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Archives Find past shows by date:  Complete archive
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May 26-June 1, 2008
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Monday, May 26
Copland brings New York to London ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990): Music for a Great City Saint Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, cond. RCA/BMG 60149 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Copland The Copland Collection at the Library of Congress ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1893—British composer and conductor Sir Eugene Goosens, in London; 1898—American composer, pianist and conductor Ernst Bacon, in Chicago; 1938—American composer and pianist William Bolcom, in Seattle; Deaths: 1924—Irish-born American composer and cellist Victor Herbert, age 65, in New York; Premieres: 1914 — Stravinsky: opera, "Le Rossignol" (The Nightingale), at the Paris Opéra, with Pierre Monteux conducting; 1919 — Gershwin: musical "La, La, Lucille," at the Henry Miller Theater in New York City; 1923 — Edward Joseph Collins: "Tragic Overture (1914)" and "Maardi Gras" performed at Northwestern University by the Chicago Symphony under Frederick Stock as part of the finalists' concert of the North Shore Festival competition for new works for orchestra; Collins won the $1000 first prize for his "Tragic Overture (1914)"; 1953 — Stockhausen: "Kontra-Punkte" for ten instruments, in Cologne; 1963 — Lou Harrison: "Pacifika Rondo" for an orchestra of Western and Oriental instruments, at the University of Hawaii; 1964 — Copland: "Music for a Great City" (from the filmscore to "Something Wild"), by the London Symphony conducted by the composer; 1967 — George Crumb: "Echoes of Time and the River (Four Processionals for Orchestra)", in Chicago; This work won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1967; 1990 — Philip Glass: chamber opera "Hydrogen Jukebox" (to poems by Allen Ginsberg), by the Philip Glass ensemble conducted by Martin Goldray, in a staged version presented at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C,; A concert version was premiered at the American Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia, on April 29, 1990; 2001 — Birtwistle: "Tango for Betty," dedicated to the 80-year old music patron, Betty Freeman, by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting; (see May 25 & 27 as well); 2002 — Henry Brant: "Ghosts and Gargoyles" for solo flute and flute ensemble, in Toronto, Canada, by soloist Robert Aitken and the New Music Concerts Ensemble, conducted by the composer; Other: 1731—London's "Academy for Vocal Music" is renamed "The Academy of Ancient Music, with Johann Christoph Pepsuch its artistic director (Gregorian date: June 6).
Tuesday, May 27
David Wilde's "The Cellist of Sarajevo" ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: David Wilde (b. 1935): The Cellist of Sarajevo Yo Yo Ma, cello Sony 64114 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On the "Cellist of Sarajevo" Vedran Smailovic On cellist Yo-Yo Ma ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1799—French opera composer Jacques-François-Fromental-Elie Halévy, in Paris; 1822—German composer Joseph Joachim Raff, in Lachen, near Zürich; 1888—French composer and member of "Les Six," Louis Durey, in Paris; 1922—German-born American composer Margaret Buechner, in Hannover; 1928—Scottish composer Thea Musgrave, in Edinburgh; Deaths: 1840—Italian composer and violinist Nicollo Paganini, age 57, in Nice; Premieres: 1899 — Ravel: "Sh é h érazade (Fairy Overture)," at a Societe Nationale Concert at the Salle du Nouveau-Thèâtre in Paris; 1906 — Mahler: Symphony No. 6, in Essen, with the composer conducting; 1947 — Martinu: Symphony No. 5, in Prague; 1976 — Dello Joio: "Colonial Variants" for orchestra, in Philadelphia; 1981 — Bernstein: "Halil" for Flute and Orchestra, in Tel Aviv, with the Israel Philharmonic conducted by the composer, with Jean-Pierre Rampal the soloist; 1995 — Libby Larsen: "Ring of Fire" for orchestra, by the Charlotte Symphony (N.C.), Peter McCoppin conducting; 2001 — Saariaho: "Song for Betty," dedicated to the 80-year old music patron, Betty Freeman, by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting; See May 25 & 26 as well.
