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October 6-12, 2008
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Monday, October 6
Music for the movies ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Felix Arndt (1889 – 1918): An Operatic Nightmare (Desecration Rag No. 2) Paragon Ragtime Orchestra; Rick Benjamin, cond. Newport Classics 60039 & Erich Wolfgang von Korngold (1897 – 1957): The Prince and the Pauper filmscore National Philharmonic; Charles Gerhardt, cond. RCA/BMG 0185 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On the history of early sound movies An index of classical music used in over 900 movies ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1882—Polish composer Karol Szymanowski, in Tymoszówska, Ukraine; 1943—German composer Udo Zimmermann, in Dresden; Deaths: 1909—American composer and organist Dudley Buck, age 70, in West Orange, N.J.; 1947—Finnish composer Leevi Medetoja. Age 59, in Helsinki; Premieres: 1600 — Jacopo Peri: opera, "Euridice," at the marriage of Maria de Medici to King Henri IV of France, in Florence, Italy. The oldest surviving complete opera; 1868 — Offenbach: operetta "La Périchole," at the Variétés, in Paris; 1911 — Reger: “A Comedy Overture,” by the Boston Symphony with Max Fiedler conducting; 1939 — William Schuman: "American Festival" Overture, by the Boston Symphony, Serge Koussevitzky conducting; 1963 — Ibert: "Symphonie marine" (composed in 1931), in Paris; 1977 — Tippett: Symphony No. 4, by the Chicago Symphony, Sir Georg Solti conducting; 1991 — Hovhaness: Symphony No. 65, Op. 428 (Artstakh), at Carnegie Hall in New York, with the composer conducting; 1996 — Zemlinksy: opera "Der König Candaules" (King Candaules), posthumously, in Hamburg at the Staatsoper; This unfinished opera was written in 1936, and completed for its 1996 premiere by Anthony Beaumont; Other: 1739—Handel completes in London his Concerto Grosso in e, Op. 6, no. 3 (Gregorian date: Oct. 17); 1802—Beethoven files his will, the so-called "Heiligenstadt Testament," to be opened after his death.
Tuesday, October 7
Jake Heggie's opera "Dead Man Walking" ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Jake Heggie (b. 1961): Dead Man Walking San Francisco Opera; Patrick Summers, cond. Erato 86238 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Jake Heggie On the making of the opera "Dead Man Walking" ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1746—American composer of hymns, anthems, and "fuging tunes," William Billings, in Boston; Deaths: 1918—English composer Sir Hubert Parry, age 70, at Knight's Croft, Rustington (Sussex); Premieres: 1893 — Gilbert & Sullivan: operetta "Utopia Unlimited," at the Savoy Theatre in London; 1905 — Victor Herbert: operetta "Mlle. Modiste," in Trenton, N.J.; 1909 — Rimsky-Korsakov: opera "The Golden Cockerel," posthumously, in Moscow at the Solodovnikov Theater, Emil Cooper conducting (Julian date: Sept. 24); 1951 — Lukas Foss: Piano Concerto No. 2, in Venice, with the composer as soloist; 1955 — Milhaud: Symphony No. 6, by the Boston Symphony with the composer conducting; 1956 — Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 6, in Leningrad, by the Beethoven Quartet; 1961 — Henry Cowell: Symphony No. 15 ("Thesis"), in Murray, Ky., by the Louisville Orchestra, Robert Whitney conducting; 1963 — José Serebrier: "Poema Elegiaco," by the American Symphony Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski conducting; 1976 — Del Tredici: "Final Alice," in Chicago, with soprano Barbara Hendricks and the Chicago Symphony conducted by Sir Georg Solti; 1983 — Arvo Pärt: "If Bach Had Raised Bees" for harpsichord, electric bass guitar, tape and ensemble, in Graz, Austria; 1994 — Daniel Asia: "Gateways" for orchestra, by the Cincinnati Symphony, Herrman Michael conducting; 2000 — Jake Heggie: opera "Dead Man Walking," at the San Francisco Opera, Patrick Summers conducting.
