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Archives Find past shows by date:  Complete archive
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June 15-21, 2009
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Monday, June 15
Byrne and Eno in Minneapolis ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: David Byrne (b. 1952): High Life Balanescu Quartet Argo 436 565 & Brian Eno (b. 1948) arr. Gordon: Music for Airports Bang on a Can All-Stars Point Music 314 536 847 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On David Byrne On Brian Eno On "Bang on a Can" ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1763—Baptismal date of German composer Franz Danzi, in Mannheim; 1843—Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, in Bergen; 1864—French composer Guy Ropartz, in Guingamp, Brittany; 1894—American composer and arranged Robert Russell Bennett, in Kansas City, Mo.; 1900—American composer Otto Luening, in Milwaukee, Wis.; Deaths: 1772—French composer and organist Louis-Claude Daquin, age 77, in Paris; 1893—Hungarian opera composer Ferenc Erkel, age 82, in Budapest; Premieres: 1810 — Beethoven: "Egmont" Overture and Incidental Music, at the Court Theater in Vienna, as part of a production of Goethe's drama of the same name; 1889 — Sousa: "Washington Post March," in Washington, D.C., outside the Smithsonian Institution, composer conducting the U.S. Marines Band; 1914 — Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 1, in Pavlovsk (Julian date: June 2); 1980 — David Byrne: "High Life for Strings,," at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, during the New Music America Festival; 1989 — Michael Torke: ballet "Slate," at the New York State Theater, by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, Hugo Fiorato; 1991 — Thomas Oboe Lee: "Seven Jazz Pieces" for string quartet, at Brandeis University, by the Lydian String Quartet; 1991 — David Ward-Steinman: "Cinnabar" for viola and piano, in Ithaca, N.Y., at the 19th Annual Viola Congress by violist Karen Elaine with the composer at the piano; Other: 1707—J.S. Bach appointed organist at Blasiuskirche, Muehlhausen; 1733—In London the "Opera of the Nobility" is established by several noblemen and supported by the Prince of Wales, as a rival opera company to Handel's company, the "Royal Academy"; Porpora's opera "Arianna in Nasso" (Ariadne on Naxos) opens their first season on December 29th that year; The company folded in 1737, with its final opera performance on June 11, 1737, at the King's Theater in the Haymarket (The original home of Handel's company); These dates are all according to the Julian "Old Style" calendar still in use in England that year.
Tuesday, June 16
Handel and the Royals ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1759): Rinaldo Overture Academy of Ancient Music; Christopher Hogwood, cond. Philips 434 992 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Handel's life and works On British Kings & Queens ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1931—American composer Lucia Dlugoszewski, in Detroit; Deaths: 1970—Estonian composer Heino Eller, age 83, in Tallinn; 1986 —French composer and organist Maurice Duruflé, age 84, in Paris; Premieres: 1929 — Shostakovich: opera "The Nose," in Leningrad at the Malïly Opera Theater; 1937 — Blitzstein: opera-review, "The Cradle Will Rock," in New York City, composer at piano; 1950 — Persichetti: "Divertimento for Band," by the Goldman Band, with the composer conducting; 1961 — Schoenberg: "Jacob's Ladder," in Vienna, posthumously; at 35th Festival of the International Society for Contemporary Music; 1973 — Britten: opera "Death in Venice," in Snape at The Maltings; Other: 1708 —While in Italy, Handel completes the score to his "Aci, Galatea e Polifemo," presumably for the wedding of the Duke of Alvito to Donna Beatrice Sanseverino on July 19th that year; 1710—Handel is appointed Kapellemeister to Georg Ludwig, Elector of Hanover (the future King George I), at a salary of 1000 thaler under condition that Handel receive an immediate 12-month leave of absence to London; 1891—Czech composer Antonin Dvorák receives an honorary degree from Cambridge University in England.