Wednesday, May 28
"The Hindemith Case" ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963): Mathis der Maler Bavarian Radio Chorus and Orchestra; Rafael Kubelik, cond. EMI 55237 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Paul Hindemith On Wilhelm Furtwangler ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1737—American bandmaster and music publisher Josiah Flagg, in Woburn, Mass.; He organized the first militia band in Boston, published music engraved by Paul Revere, and in 1773 organized a "Grand Concert" at Boston's Faneuil Hall involving 50 players, one of the first public concerts in America which presented European music; 1779—Irish singer, poet and composer Thomas Moore, in Dublin; 1841—Italian composer, conductor and pianist Giovanni Sgambati, in Rome; 1883—English composer Sir George Dyson, in Halifax (Yorkshire); 1913—Soviet composer Tikhon Khrennikov, in Elets (Gregorian date: June 10); 1923—Hungarian composer György Ligeti, in Dicsöszentmartin (now Tirnaveni), Transylvania; Deaths: 1787—Leopold Mozart, composer, and Wolfgang's father, age 67, in Salzburg; 1805—Italian composer Luigi Boccherini, age 62, in Madrid; 1836—Czech composer Anton Reicha, age 66, in Paris; Premieres: 1608 — Monteverdi: opera "Ariana," for a ducal wedding in Mantua; This opera now lost; 1904 — Puccini: "Madama Butterfly" (successful revised version), in Brescia; the original version of this opera, which premiered on Feb. 17 at La Scala in Milan, was hissed; 1922 — Zemlinsky: opera "Der Zwerg" (The Dwarf), at the Cologne Opera; 1938 — Hindemith: opera "Mathis der Mahler," in Zurich at the Stadttheater, conducted by Robert Denzler; 1966 — Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 11, in Leningrad, by the Beethoven Quartet; 1993 — Stockhausen: opera "Dienstag aus Licht" (Tuesday from Light) at the Leipzig Opera; 1993 — Michael Torke: "Proverbs" for female voice and ensemble, at the Milwaukee Museum of Art, by the Present Music ensemble, conducted by the composer; Other: 1904—Puccini: "Madama Butterfly" (successful revised version), in Brescia; the opera's original version, premiered on Feb. 17 at La Scala in Milan, was hissed.
Thursday, May 29
Stravinsky's "Riot"of Spring? ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Igor Stravinsky (1882 - 1971): The Rite of Spring Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Sir Georg Solti, cond. London 436 469 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Joffrey Ballet reconstructs the original "Rite of Spring" (video) TIME magazine's Stravinsky profile ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1860—Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz, in Camprodón; 1873—Estonian composer Rudolf Tobias, in Kaina on Haiiumaa Island; 1897—Austrian composer Eric Wolfgang Korngold, in Brno; 1922—Greek composer Iannis Xenakis, in Braila, Roumania; 1948—English composer Michael Berkley, in London; He is the son of English composer, Sir Lennox Berkeley (1903-89); Deaths: 1910—Russian composer Mily Balakirev, age 73, in St. Petersburg (Julian date: May 16); 1911—British lyricist Sir William S. Gilbert (of "Gilbert & Sullivan" fame), age 74, from a heart attack after rescuing a drowning woman, at Harrow Weald, England; 1935—Czech composer Josef Suk, age 61, in Benesov; 1951—Czech composer Josef Bohuslav Foerster, age 91, in Vestec, near Stará Boleslav; Premieres: 1901 — Paderewski: "Manru," in Dresden; Also staged at the Metropolitan Opera in 1902; 1905 — Scriabin: Symphony No. 3 ("'Divine Poem"), in Paris, Arthur Nikisch conducting; 1913 — Stravinsky: "Le Sacre du printemps" (The Rite of Spring), in Paris, by Diaghilev's Ballet Russe, Pierre Monteux conducting; 1954 — Cowell: Symphony No. 11 ("Seven Rituals"), by the Louisville Orchestra, Robert S. Whitney conducting; 1970 — Rautavaara: Piano Concerto, in Helsinki, with composer as soloist, and the Finnish Radio Symphony, Paavo Berglund conducting; Other: 1873 —American premiere of Brahms's Serenade No. 1 in D, at Steinway Hall, by the New York Symphony, Theodore Thomas conducting; 1963—The New York Philharmonic "Promenade" concert series is inaugurated.
Friday, May 30
Bach arrives (literally) ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: J.S. Bach (1685 - 1750): Cantata No. 73 Leonhardt Consort; Gustav Leonhardt, cond. Teldec 44279 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On J.S. Bach ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1883—Italian opera composer Riccardo Zandonai, in Sacco, Trentino; 1932—American composer Pauline Oliveros, in Houston, Texas; 1953—American composer Anne LeBaron, in Baton Rouge, La.; Deaths: 1971—French composer and organist Marcel Dupré, age 85, in Meudon; Premieres: 1846 — Lortzing: opera "Der Waffenschmied" (The Armorer), in Vienna at the Theater an der Wien; 1866 — Smetana: "The Bartered Bride" (1st version) in Prague at the Provisional Theater; 1923 — Hanson: Symphony No. 1 ("Nordic"), in Rome, composer conducting; 1927 — Stravinsky: opera-oratorio "Oedipus Rex," at the Sarah Bernhardt Theater in Paris (in concert performance; first staged performance took place in Berlin on Feb. 25, 1928); 1938 — Piston: ballet "The Incredible Flutist," in Boston; 1962 — Britten: oratorio "War Requiem," in the rebuilt Coventry Cathedral in England; 1991 — Harrison Birtwistle: opera "Gawain" in London at the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), Elgar Howarth conducting; 1995 — Alla Pavlova: Symphony No. 1 (“Farewell Russian”), in Moscow at the Concert Hall of the Union of Russian Composers, by the Russian Philharmonia, Konstantin Krimets, conducting; Other: 1723—Bach's first cantata performance in Leipzig (Cantata No. 75, "Die Elenden sollen essen"), presented at St. Nicolai Church, the day before his official induction as Cantor in that city.
