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Archives Find past shows by date:  Complete archive
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December 22-28, 2008
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Monday, December 22
Lully and Vivaldi greet the season ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632 – 1687): Isis Philippe Caillard Chorale and Orchestra Erato 20983 & Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741): Winter, fr The Four Seasons Enrico Onofrio, violin; Il Giardino Armonico Teldec 97671 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Jean-Baptiste Lully On Antonio Vivaldi ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1723—German composer and gamba player Carl Friedrich Abel, in Cöthen; 1821—Italian composer, doublebass player and conductor Giovanni Bottesini, in Crema; 1858—Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, in Lucca; 1874—Austrian composer Franz Schmidt, in Pressburg (Bratislava); 1883—French-born American composer Edgard (or Edgar) Varèse, in Paris; 1885—American composer and critic Deems Taylor, in New York City; 1900—British composer Alan Bush, in Dulwich, South London; 1901—Russian-born American conductor and arranger André Kostelanetz, in St. Petersburg; Deaths: 1745—Czech composer Jan Dismas Zelenka, age 66, during the night of December 22-23, age 66, in Dresden; 1950—American composer and conductor Walter Damrosch, age 88, in New York City; Premieres: 1808 — Beethoven: Symphonies 5 and 6 along with the Choral Fantasy and the Piano Concerto No. 4, at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, with composer as conductor and piano soloist; 1837 — Lortzing: opera "Zar und Zimmermann" (Csar and Carpenter), in Leipzig at the Stadttheater; 1888 — Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 3 in d, Op. 108, in Budapest; 1906 — Glazunov: Symphony No. 8, in St. Petersburg (Julian date: Dec. 9);
Tuesday, December 23
Mozart, Salieri, and Beethoven in Vienna ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Wolfgang Mozart (1756 – 1791): Piano Concerto No. 22 Mitsuko Uchida, piano; English Chamber Orchestra; Jeffrey Tate, cond. Philips 420 187 & Wolfgang Mozart (1756 – 1791): Magic Flute Overture Zurich Opera House Orchestra; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, cond. Teldec 95523 & Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827): Violin Concerto, Op. 61 Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin; New York Philharmonic; Kurt Masur, cond. DG 471 349 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Mozart On Salieri BBC Feature on "Rehabilitating" Salieri On Beethoven ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1689—French composer Joseph Bodin de Boismorter, in Thionville; 1906—American composer Ross Lee Finney, in Wells, Minn.; Premieres: 1785 — Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 in Eb (K. 482), in Vienna as the entr'acte at a performance of the oratorio "Ester" by Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf conducted by Antonio Salieri; Mozart was the soloist in his Concerto, and it is possible that Salieri conducted both the oratorio and Mozart's new concerto; 1806 — Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61, by the orchestra of Vienna's Theater an der Wien, with its music director and concertmaster, Franz Clement, as the soloist and the composer conducting; The concert also included works by Méhul, Mozart, Cherubini, and Handel; 1880 — Dvorák: oratorio "Stabat Mater," in Prague; 1887 — Chadwick: “Melpomene” overture, by the Boston Symphony, Wilhelm Gericke conducting; 1893 — Humperdinck: opera "Hansel and Gretel," in Weimar at the Hoftheater; 1894 — Debussy: Prelude to "The Afternoon of a Faun," at a concert of the Societé Nationale de Musique (not presented in ballet form until 1912); 1911 — Wolf-Ferrari: opera "Jewels of the Madonna," in Berlin; 1952 — Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues for piano (part one of a two-part recital), in Leningrad, by pianist Tatyana Nikolayeva; See also Dec. 28th; Other: 1989—Leonard Bernstein leads first of two public performances of Beethoven's Ninth at the Philharmonie in West Berlin, with an international orchestra assembled to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall; The second performance occurred on December 25 at the Schauspielhaus in East Berlin;
Wednesday, December 24
(Christmas Eve)
Verdi passes on the pyramids ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901): Grand March, fr Aida New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 48226 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Verdi On the premiere of “Aida” ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1879—Russian composer and pianist Nicolai Medtner (see Jan. 5, 1880); 1881—American composer Charles Wakefield Cadman, in Johnstown, Pa.; 1950—American composer Libby Larsen, in Wilmington, Del.; Deaths: 1453—English composer John Dunstable, age c. 65, in London; 1935—Austrian composer Alban Berg, age 50, in Vienna; 1975—American composer and conductor Bernard Herrmann, age 64, in Los Angeles, after completing the filmscore for Scorsese's "Taxi Driver"; Premieres: 1739 — Handel: revival performance of oratorio "Acis and Galetea" (Julian date: Dec. 13); 1871 — Verdi: opera "Aida" in Cairo, Egypt, at the Khedival Theater; 1951 — Menotti: opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" as a TV broadcast on the NBC network; According to Opera America magazine, this is one of the most frequently-produced American operas during the past decade; Other: 1920—Last operatic appearance ever of the Italian tenor Enrico Caruso, in an evening performance of Halevy's "La Juive" (The Jewess) at the old Metropolitan Opera in New York City; Caruso would die in Naples (where he made his operatic debut on March 15, 1895) at the age of 48 on August 2, 1921;