Wednesday, October 8
Ligeti's "out there" Violin Concerto ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: György Ligeti (1923-2006): Violin Concerto Saschko Gavrilov, violin; Ensemble InterContemporain; Pierre Boulez, cond. DG 439 808 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Ligeti Philharmonia Orchestra's Ligeti Web page ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1870—French composer and organist Louis Vierne, in Poitiers; 1930—Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu, in Tokyo; 1953—English composer Robert Saxon, in London; Deaths: 1834—French composer François Boieldieu, age 58, in Jarcy; Premieres: 1903 — Nielsen: "Helios" Overture, in Copenhagen; 1943 — Stravinsky: "Ode" (in memory of Natalie Koussevitzky), by the Boston Symphony conducted by Serge Koussevitzky; 1960 — Prokofiev: opera "The Story of a Real Man" (posthumously) at the Bolshoi in Moscow; A semi-public performance of this opera was given in Leningrad on Dec. 3, 1948, but the opera was rejected by Soviet authorities for subsequent performances during the composer's lifetime; 1966 — Stravinsky: "Requiem Canticles," in Princeton, with Robert Craft conducting; 1992 — Ligeti: Violin Concerto, in Cologne, by the Ensemble Moderne conducted by Peter Eötvös, and Saschko Gawriloff the soloist; 1993 — Corigliano: "Troubadours (Variations for Guitar and Orchestra)," at the Ordway Music Theater in St. Paul, with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra conducted by Hugh Wolff, and guitar soloist Sharon Isbin; 1999 — Kernis: "Garden of Light" and Torke: "Four Seasons" (both commissioned by the Disney Company at the urging of its Chief Executive, Michael Eisner), for the Millennium season of the New York Philharmonic, with Kurt Masur conducting the orchestra, vocal soloists, and choirs in both pieces; Other: 1739—Handel completes in London his Concerto Grosso in a, Op. 6, no. 4 (Gregorian date: Oct. 19); 1898—The first issue of the magazine "Musical America" is published.
Thursday, October 9
Lloyd Webber at the Opera ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Andrew Lloyd Webber (b. 1948): The Phantom of the Opera Royal Philharmonic Pops; Paul Gemignani, cond. MCA 6230 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Andrew Lloyd Webber official Web site Charlie Rose video interview with Andrew Lloyd Webber ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1585 —Baptismal date of German composer Heinrich Schütz, in Bad Löstritz; 1835—French composer, conductor and pianist Camille Saint-Saëns, in Paris; 1914—American composer Roger Goeb, in Cherokee, Iowa; 1938—Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, in Helsinki; 1940—John Lennon (of the Beatles), in Liverpool, England; Deaths: 1999—Jazz vibraphone virtuoso, Milt Jackson, age 76, in New York City; He was a member of the famous Modern Jazz Quartet; Premieres: 1826 — Rossini: opera, "The Siege of Corinth," at the Paris Opéra; 1891 — Dvorák: "Requiem," Op. 89, in Birmingham, England; 1896 — Dvorák: String Quartet No. 13 in G, Op. 106, in Prague, by the Bohemian Quartet; 1921 — Janácek: "Taras Bulba" (after Gogol), in Brno; 1955 — Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1, by the Leningrad Philharmonic conducted by Yevgeny Mravinsky, with David Oistrakh the soloist; 1963 — Henze: Symphony No. 4 in Berlin, with the composer conducting; 1980 — Jon Deak: Concerto for Oboe d'amore and Orchestra, by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta with Thomas Stacy as soloist; 1985 — Anthony Davis: opera "X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X," in Philadelphia; The opera's New York City Opera premiere occurred the following year on September 28, 1986; 1986 — Andrew Lloyd-Webber: musical "Phantom of the Opera," at Her Majesty's Theatre in London; The musical opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theater on January 26, 1988; 1987 — Corigliano: "Campane di Ravello" (Bells of Ravello) for orchestra (a birthday tribute to Sir Georg Solti), in Chicago, with Kenneth Jean conducting; 1992 — David Ott: Symphony No. 3, by the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Symphony, Catherine Comet conducting; 1997 — Robert X. Rodriguez: "Il Lamento di Tristano," by flutist Susan Morris De Jong and guitarist Jeffrey Van, at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis; 1999 — Bolcom: opera "A View From the Bridge," by the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Dennis Russell Davies, cond. 1999 — Michael Torke: symphonic oratorio "Four Seasons," at Avery Fisher Hall in New York, by soloists, chorus, and the New York Philharmonic, Kurt Masur conducting; Other: 1973—Leonard Bernstein gives the first of six lectures entitled "The Unanswered Question," as the Charles Eliot Norton Professor of Poetry at Harvard University.
