philadelphia; 1932 — Carl Ruggles: "Sun-Treader" for orchestra, by the Paris Symphony, Nicholas Slonimsky conducting; 1973 — Broadway premiere of Sondheim: musical "A Little Night Music" 1993 — Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Symphony No. 3, by the New York Philharmonic, Jahja Ling conducting; 2001 — Robert Capanna: String Quartet No. 2, in Philadelphia, by the Mendelssohn String Quartet. |