Thursday, December 25
(Christmas Day)
Humperdinck and Vivaldi on NBC ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Englebert Humperdinck (1854 –1921): Hansel and Gretel Overture Bamberg Symphony; Karl Anton Rickenbacher, cond. Virgin 61128 & Antonio Vivaldi (1674 – 1741): Concerto Grosso in D, R. 565 Moscow Virtuosi; Vladimir Spivakov, cond. BMG 60240 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On the first Met Opera broadcasts On Toscanini and the NBC Symphony (as viewed from the percussion section) ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1583—Baptism of English composer and organist Orlando Gibbons, in Oxford; Deaths: 1845—German composer Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach, age 86, in Berlin; His father was the "Buckeburg" Bach, Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (The last of J.S. Bach's composer-children); 1871—Russian composer Alexander Scriabin (Gregorian date: Jan. 6, 1872); Premieres: 1723 — Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 63 ("Christen, ätzet diesen Tag") and "Magnificat" in E-flat, (S. 243a) performed on the 1st Day of Christmas as part of Bach's first annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1723/24); 1724 — Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 91 ("Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ") performed Christmas Day as part of Bach's second annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1724/25); 1725 — Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 110 ("Unser Mund sei voll Lachens") performed on Christmas Day as part of Bach's third annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1725/27); 1728 — Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 197a ("Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe") probably performed in Leipzig on Christmas Day as part of Bach's fourth annual Sacred Cantata cycle (to texts by Christian Friedrich Henrici, a.k.a. "Picander") during 1728/29; 1734 — Bach: Part 1 ("Jauchzet, frohlocket") of the 6-part "Christmas Oratorio," S. 248, in Leipzig; 1815 — Beethoven: cantata "Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt" (Sea Calm and Prosperous Voyage) and the "Namensfeier" (Name Day Fest) Overture, Op. 115, at the Redoutensaal in Vienna, conducted by Beethoven, at a benefit for the Citizens' Hospital Fund; 1818 — Franz Gruber: "Silent Night," in St. Nicholas Church, Obendorf, Germany, composed the night before (Christmas eve); 1870 — Wagner: "Siegfried Idyll," at his villa in Switzerland as a combined birthday and Christmas gift to his 33-year old wife, Cosima (she was born on Dec. 24, 1837), Hans Richter playing trumpet and Wagner conducting an ensemble from the top of the staircase; The work is named for their son Siegfried who was six months old on that Christmas morning, and who later also became a composer; 1902 — Rimsky-Korsakov: opera "Kashchey the Immortal," in Moscow, Ippolitov-Ivanov conducting (Julian date: Dec. 12); 1934 — Shostakovich: Cello Sonata, in Leningrad, by cellist Viktor Kubatsky, with the composer at the piano; Other: 1821—Beethoven finishes his "Hammerklavier" Piano Sonata (No. 29; 1931—First national radio broadcast of a complete opera, Humperdinck's "Hänsel und Gretel," from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, New York City; 1937—Arturo Toscanini conducts his first radio concert by the NBC Symphony Orchestra, consisting of a Vivaldi concerto in D minor; Mozart Symphony No. 40; and Brahms Symphony No. 1;
Friday, December 26
(Boxing Day)
John Morton in a box ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Daniel Jensen: Spin Spin Edelweiss 8” music box (Angelo Rulli collection) Scandia 2323 & John Morton (b. 1954): White Tara John Morton, music boxes and piano; William Blossom, bass innova 553 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Morton profiled on NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday” More on Morton ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1687—German violinist and composer and violinist Johann Georg Pisendel, in Cadolzburg; 1926—American trumpeter and composer Earle Brown, in Lunenburg, Ma.; Premieres: 1709 — Handel: opera "Agrippina" in Venice at the Teatro San Giovanni Grisostomo; 1723 — Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 40 ("Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes") and "Magnificat" in E-flat, (S. 243a) performed on the 2nd Day of Christmas as part of Bach's first annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1723/24); 1724 — Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 121 ("Christum wir colleen loben schon") performed on the 2nd Day of Christmas as part of Bach's second annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1724/25); 1725 — Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 57 ("Selig ist der Mann") performed in Leipzig on the 2nd Day of Christmas as part of Bach's third annual Sacred Cantata cycle(1725/27); 1734 — Bach: Part 2 ("Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegen") of the 6-part "Christmas Oratorio," S. 