Saturday, May 31
Melinda Wagner's Pulitzer premiere ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Melinda Wagner (b. 1957): Concerto for Flute, Strings and Percussion Paul Lustig Dunkel, flute; Westchester Philharmonic; Mark Mandarano, cond. Bridge 9098 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Melinda Wagner On the Pulitzer Prize for Music ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1656—French composer and viola da gamba virtuoso, Marin Marais, in Paris; 1804—French composer, pianist and teacher (Jeanne-) Louise Farrenc (née Dumont), in Paris; Deaths: 1809—Austrian composer Franz Joseph Haydn, age 77, in Vienna; 1967—American composer and arranger Billy Strayhorn, age 51, in New York City; Premieres: 1817 — Rossini: "La Gazza Ladra" (The Thieving Magpie"), at La Scala in Milan; 1884 — Puccini: opera "Le villi" (The Willies), in Milan at the Teatro dal Verme; 1961 — Penderecki: "Threnody in Memory of the Victims of Hiroshima" for strings, in Warsaw; 1998 — Melinda Wagner: Concerto for Flute, Strings and Percussion, at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Purchase, with flutist Paul Lustig Dunkel and the Westchester Philharmonic, Mark Mandarano conducting; This work won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1999.
Sunday, June 1
Peter Maxwell Davies in the California sun ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Peter Maxwell Davies (b.1934): Ojai Festival Overture BBC Philharmonic; Peter Maxwell Davies, cond. Collins 1524 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Sir Peter Maxwell Davies ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1653—Baptismal date of Baroque composer Georg Muffat, in Megève (Savoy); 1771—Italian composer Ferdinando Paër, in Parma; 1804—Russian composer Mikail Glinka, in Novospasskoye (now Glinka), near Yelnya, Smolensk District (Julian date: May 20); 1929—Canadian-born American composer Yehudi Wyner, in Calgary; Deaths: 1639—German composer Melchior Franck, age c. 60, in Coburg; 1909—Italian composer Giuseppe Martucci, age 53, in Naples; Premieres: 1853 — Liszt: "Fantasy on Themes from Beethoven's Ruins of Athens" and "Fantasy on Hungarian Themes" for piano and orchestra, in Budapest; 1869 — Smetana: opera "The Bartered Bride" (third of four versions), in Prague at the Provisional Theater; 1925 — Bloch: Concerto Grosso No. 1 for strings and piano, in Cleveland, with the composer conducting; 1932 — Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 12 ("Collective Farm Symphony"), in Moscow, by the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra, Albert Coates conducting; 1988 — Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: "Symbolon" for orchestra, in Leningrad (USSR), by the New York Philharmonic, Zubin Mehta conducting; 1991 — Peter Maxwell Davies: "Ojai Festival Overture," in the Ojai Valley north of Los Angeles, by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, with the composer conducting; Other: 1723—J.S. Bach is formally inducted as cantor at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig; 1728—The Royal Academy of Music folds in London following a revival performance of Handel's opera "Ademto" (Gregorian date: June 12); 1750—Handel makes out his will, leaving to John Christopher Smith (the elder) "my large harpsichord, my little house organ, my musick books, and 500 pounds sterling" and the rest to his niece Johanna Floerken; On August 4, 1757, Handel modifies his will, leaving his theater organ to John Rich, some paintings to Charles Jennens and Bernard Granville, and "a fair copy of the score and all parts" of "Messiah" to the Foundling Hospital; In of April 1759, Handel bequeaths 1000 pounds to the Society for the Support of Decayed Musicians, and directs that 600 pounds be used for his monument in Westminster Abbey; These dates are all according to the Julian calendar still in use in England, but not in the rest of Europe, in Handel's day (add 11 days to convert to the Gregoian calendar). |