Friday, October 10
Berio's "Sinfonia" in New York ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Luciano Berio (1925-2003): Sinfonia New Swingle Singers; French National Orchestra; Pierre Boulez, cond. Erato 88151 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Berio On Berio and James Joyce ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1813—Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, in Le Roncole, near Parma. Probable true date of his birth, according to parish records, though Verdi celebrated it on the 9th, the date he believed correct; 1903—Russian-born American composer and songwriter Vernon Duke (Vladimir Dukelsky), in Pskov (Julian date: Sept. 27); 1906—American composer Paul Creston (Giuseppe Guttoveggio), in New York; 1920—American Jazz composer and pianist Thelonious Monk, in Rocky Mount, N.C.; Deaths: 1825 —Russian composer Dimitri Bortniansky, age c. 74, in St. Petersburg (Julian date: Sept. 28); Premieres: 1919 — R. Strauss: opera, "Die Frau ohne Schatten" (The Woman Without a Shadow) at the Vienna Staatsoper, conducted by Franz Schalk, and with vocal soloists Lotte Lehmann (Barak's wife), Maria Jeritza (The Empress), Karl Oestvig (The Emperor), Richard Mayr (Barak), and Lucie Weidt (The Nurse); 1931 — Walton: oratorio, "Belshazzar's Feast," at the Leeds Festival; 1935 — Gershwin: opera "Porgy and Bess" at the Alvin Theater in New York City; The opera had a trial run in Boston which opened on September 30, 1935; 1938 — Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 1, in Leningrad, by the Glazunov Quartet; 1948 — Bernstein: song-cycle, "La Bonne Cuisine" (Four Recipes for Voice and Piano), at Town Hall in New York City, with mezzo-soprano Marion Bell and pianist Edwin MacArthur; 1968 — Berio: "Sinfonia," by New York Philharmonic and The Swingle Singers, with the composer conducting; 1985 — Benjamin Lees: Symphony No. 4 ("Memorial Candles") in Dallas, with Pinchas Zukerman the soloist; Other: 1739—Handel completes in London his Concerto Grosso in D, Op. 6, no. 5 and possibly his Concerto Grosso in F, Op. 6, no. 9 as well (Gregorian date: Oct. 21). 1739—Handel completes in London his Concerto Grosso in G, Op. 6, no. 1 (see Julian date: Sept. 29);
Saturday, October 11
Prokofiev's Sixth and Seventh ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Sergei Prokofiev (1891 – 1953): Symphony No. 6 National Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, cond. RCA/BMG 68801 & Sergei Prokofiev (1891 – 1953): Symphony No. 7 French National Orchestra; Mstislav Rostropovich, cond. Erato 75322 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Sergei Prokofiev Web site More on Prokofiev under the Soviet regime ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1882—Canadian-born American composer R. Nathaniel Dett, in Drummondsville, Ontario; Deaths: 1896—Austrian composer Anton Bruckner, age 72, in Vienna; Premieres: 1727 — Handel: "Coronation Anthems," in London at Westminster Abbey during the coronation of King George II and Queen Caroline (Gregorian date: Oct. 22); 1830 — Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, in Warsaw, composer as soloist; 1928 — Nielsen: Clarient Concerto, at a public concert in Copenhagen, with the composer conducting and Aage Ozenvad the soloist; This concert had been given a private performance in Humlebaek on September 14, 1928); 1947 — Prokofiev: Symphony No. 6, by Leningrad Philharmonic, Yevgeny Mravinsky conducting; 1952 — Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7, ny Moscow Philharmonic, Samuil Samosud conducting; 1953 — Messiaen: "Réveil des oiseaux," in Donaueschingen, Germany; 1955 — B.A. Zimmermann: "Nobody Knows de Trouble I See" for Trumpet and Orchestra, in Hamburg, by the North German Radio Orchestra conducted by Ernest Bour, with Adolf Scherbaum the soloist; 1962 — Carlisle Floyd: opera "The Passion on Jonathan Wader," by the New York City Opera; 1977 — Bernstein: "Songfest," "Three Mediations from 'Mass,'" and "Slava!" by the National Symphony, conducted by the composer ("Songfest" and "Meditations"‚ and Mstislav Rostropovich ("Slava!"); Rostropovich was also the cello soloist in the "'Meditations"; 1980 — Bernstein: "A Musical Toast ( A Fanfare in Memory of André Kostelanetz)" by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta; 1980 — Zemlinksy: opera "Der Traumgörge" (Goerge the Dreamer), posthumously, in Nuremberg at the Opernhaus (This opera was written in 1906); 1985 — John Harbison: String Quartet No. 1, at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., by the Cleveland Quartet. 1985 — Michael Torke: “Vanada” for brass, keyboards and percussion, at the Concertgebouw Chamber Hall in Amsterdam, by the Asko Ensemble, Lukas Vis conducting.
