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Archives Find past shows by date:  Complete archive
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June 8-14, 2009
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Monday, June 8
A "glorious" Britten opera? ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Benjamin Britten (1913 – 1976): Courtly Dances, from Gloriana English Symphony; William Boughton, cond. Nimbus 5295 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Benjamin Britten More on Britten ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1671—Italian composer Tomaso Albinoni, in Venice; 1810—German composer Robert Schumann, in Zwickau; 1894—Czech composer Erwin Schulhoff, in Prague; He died in a Nazi concentration camp in Wülzburg, Bavarian, in 1942; Deaths: 1612—German composer Hans Leo Hassler, age 47, in Frankfurt; 1884—American composer Henry Clay Work, age 51, in Hartford, Conn.; A printer by trade, he wrote some famous popular songs, including "Grandfather's Clock," "Father, Come Home," and "Marching Through Georgia"; 1908—Russian composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, in Lyubensk, near Luga (now Pskov district) (Gregorian date: June 21); 1940—American composer Frederick Shepherd Converse, age 69, in Westwood, Mass.; 1984—English composer Gordon Jacob, age 88, in Saffron Walden; 1998—German-born American composer Margaret Buechner, age 76, in Midland, Mich.; Premieres: 1912 — Ravel: ballet, "Daphnis et Chloé," at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, by Diaghilev and the Ballet Russe, Pierre Monteux conducting; 1929 — Hindemith: "Neus vom Tage" (News of the Day), in Berlin at the Krolloper; 1937 — Carl Orff:: scenic canata "Carmina Burana," in Frankfurt at the Opernhaus; 1941 — Harold Shapero: "Nine Minute Overture," in New York City; 1950 — Hindemith: Horn Concerto, in Baden-Baden, Germany, with the composer conducting and Dennis Brain the soloist; 1953 — Britten: opera "Glorianna," in London at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden; 1968 — Harrison Birtwistle: opera "Punch and Judy" at the Jubilee Hall in Aldeburgh, by the English Opera Group, David Atherton conducting; 1974 — Henry Brant: "An American Requiem," in Mt. Lebanon, Pa.
Tuesday, June 9
Bax at Carnegie Hall ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Sir Arnold Bax (1883 – 1953): Symphony No. 7 London Philharmonic; Raymond Leppard, cond. Lyrita 232 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Bax On the 1939 World's Fair (and America in the 1930s) ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1810—German composer and conductor Otto Nicolai, in Königsberg (Kaliningrad); 1865—French composer Alberic Magnard, in Paris; He was killed by German soldiers while defending his home in Baron, Oise, on Sept. 3, 1914; 1865—Danish composer Carl Nielsen, in Sortelung, near Norre Lyndelse, Funen; 1891—American composer Cole Porter, in Peru, Ind.; 1912—German-born American composer and pianist, Ingolf Dahl, in Hamburg; 1938—American composer Charles Wuorinen, in New York; Deaths: 1656—burial date of English composer Thomas Tomkins, age c. 84, in the village of Martin Hussingtree, near Worcester; Premieres: 1860 — R. Schumann: Cello Concerto, posthumously, by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, at a concert commemorating the late composer's 50th birthday anniversary (see June 8), with soloist Ludwig Ebert; 1902 — Mahler: Symphony No. 3 in Krefeld, Germany, at the Festival of the Allgemeiner Deutsche Musikverein, with the composer conducting; 1912 — At the home of L. Láloy in Bellevue, Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky perform a four-hand piano version of the latter’s new ballet score for “The Rite of Spring,” which the Ballet Russe would premiere the following year in Paris (May 29, 1913); 1939 — Bax: Symphony No. 7 (dedicated to the American people), at Carnegie Hall by the New York Philharmonic, with Sir Adrian Boult conducting; This work was commissioned by the British Council as part of the British Exhibition at 1939 World's Fair; 1940 — Copland: "Our Town" orchestral suite (from the film score), on a CBS radio broadcast; A revised version of the suite was given its first public performance by the Boston Pops conducted by Leonard Bernstein on May 7, 1944; 1951 — Haydn: opera "Orpheus and Eurydice," posthumously, in Florence at the Teatro della Pergola; Haydn composed this opera in 1791 for performance in London, but the work was never staged in his lifetime; 1966 — Britten: church opera "The Burning Fiery Furnace," in Orford Church, near Aldeburgh; Other: 1840—Franz Liszt gives a solo performance at the Hanover Square Rooms in London billed as "Recitals"; This was the first time the term "recital" was used to describe a public musical performance, and it caused much discussion and debate at the time; Liszt is credited with both inventing and naming the now-common solo piano "recital"; 1904—The London Symphony gives its first concert, with Hans Richter conducting; 1912—At the home of L. Láloy in Bellevue, Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky perform a four-hand piano version of the latter's new ballet score for "The Rite of Spring," which the Ballet Russe would premiere the following year in Paris (see May 29, 1913); 1968—Leonard Bernstein conducts the New York Philharmonic in the "Adagietto" movement from Mahler's Symphony No. 5 at a memorial concert for Robert Kennedy at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.
