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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.  |
December 10-16, 2007
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Monday, December 10
Puccini's Wild West show at the Met ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): La Fanciulla del West excerpt Carol Neblett, s; Sherrill Milnes, bar; Covent Garden Opera; Zubin Mehta, cond. DG 435 407 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Puccini ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1822—Belgian composer and organist César Franck, in Liège; 1908—French composer and oranist Olivier Messiaen, in Avignon; 1913—American composer and conductor Morton Gould, in Richmond Hill, N.Y.; Deaths: 1965—American composer Henry Cowell, age 68, in Shady, N.Y.; Premieres: 1825 — Boieldieu: opera "La dame blanche" (The White Lady), in Paris at the Opéra-Comique; 1854 — Berlioz: oratorio "L'Enfance du Christ," in Paris; 1886 — Chadwick: Symphony No. 2, by the Boston Symphony, with the composer conducting; 1895 — Rimsky-Korsakov: opera "Christmas Eve," in St. Petersburg, Napravnik conducting (Julian date: Nov. 28); 1896 — Mussorgsky: opera "Boris Godunov" (Rimsky-Korsakov version), as a concert performance at the Great Hall of the St. Petersburg Conservatory (Julian date: Nov. 28); 1910 — Puccini: "La Fanciulla del West" (The Girl of the Golden West), in New York City at the Metropolitan Opera, with a cast including soprano Emmy Destinn and tenor Enrico Caruso, with Arturo Toscanini conducting; 1936 — David Diamond: "Psalm" for orchestra, in Rochester, N.Y.; 1937 — William Grant Still: Symphony in g, by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski conducting; 1950 — B.A. Zimmermann: Violin Concerto, in Baden-Baden, Germany; 1963 — Bernstein: Symphony No. 3 ("Kaddish"), at Frederic Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv, by Israel Philharmonic and choirs conducted by the composer, with speaker Hannah Rovina and mezzo-soprano Jennie Tourel as vocal soloist;
Tuesday, December 11
Bizet and Menotti on TV in the 1950s ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Georges Bizet (1838-1875): Carmen Suite No. 1 Orchestre National de France; Seiji Ozawa, cond. EMI 63898 & Giancarlo Menotti (b. 1911): March, from Amahl and the Night Visitors New Zealand Symphony; Andrew Schenck, cond. Koch 7005 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Amahl More on the Metropolitan Opera On "The Met at the Movies" in HD during 2007-08 ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1803—French composer Hector Berlioz, in Côte-St.-André, near Grenoble; 1876—Polish composer Mieczyslaw Karlowicz, in Wiszniew (Swiecany district), Lithuania; 1908—American composer Elliott Carter, in New York; Premieres: 1726 — Bach: Secular Cantata No. 207 ("Vereinigte Zwietracht der wechselnden Saiten") for the installation of philologist and jurist Gottleib Kortte as Professor of Law at the University of Leipzig; 1873 — Brahms: String Quartet in c, Op. 51, no. 1, in Vienna by the Hellmesberger Quartet; 1908 — Delius: "In a Summer Garden," by the London Philharmonic; 1925 — Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 ("Sinfonia semplice"), by Royal Orchestra in Copenhagen, with the composer conducting; 1935 — Cowell: "Mosaic Quartet" (String Quartet No. 3), by the Modern Art Quartet at the 7th of the WPA Composers' Forum-Laboratories, at the Midtown Community Center in New York; 1950 — Hindemith: Clarinet Concerto, by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy conducting, with Benny Goodman the soloist; 1959 — Dutilleux: Symphony No. 2, by the Boston Symphony, Charles Munch conducting; 1981 — David Diamond: Violin Sonata No. 2, at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., by Robert McDuffie (violin) and William Black (piano); 1985 — Philip Glass & Robert Moran: opera "The Juniper Tree," at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass.; Other: 1721—J.S. Bach's employer, Prince Leopold of Cöthen (age 27) marries Frederica Henrietta von Anhalt-Berngurg (19) at Bernburg; The new Princess of Cöthen does not share her husband's passion for music, and one year later, Bach applies for a new job in Leipzig; 1918—Russian-born conductor Nikolai Sokoloff leads the first concert of the Cleveland Orchestra at Gray's Armory, presented as a benefit for St. Ann's Church; His program included Victor Herbert's "American Fantasy," Bizet's "Carmen" Suite, two movements of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, Liadov's "Enchanted Lake," and Liszt's "Les Préludes"; 1928—The Society of Friends of Music organized by The Library of Congress;
Wednesday, December 12