Wednesday, June 17
Stravinsky on a date? ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971): Fireworks, Op. 4 Montreal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, cond. London 414 409 & Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971): Agon Ballet London Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. BMG 68865 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Stravinsky More on Stravinsky "Time" magazine's Stravinsky profile ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1818—French opera composer Charles Gounod, in Paris; 1882—Russian-born American composer Igor Stravinsky, in Oranienbaum (now Lomonosov), near St. Petersburg (Julian date: June 5); In the 19th century, the Julian calendar lagged behind the Gregorian by 12 days, and in the 20th by 13 days; For most of his life in Europe and America, Stravinsky chose to observe his birthday on June 18, but "officially" it was celebrated on June 17; 1916—Finnish composer Einar (Sven) Englund, in Ljugard, Gotland (Sweden); Deaths: 1983—American composer Peter Mennin, age 60, in New York; Premieres: 1903 — Victor Herbert: operetta, "Babes In Toyland," in Chicago; 1908 — Stravinsky: "Fireworks," for the marriage of Rimsky-Korsakov's daughter to Maxmillian Steinberg (Julian date: June 4); 1944 — Prokofiev: Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 94a (transcription of the Flute Sonata, Op. 94), in Moscow, by violinist David Oistrakh and pianist Lev Oborin; 1957 — Stravinsky: ballet score "Agon," at a 75th birthday concert for Stravinsky in Los Angeles conducted by Robert Craft; The first ballet performance of "Agon" occurred at the New York City Ballet on December 1, 1957, choreographed by Georges Balanchine; 1959 — Barber: "A Hand of Bridge," at Festival of Two Worlds in Spoletto, Italy; 1983 — Bernstein: opera "A Quiet Place" (first version), by Houston Grand Opera, John DeMain conducting; A revised version of this opera premiered at La Scala in Milan, Italy, on June 19, 1984, conducted by John Mauceri; 1988 — Elliott Carter: Oboe Concerto, in Zurich, by the Zurich Collegium Musicum conducted by John Carewe, with Heinz Holliger as soloist; Other: 1733—Performances by J.S. Bach's "Collegium Musicum" in Leipzig resume after a period of mourning for Elector Friedrich August I; 1914—Finnish composer Jean Sibelius awarded honorary degree by Yale University.
Thursday, June 18
Pleyel in the Old World (and the New) ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Ignaz Pleyel (1757 – 1831): Symphony in G, Op. 68 London Mozart Players; Matthias Bamert, cond. Chandos 9525 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Pleyel ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1757—Austrian-born composer and piano maker Ignaz Joseph Pleyel, in Ruppertsthal, near Vienna; He studied with Haydn and was one of the older composer's favorite pupils; 1904—Birth of French composer and conductor Manuel Rosenthal, in Paris; His ballet arrangement of Offenbach melodies, "Gaîté Parisienne," is his best-known work; 1843—Austrian cellist and composer David Popper, in Prague; 1905—Estonian-born Swedish composer Eduard Tubin, in Kalaste, near Tartu (Dorpat) (Julian date: June 5); 1942—English singer, composer and former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, in Liverpool; Deaths: 1726—French composer Michel-Richard de Lalande (La Lande, Delalande), age 68, at Versailles; Premieres: 1821 — Weber: opera "Der Freischütz" (The Freeshooter), in Berlin at the Königliches Schauspielhaus; 1923 — Gershwin: musical revue, "George White's Scandals of 1923" at the Globe Theater in New York City; 1958 — Britten: opera "Noye's Fludde," in Orford Church, near Aldeburgh; 1980 — Persichetti: "Three Toccatinas" for Piano, by contestants in the International Piano Festival and Competition at the University of Maryland; 1992 — Anthony Davis: opera "Tania" at the American Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia; Other: 1837—Mendelssohn finishes his String Quartet in e, Op. 44, no. 2, in Freiburg (Germany), while on his honeymoon.