Wednesday, June 10
Poulenc's Organ Concerto ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Francis Poulenc (1899 – 1963): Organ Concerto Maurice Durufle, organ; French Radio Orchestra; Georges Pretre EMI 47723 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Francis Poulenc More on Poulenc ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1904—German-born American musical composer Frederick Loewe, in Berlin; 1913—Soviet composer Tikhon Khrennikov, in Elets (Julian date: May 28); 1960—English composer Mark Anthony Turnage, in Grays, Essex; Deaths: 1899—French composer Ernest Chausson, age 44, after a bicycle accident near Limay; 1918—Italian opera composer and librettist Arrigo Boito, age 76, in Milan; 1934—British composer Frederick Delius, age 72, in Grez-sur-Loing, France; 1964—American composer Louis Gruenberg, age 75, in Los Angeles; Premieres: 1732 — Handel: opera "Acis and Galetea" (in an English/Italian version), in London at the King's Theater in the Haymarket, at the request of Princess Anne (Gregorian date: June 21); 1865 — Wagner: opera "Tristan and Isolde," in Munich at the Hoftheater, conducted by Hans von Bülow; 1921 — Stravinsky: "Symphonies of Wind Instruments" (in memory of Claude Debussy), in London at Queen's Hall, with Serge Kousevitzky conducting; Three days earlier, on June 7, 1921, Stravinsky had attended the British premiere of the concert version of his ballet score "The Rite of Spring," also at Queen's Hall, with Eugene Goossens conducting; 1939 — Bliss: Piano Concerto (with Solomon the soloist) and Vaughan Williams: "Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus," at Carnegie Hall by the New York Philharmonic, with Sir Adrian Boult conducting; These works (Along with Bax's Seventh Symphony, which premiered the previous day) were all commissioned by the British Council as part of the British Exhibition at 1939 World's Fair; 1941 — Poulenc: first public performance of Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani, in Paris; 1968 — Britten: church opera "The Prodigal Son," in Orford Church, near Aldeburgh.
Thursday, June 11
Riegger in Paris ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Wallingford Riegger (1885 – 1961): Three Canons, Op. 9 Samuel Baron, fl.; Ronald Roseman, ob.; Charles Neidich, cl.; Donald MacCourt, bsn. Bridge 9068 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Nicholas Slonimsky On Wallingford Riegger ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1864—German composer and conductor Richard Strauss, in Munich; 1899—American composer George Frederick McKay, in Harrington, Wash.; 1926—American opera composer Carlisle Floyd, in Latta, S.C.; Premieres: 1913 — Pizetti: incidental music for "La Pisanella," in Paris; 1921 — Honegger: cantata "Le Roi David" (King David), in Mézières; 1925 — Honegger: opera "Judith" (1st version), at the Théatre du Jorat in Mézières im Waadt; 1960 — Britten: opera "A Midsummer Night's Dream," in Aldeburgh at the Jubilee Hall; 1960 — Stockhausen: "Kontakte" for electronic instruments, piano and percussion, in Cologne; 1970 — Hovhaness: "And God Created Great Whales" for taped song of humpback whales and orchestra, at a New York Philharmonic Promenade concert conducted by André Kostelanetz; 1987 — Michael Torke: ballet "Purple," at the New York State Theater, by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, Lukas Foss conducting. Other: 1931—Nicholas Slonimsky conducts in Paris the second of two concerts (both financed by Charles Ives) devoted to new music; The June 11 program includes works for chamber orchestra by the Spanish-Cuban composer Pedro Sanjuan ("Sones de Castilla"), Mexican Carlos Chaves ("Energia"), Franco-American Carlos Salzedo ("Preamble et Jeux"). Cuban Alejandro Caturla ("Bembe"), American Wallingford Riegger ("Three Canons"), and Franco-American Edgard Varese ("Integrales"); See also June 6, 1931.