Ravel and Zaimont ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Maurice Ravel (1875 -1937): La Valse Boston Symphony; Charles Munch, cond. RCA 6522 & Judith Lang Zaimont (b. 1945): Symphony No. 1 Czech Radio Symphony; Leos Svarovsky, cond. Arabesque 6742 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Ravel On Zaimont ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1887—Swedish composer Kurt Atterberg, in Göteborg; Deaths: 1707—British composer and organist Jeremiah Clarke (Julian date: Dec. 1); Premieres: 1891 — Brahms: Clarinet Trio in a, Op. 114, and Clarinet Quintet in B, Op. 115, at the Singakadmie in Berlin, both with clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld, accompanied by cellist Robert Hausmann, and the composer at the piano (in the Trio) and the Joachim Quartet (in the Quintet); A private performance of the Clarinet Trio had occurred earlier in Meiningen on November 24, 1891, with the same performers; 1902 — Rimsky-Korsakov: opera "Kashchey the Immortal," in Moscow (Gregorian date: Dec. 25); 1909 — Liadov: “Kikimora” for orchestra, in St. Petersburg (Julian date: Nov. 29); 1926 — Shostakovich: Piano Sonata No. 1, in Leningrad, by the composer; 1929 — Constant Lambert: "Rio Grande" for piano and orchestra, in Manchester, England; 1932 — Britten: "Phantasy Quartet" No. 2 for oboe and strings, in London, with oboist Leon Goossens and members of the International String Quartet; 1948 — Henze: Violin Concerto, in Baden-Baden; 1997 — Kevin Volans: Cello Concerto, in Munich, by soloist Wen-Sinn Yang with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra; 2001 — Henry Brant: "Ice Field" for orchestra, by the San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas conducting; This work was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2002;
Thursday, December 13
Mahler and Schoenfield at the Vaudeville? ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): Symphony No. 2 (Resurrection) London Symphony; Gilbert Kaplan, cond. Conifer 51337 & Paul Schoenfield (b. 1947): Vaudeville New World Symphony; John Nelson, cond. Argo 440 212 & Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936): The Pines of Rome Minnesota Orchestra; Eiji Oue, cond. Reference 95 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Mahler On Schoenfield ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1838—French composer Alexis Vicomte de Castillon, in Chartres; Deaths: 1898—American composer George Frederick Bristow, age 72, in New York.; Premieres: 1729 — Handel: opera "Lotario" (Julian date: Dec. 2); 1739 — Handel: revival performance of oratorio "Acis and Galetea" (all-English version), in London at Lincoln's Inn Field, with the premiere performances of two unspecified instrumental concertos from Handel's recently completed Op. 6 set of 12 Concerti Grossi (Gregorian date: Dec. 24); 1868 — Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2, at a Concert Popilaire in Paris conducted by Anton Rubinstein, with the composer as soloist; 1884 — R. Strauss: Symphony in f, in New York, with Theodore Thomas conducting; 1895 — Mahler: Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection"), by Berlin Philharmonic, with the composer conducting; The Berlin Philharmonic had premiered the first three movements of this symphony earlier that same year (on March 4), again with the composer conducting; 1913 — Rachmaninov: choral symphonic poem, “The Bells,” in St. Petersburg, composer conducting (Julian date: Nov. 30); 1928 — Gershwin: "An American in Paris," in New York, at Carnegie Hall, by the New York Philharmonic, Walter Damrosch conducting; 1929 — Bax: Symphony No. 2, by the Boston Symphony, Serge Kouusevitzky conducting; 1930 — Stravinsky: "Symphony of Psalms," in Brussels at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, conducted by Ernest Ansermet; Serge Koussevitzky (who commissioned the work to celebrate the Boston Symphony's 50th Anniversary), conducted the American premiere in Boston on December 19, 1930; 1936 — Barber: “Symphony in One Movement” (No. 1), Op. 9, at the Adriano Theater in Rome, with the Augusteo Orchestra conducted by Bernardino Molinari; Rudolf Ringwall conducted the American premiere of the Symphony with the Cleveland Orchestra (Jan. 21, 1937) and Artur Rodzinski conducted the new work with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival (July 35, 1937); 1944 — Bernstein: musical "On the Town," as trial run in Boston at the Colonial Theater; The show opened in New York City at the Adelphi Theater on December 28, 1944; 1966 — Druckman: String Quartet No. 2, in New York City, by the Juilliard String Quartet; 1970 — Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 13, in Leningrad, by the Beethoven Quartet; Other: 1836—At a musical soiree at Chopin's apartments in Paris, the female writer "George" Sand, determined to make a good impression with her host, arrives wearing white pantaloons and a scarlet sash (the colors of the Polish flag); Paris Opéra tenor Adolphe Nourit sings some Schubert songs, accompanied by Franz Liszt; Liszt and Chopin play Moschele's Sonata in Eb for piano four-hands;
Friday, December 14
Messiaen and Respighi for the birds ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Franz Schubert (1891-1828): Hark, hark the Lark (arr. Franz Liszt) Frederic Chiu, piano Harmonia Mundi 90.7054 & Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992): Oiseaux Exotiques Peter Donohoe, piano; Netherlands Wind Ensemble Chandos 9301/2 & Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936): The Pines of Rome Minnesota Orchestra; Eiji Oue, cond. Reference 95 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Some ”Messiaen-ic” birdsong samples? More on Respighi ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1873—Belgian composer and organist Joseph Jongen, in Liège; 1929—American composer Ron Nelson, in Joliet, Illinois; Deaths: 1788—German composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, age 74, in Hamburg; 1861—German opera composer Heinrich Marschner, age 66, in Hanover; Premieres: 1918 — Puccini: one-act opera trilogy "Il Trittico" ("Il Tabarro," "Suor Angelico," and "Gianni Schicchi") at the Metropolitan Opera in New York; 1924 — Respighi: tone poem, "The Pines of Rome," in Rome, at the Augusteo, Bernardo Molinari conducting; 1925 — Berg: opera, "Wozzeck," in Berlin, at the Staatsoper, with Erich Kleiber conducting; 1936 — Barber: String Quartet, Op. 11, at the Villa Aurelia in Rome (Italy), by the Pro Arte Quartet; 1969 — Ligeti: String Quartet No. 2, in Baden-Baden, Germany, by the LaSalle Quartet; 1975 — Ruth Crawford Seeger: Suite for Piano and Woodwind Quintet, in Cambridge, Mass.; 1983 — George Perle: Serenade No. 3 for Piano and Chamber Orchestra,in New York City, by Richard Goode and the Music Today Ensemble conducted by Gerard Schwarz; 1997 — Morten Lauridsen: “Ave Maria” for a cappella chorus, by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Paul Salamunovich conducting; 1997 — Joan Tower: "Rain Waves," at the Frick Museum in New York, by the Verdehr Trio;