Friday, June 19
A Monster Concert for Peace ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791 -1864): Coronation March, from Le Prophète New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 46709 & Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901): Anvil Chorus, from Il Trovatore Chicago Symphony and Chorus; Sir Georg Solti, cond. London 466 075 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On "Dwight's Journal" On Mr. Dwight himself ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1717—Baptismal date of Bohemian violinist and composer Johann Wenzel Anton Stamitz, in Nemecký Brod (Deutsch-Brod, now Havlíckuv Brod); 1842—Austrian operetta composer Carl Zeller, in St. Peter in der Au; 1854—Italian opera composer Alfredo Catalani, in Lucca; Deaths: 1915—Russian composer Sergei Taneyev, age 58, in Dyud'kovo, near Zvenigorod (Julian date: June 6); Premieres: 1899 — Elgar: "Enigma Variations," in London, Queen's Hall, Hallé Orchestra conducted by Hans Richter; 1915 — Saint-Saëns: choral work, "Hail California," in San Francisco, composer conducting; 1926 — Antheil: "Ballet Mécanique," in Paris; 1984 — Bernstein: opera "A Quiet Place" (revised version), by La Scala Opera, John Mauceri conducting; The first version of this opera premiered at Houston Grand Opera on June 17, 1983, conducted by John DeMain. Other: 1869—final concert of a five-day "Great National Peace Jubilee" involving an orchestra of 1000 and a chorus of 10,000 organized by bandmaster Patrick Gilmore performing in a specially-constructed hall in Boston’s Back Bay;
Saturday, June 20
Anderson and Golijov for the record ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Leroy Anderson (1908 - 1975): Clarinet Candy Decca studio orchestra; Leroy Anderson, cond. MCA 9815 & Osvaldo Golijov (b. 1960): Rocketekya David Krakauer, clarinet; ensemble Naxos 8.559403 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Leroy Anderson On Golijov ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1756—German-Swedish composer Joseph Martin Kraus, in Miltenberg, near Mainz; 1819—German-born French cellist and operetta composer Jacques Offenbach, in Cologne; 1931—Norwegian composer Arne Nordheim, in Larvik; Deaths: 1787—German-born, London-based composer, gamba virtuoso and concert impresario Carl Friedrich Abel, age 63, in London; He was a friend and associate of Johann Christian Bach (the "London" Bach); 1940—French organ composer Jehan Alain, age 29, killed in action at Petits-Puis, near Saumur; Premieres: 1716 — Handel: Concerto Grosso in F, Op. 3, no. 4a, at the King's Theater in London, performed between the acts of Handel's opera "Amadigi di Gaula" (Gregorian date: July 1); 1901 — Elgar: "Cockaigne Overture: In London Town," at a London Philharmonic concert; 1938 — Jerome Moross: ballet, "Frankie and Johnny," by the Page-Stone Ballet at the Great Northern Theater in Chicago; This production was part of the Federal Theater Project; 1947 — Britten: opera "Albert Herring," at the Glyndebourne Opera; 1952 — Hindemith: opera "Cardillac" (2nd version) in Zürich at the Stadttheater; 1961 — Paul Creston: "Dance Variations" for soprano and orchestra, at Lewisohn Stadium by the Stadium Symphony (New York Philharmonic), Pierre Monteux conducting and Roberta Peters the vocal soloist; 1962 — Leroy Anderson: "Clarinet Candy" at a Decca recording session in New York City, with the composer conducting; The four clarinet soloist for this classic recording were Vincent Abato, Herbert Blayman, Roger Hiller and Bernard Portnoy; 1969 — Penderecki: opera "The Devils of Loudun," in Hamburg at the Staatsoper; Other: 1948—At the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, Edward Wallerstein conducts the first public demonstration of the revolutionary Columbia Records 33-rpm "Long Playing" (LP) discs for fifty-odd members of the press.
Sunday, June 21
Cocteau and Glass ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Philip Glass (b. 1937): Beauty and the Beast Philip Glass Ensemble; Michael Riesman, cond. Nonesuch 79347 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Cocteau More on Cocteau On Philip Glass ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1732—German composer Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (9th son of J.S.), in Leipzig; 1862—American pianist and composer Henry Holden Huss, in Newark, N.J.; 1892—Swedish composer Hilding Rosenberg, in Bosjökloster (Ringsjon, Skane); 1932—Argentinian-born American composer Lalo Schifrin, in Buenos Aires; He wrote the famous "Mission Impossible" TV theme; Deaths: 1908—Russian composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, age 64, in Lyubensk, near St. Petersburg (Julian date: June 8); 2000 —American composer Allan Hovhaness, age 89, in Seattle; Premieres: 1868 — Wagner: opera "Die Meistersinger von Nürenberg" (The Mastersingers of Nuremberg), in Munich at the Hofoper; 1890 — R. Strauss: tone-poem "Death and Transfiguration" and "Burleske" for Piano and Orchestra, in Eisenach, at a convention of the General German Music Association, with the composer conducting and Eugen d'Albert as the piano soloist in the "Burleske"; 1898 — Fauré: incidental music, "Pelléas et Mélisande," in London; 1980 — Peter Maxwell Davies: "Farwell to Stromness" for piano, at the St. Magnus Festival in Orkney, performed by the composer; 1980 — Persichetti: "Mirror Etudes," in Lawton, Oklah., by pianist Virginia Sircy; 1985 — Rautavaara: "Thomas," in Joensuu, Finland. 1994 — Philip Glass: opera "La Belle et la Bête" (Beauty and the Beast) based on the film by Jean Cocteau), by the Philip Glass Ensemble, in Gibellina, Italy; |