Friday, June 12
Jennifer Higdon ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962): Concerto for Orchestra Atlanta Symphony; Robert Spano, cond. Telarc 80620 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Jennifer Higdon ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1885—German-born American composer Werner Josten, in Elbereld; 1897—Polish-born French composer Alexandre Tansman, in Lodz; 1914—French composer Maurice Ohana, in Casablanca; 1941—American jazz pianist and composer, Chick (Armando Anthony) Corea in Chelsea, Mass.; 1952—Scottish composer and conductor Oliver Knussen, in Glasgow; Deaths: 1917—Venezuelan composer, pianist, conductor and singer, (Maria) Teresa Carreño, (Maria) Teresa, age 63, in New York City; 1962—British composer John Ireland, age 82, in Rock Mill, Washington (Sussex), England; Premieres: 1913 — Florent Schmitt: ballet "La Tragédie de Salomé" (The Tragedy of Salome), at the Théâtre des Champes-Elysées" by the Ballet Russe, Pierre Monteux conducting; 1917 — Pfitzner: opera "Palestrina," in Munich at the Prinzregententheater, with Bruno Walter conducting; 1926 — Szymanowski: opera "King Roger," in Warsaw at the Teatr Wielki; 1928 — European premiere of Stravinsky: ballet "Apollon musagete," at the Sarah Bernhardt Theater in Paris, choreographed by Georges Balanchine; The world premiere performance of this work had occurred in Washington, D.C., on April 27, 1928, choreographed by Adolf Bohm; 1938 — Leonard Bernstein's first public performance as composer-pianist in Brookline, Mass., performing his "Music for the Dance" Nos. 1 and 2 and "Music for Two Pianos" with Mildred Spiegel; 1946 — Prokofiev: opera "War and Peace" (1st version), in Leningrad; 1952 — Bernstein: chamber opera "Trouble in Tahiti," at Brandeis University as part of the first Festival of the Creative Arts, with composer conducting; 1961 — Martinu: opera "The Greek Passion," in Zürich at the Stadttheater; 1962 — Mayzumi: symphonic poem "Samsara," in Tokyo; 1964 — Britten: church opera "Curlew River," in Orford Church, near Aldeburgh; 1974 — Elie Siegmeister: String Quartet No. 3 ("on Hebrew Themes"), at Elkins Park, Pa., by the Vieuxtemps Quartet; 1987 — Morton Feldman: "For Samuel Beckett," for chamber ensemble, in Amsterdam; 2002 — Jennifer Higdon: "Concerto for Orchestra," in Philadelphia at the American Symphony Orchestra League National Convention, by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting; Other: 1933—The first "concert" performance of the Duke Ellington Orchestra takes place at the London Palladium during the ensemble's first visit to England; Previously the orchestra had only performed at night clubs, dance halls, hotels and other "informal" entertainment venues; It would be ten years before Ellington would present a concert performance at Carnegie Hall in New York (on January 23, 1943).