Saturday, December 15
Dvorak's version of "Toy Story?" ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Antonin Dvorák (1841-1904): Symphony No. 9 (From the New World) New York Philharmonic; Kurt Masur, cond. Teldec 73244 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Dvorak ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1657—French composer Michel-Richard de Lalande, in Paris; Deaths: 1792—German-born Swedish composer Joseph Martin Kraus, age 36, in Stockholm; Premieres: 1807 — Spontini: opera, "La Vestale," at the Paris Opéra; 1893 — Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World") by the New York Philharmonic, Anton Seidl conducting, at a public rehearsal at Carnegie Hall, attended by the composers' children, among other members of the general public (the "official " premiere took place the following evening); 1900 — Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 (second and third movements only), in Moscow, with Ziloti conducting and the composer as soloist (Julian date: Dec. 2); The first complete performance of this concerto, with the same conductor and soloist, occurred in Moscow on 27 October (Julian)/November 9 (Gregorian)in 1901; 1901 — Rachmaninoff: Cello Sonata, Op. 19, in Moscow, by cellist Anatoly Brandukov, with the composer at the piano (Julian date: Dec. 2); 1910 — Reger: Piano Concerto in f, Op. 114, by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted by Arthur Nikisch, with Frieda Kwast-Hodapp as soloist; 1916 — American premiere of Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde," with vocal soloists Tilly Koenen and Johannes Sembach, with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski conducting; 1934 — Jean Françaix: Piano Concertino, in Paris, at a Lamoureux concert, with the composer as soloist; 1938 — Bloch: Violin Concerto, in Cleveland, Joseph Szigeti, violin and the Cleveland Orchestra, Dimitri Mitropoulos conducting; 1938 — Revueltas: "Sensemayá," in Mexico City; 1940 — Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 2, in New York City; 1986 — Bernstein: "Opening Prayer" for Baritone and Orchestra, at Carnegie Hall by the New York Philharmonic conducted by the composer, with Kurt Ollmann as the vocal soloist; 2000 — John Adams: oratorio "El Niño," at Le Châtelet in Paris, by soloists Dawn Upshaw, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson and Willard White, with the Theatre of Voices and the Deutsches Symphonie conducted by Kent Nagano; The American premiere of this work occurred in San Francisco on January 11, 2001;
Sunday, December 16
On Beethoven, Saint-Saens, and fossil-hunting ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921): Variations on a theme of Beethoven Philippe Corre & Edouard Exerjean, pianos Pierre Verany 790041 & Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921): Fossils, from Carnival of the Animals Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire, pianos; Markus Steckeler, xylophone; ensemble Philips 446557 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Saint-Saëns More on Beethoven ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1770—German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, in Bonn; The date is not certain, but his birthday has been traditionally celebrated on this date; Beethoven was baptized the following day (Dec. 17, 1770); 1775—French opera composer François Boieldieu, in Rouen; 1847—French composer (of Irish parentage) Augusta Holmès (Holmes), in Paris; 1882—Hungarian composer Zoltán Kódaly, in Kecskemét; 1899—British playwright and songwriter Sir Noel Coward, in Teddington (Middlesex); 1932—Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin, in Moscow; Deaths: 1921—French composer and pianist Camille Saint-Saëns, age 86, in Algiers; Premieres: 1877 — Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 (2nd version), in Vienna, with the composer conducting; 1893 — Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World"), at Carnegie Hall, by the New York Philharmonic, Anton Seidl conducting; This was the "official " premiere (a public dress rehearsal had taken place the previous afternoon); 1894 — Emil von Reznicek: opera "Donna Diana," in Prague; 1921 — Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3, by the Chicago Symphony conducted by Frederick Stock, with the composer as soloist; 1938 — Copland: "An Outdoor Overture," in New York City; 1946 — Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 3, in Moscow, by the Beethoven Quartet; Other: 1718—J.S. Bach examines the organ at the Paulinerkirche in Leipzig; 1944—American bandleader and trombonist Glenn Miller, age 40, dies in an air crash near England; |