248, in Leipzig; 1767 — Gluck: opera, "Alceste" (1st version) in Vienna at the Imperial Court Theater; 1770 — Mozart: opera, "Mitridate, Re di Ponto," (composed at age 14) in Milan, at the Teatro Regio Ducale; 1772 — Mozart: opera, "Lucio Silla," (composed at age 16) in Milan, at the Teatro Regio Ducale; 1827 — Schubert: Piano Trio in Eb, Op. 100 (D. 929), at the Music Society Hall in Vienna, by Ignaz Schuppanzigh (violin), Josef Linke (cello), and Carl Maria von Bocklet (piano); 1830 — Donizetti: opera, "Anna Bolena," at the Teatro Carcano, Milan; 1831 — Bellini: opera, "Norma," in Milan the Teatro alla Scala; 1833 — Donizetti: opera "Lucretia Borgia," in Milan; 1867 — Bizet: "La jolie fille de Perth," at the Théatre-Lyrique in Paris; 1880 — Brahms: "Tragic Overture," Op. 81, in Vienna; 1897 — Rimsky-Korsakov: "Sadko," in Moscow (Gregorian date: Jan. 7); 1926 — Sibelius: tone-poem "Tapiola" by the New York Symphony, Walter Damrosch conducting; 1931 — Gershwin: musical "Of Thee I Sing," at the Music Box Theater in New York City; This show includes the classic Gershwin songs "Love is Sweeping the Country," "Of Thee I Sing," and "Who Cares?" (see also Dec. 8 for Boston trial run premiere); 1941 — Robert Russell Bennett: Violin Concerto, on an NBC Symphony broadcast; Other: 1936—First concert of the Palestine Symphony Orchestra in Tel Aviv, with Arturo Toscanini conducting;
Saturday, December 27
Lisztomania hits Berlin ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Franz Schubert (arr. Franz Liszt): Erlkönig Murray Perahia, piano Sony 66511 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Liszt ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1906—American composer, pianist and entertainer Oscar Levant, in Pittsburgh, Pa.; Deaths: 1944—American composer and pianist Amy Marcey Cheney (Mrs. H.H.A.) Beach, age 77, in New York; 1992—American composer Stephen Albert, age 51, in a car accident in Truro, Mass.; Premieres: 1723 — Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 64 ("Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget") performed on the 3rd Day of Christmas as part of Bach's first annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1723/24); 1724 — Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 133 ("Ich freue mich in dir") performed on the 3rd Day of Christmas as part of Bach's second annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1724/25); 1725 — Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 151 ("Süsser Trost, mein Jesus kömmt"") performed on the 3rd Day of Christmas as part of Bach's third annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1725/27); 1734 — Bach: Part 3 ("Herrscher der Himmels, erhöre das Lallen") of the 6-part "Christmas Oratorio," S. 248, in Leipzig; 1896 — Chausson: "Poéme," Op. 25, in Nancy, with Guy Ropartz conducting and Eugène Ysayë as soloist; 1901 — American premiere of Bruckner: Symphony No. 5, by the Boston Symphony, Wilhelm Gericke conducting; 1906 — Florent Schmitt: "Psalm XLVII," in Paris; 1954 — Menotti: "The Saint of Bleecker Street," in New York City; This work won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1955; Other: 1841—Franz Liszt performs at the Singakademie in Berlin; Women swooned and the general audience reacts with such uncontrolled enthusiasm that Heinrich Heine coins the term "Lisztomania" to describe their fanatical devotion to the performer, which soon swept through most of Europe;
Sunday, December 28
Cowell in Cuba ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Henry Cowell (1897 – 1965): Piano Concerto Stefan Litwin, piano; Saarbrucken Radio Symphony; Michael Stern, cond. Col Legno 20064 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Henry Cowell More on Cowell An essay on Cowell’s legacy ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1812 —German composer, cellist and conductor Julius Rietz, in Berlin; 1837—American composer, conductor, pianist and organist B. J. Lang, in Salem, Ma.; 1896—American composer Roger Sessions, in Brooklyn; Deaths: 1937—French composer Maurice Ravel, age 62, in Paris; 1963—German composer Paul Hindemith, age 68, in Frankfurt; Premieres: 1720 — Handel: opera "Radamisto" (2nd version), in London at the King's Theater in the Haymarket, with the great Italian alto-castrato Senesino making his debut in one of Handel's works (Gregorian date: Jan. 8, 1721); 1737 — Handel: anthem "The Ways of Zion do Mourn"(Julian date: Dec. 17); 1894 — Henry Holden Huss: Piano Concerto in B, by the Boston Symphony, Emil Paur conducting, and the composer as soloist; 1925 — Gershwin: musical "Tip-Toes," at the Liberty Theater in New York City; This show included the classic Gershwin songs "Sweet and Low Down," "That Certain Feeling," and "These Charming People"; 1930 — Cowell: Piano Concerto, in Havana, Cuba, by the Havana Philharmonic, with the composer at the piano; 1944 — Bernstein: musical "On the Town," in New York City at the Adelphi Theater; A trial run of this show had opened in Boston at the Colonial Theater on December 13, 1944; The 1944 Broadway production would run for 462 performances; 1944 — Miklós Rósza: Concerto for String Orchestra, in Los Angeles; 1948 — Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 26, in Moscow; 1952 — Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues for piano (part two of a two-part recital), in Leningrad, by pianist Tatyana Nikolayeva; See also Dec. 23rd; Other: 1945—Igor Stravinsky becomes an American citizen; |