Saturday, June 13
Weill's "The Eternal Road" ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Kurt Weill (1900 – 1950): The Eternal Road Ernst Senff Chorus; Berlin Radio Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Naxos 8.559402 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Kurt Weill ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1761—Czech composer and violinist Anton (Antonín) Wranitzky (Vranický, Wraniczky, Wranizky), in Nova Rise, Moravia; He studied with Haydn and Mozart in Vienna and was a friend of Beethoven; 1766—Austrian composer and pianist Anton Eberl; Some of his works were mistakenly (or perhaps deliberately) published as Mozart's; 1899—Mexican composer and conductor Carlos Chávez, in Calzada de Tacuba, near Mexico City; Deaths: 1962—English composer and conductor Sir Eugene Goosens, age 69, in Hillingdon; 2002—American composer and conductor Ralph Shapey, age 81, in Chicago; 2005—American composer David Diamond, age 89; Premieres: 1784 — Mozart: Piano & Winds Quintet (K. 452), Sonata for Two Pianos (K. 448), and the Piano Concerto No. 17 (K. 453), at the home of Mozart's pupil, Barbara Ployer, outside Vienna; The Piano Concerto may have been premiered earlier that year on April 29, at a concert given by Mozart at Vienna's Kärtnertor Theater in the presence of Emperor Joseph II; 1855 — Verdi: opera "Les Vêspres Siciliennes" (The Sicilian Vespers), in Paris at the Grand Opéra; 1911 — Stravinsky: ballet "Petrushka," in Paris at the Théatre du Châtelet, with Pierre Monteux conducting; 1923 — Walton: "Façade," in London, with Dame Edith Sitwell reciting her poems, the composer conducting; 1923 — Stravinsky: "Les Noces," at the Gaîté Lyrique in Paris; 1942 — Honegger: opera "Joan of Arc at the Stake" (first staged production), in Zürich at the Stadttheater; This work was premiered in a concert performance in Basel on May 12, 1938; 1967 — David Ward-Steinman: Cello Concerto, in Toyko, by the Japan Philharmonic conducted by Milton Katims, with Edgar Lustgarten the soloist; 1986 — John Adams: "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" at Great Woods, Mansfield, Mass., with Pittsburgh Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas. 1999 — first staging in Germany of the original German version of Kurt Weill’s opera "Der Weg der Verheissung" (The Eternal Road), in Chemnitz, Germany, with John Mauceri conducting; The English-language premiere staging had occurred at the Manhattan Opera House in New York City on January 7, 1937, in a production staged by Max Reinhardt that ran for 153 performances;
Sunday, June 14
Godfrey's Quartet No. 3 ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Daniel S. Godfrey (b. 1949): String Quartet No. 3 Cassatt String Quartet Koch 7573 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Daniel S. Godfrey ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1730—Italian opera composer Antonio Sacchini, in Florence; 1835—Russian composer, pianist and conductor Nicolai Rubinstein (brother of Anton), in Moscow (Julian date: June 2); He is probably best known for his severe criticism of Tchaikovksy's Piano Concerto No. 1 when the new work was submitted to him for consideration in 1874; He eventually changed his mind, and conducted the work as part of all-Russian concerts at the Paris Exposition in 1878; Deaths: 1594—Flemish composer Orlande de Lassus (aka Orlando di Lasso, Orlandus Lassus, Roland Delattre), in Munich, age 61 or 62 (exact date of his birth is not known); 1911—Norwegian composer, conductor and violinist Johan Svendsen, age 70, in Copenhagen; Premieres: 1876 — Delibes: ballet, "Sylvia," in Paris; 1927 — Gliere: ballet, "The Red Poppy," in Moscow; 1952 — Americanized version of Kurt Weill's "The Threepenny Opera" translated by Marx Blitzstein premieres at Brandeis University as part of the first Festival of the Creative Arts, with Leonard Bernstein conducting; 1962 — Stravinsky: "The Flood," on CBS Television; 1985 — John Harbison: Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet and Strings, in Sarasota, Fla., with oboist Sarah Bloom and clarinetist Charles Russo, with the New College Festival Orchestra, Paul Wolfe conducting; 2001 — Daniel S. Godfrey: revised version of String Quartet No. 3, at the Seal Bay Music Festival in Rockport, Maine, by the Cassett Quartet; |