Sunday, October 12
Zwilich celebrates ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Ellen Taafe Zwilich (b. 1939): Celebration Indianapolis Symphony; John Nelson , cond. New World 336 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Ellen Taaffe Zwilich More on Zwilich ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1686 —German composer and lutenist Silvius Leopold Weiss, in Breslau; 1713—Baptismal date of German composer Johann Ludwig Krebs, in Butterstedt, Weimar; 1872—English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, in Down Ampney, Gloucestershire; 1880—English-born Canadian composer and organist Healey Willan, in London; Deaths: 1692—Italian composer Giovanni Battista Vitali, in Bologna, age 60; Premieres: 1910 — Vaughan Williams: "A Sea Symphony" (after Walt Whitman) at the Leeds Festival; 1924 — Mahler: Symphony No.10 (1st and 3rd movements only), arranged by Ernest Krenek (with additional retouching by Alexander von Zemlinksy and Franz Schalk), by Vienna Philharmonic, Franz Schalk conducting; The American premiere of these two movements was give on Dec. 6, 1949, by the Erie (Pa.) Philharmonic conducted by the composer's nephew, the Austro-American conductor Fritz Mahler (1901-1973); The English musicologist Deryck Cooke prepared the first performing edition of Mahler's entire Tenth Symphony which received its first performance on August 13, 1964, by the London Symphony conducted by Berthold Goldschmidt; Since then, Cooke has revised his arrangement, and several other musicologists have prepared their own rival performing editions of Mahler's surviving notation for this symphony; 1931 — Rachmaninoff: “Variations on a Theme of Corelli (La Folia)” for solo piano, in Montréal (Canada), by the composer; 1951 — Bizet: opera "Ivan le Terrible" (posthumously), in Bordeaux; 1951 — Dessau: opera "Die Verurteilung des Lukullus" (The Trial of Lucullus) (2nd version), in East Berlin at the Deutsche Staatsoper; 1961 — Douglas Moore: opera "The Wings of the Dove" (after the novel by Henry James), in New York; 1971 — Andrew Lloyd Webber: rock musical "Jesus Christ Superstar," in New York City; A choral version of this musical was performed in Kansas City, Kan. On May 15, 1971, and a touring company was launched to present the musical on July 12, 1971; Prior to any staged presentations, the work was first released as a double LP record album in October of 1970; 1984 — Olly Wilson: "Siinfonia," by the Boston Symphony, Seiji Ozawa conducting; 1984 — Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: "Celebration" for orchestra, by the Indianapolis Symphony, John Nelson conducting; 1997 — Sallinen: "Overture Solennel," in Monaco by the Monte Carlo Philharmonic, James DePreist conducting; 1998 — Philip Glass: opera "The Voyage," at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Bruce Ferden conducting; 2000 — Rautavaara: Harp Concerto, in Minneapolis with harpist Kathy Kienzel and the Minnesota Orchestra, Omso Vänkä conducting; Other: 1739 —Handel completes in London his Concerto Grosso in Bb, Op. 6, no. 7 (Gregorian date: Oct. 23). |
