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Archives Find past shows by date:  Complete archive
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June 29-July 5, 2009
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Monday, June 29
A modern Monteverdi premiere ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Claudio Monteverdi (1567 – 1643): L'incoronazione di Poppea soloists; Vienna Concentus Music Vienna; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, cond. Teldec 42547 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Monteverdi Monteverdi on NPR's "Milestones of the Millennium" ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1908—American composer Leroy Anderson, in Cambridge, Massachusetts; 1910—American songwriter and musical composer Frank Loesser, in New York City; 1911—American composer and conductor Bernard Herrmann, in New York City; 1914—Czech-born Swiss conductor and composer, Rafael Kubelik, in Bychiory, near Kolin; 1924—American composer Ezra Laderman, in Brooklyn, New York; Deaths: 1744—French composer André Campra, c. 83, at Versailles; 1941—Polish pianist and composer Ignace Jan Paderewski , age 80, in New York City; Buried at Arlington National Cemetary in Virginia (pending the liberation of Poland during WWII) by order of President Roosevelt; He was reburied with honors in Warsaw on June 30, 1992. Premieres: 1888 — Wagner: "Die Feen" (The Fairies), in Munich at the Hoftheater; Wagner composed this opera in 1834; 1889 — Glazunov: Symphony No. 2, in Paris; 1951 — Leroy Anderson: "Plink, Plank, Plunk!" and "Fiddle-Faddle" at a Decca recording session in New York City, with the composer conducting; (See also June 28); 1962 — first modern professional staging of Moneteverdi’s opera "L’Incoronazione di Poppea" (The Coronation of Poppea) at the Glyndebourne Festival in England, in a version prepared and conducted by Raymond Leppard; The opera premiered in Venice in the autumn of 1642; The opera’s first stagings in the 20th century were both student productions: Smith College in Northampton, Mass, on April 27, 1927 and Oxford University, on Dec. 6, 1927; 1985 — Joan Tower: "Island Rhythms" (commissioned for the opening of Harbour Island in Tampa), by the Florida Orchestra, Irwin Hoffman, conducting; 1997 — Esa-Pekka Salonen: "Giro" (revised version) for orchestra, in Porvoo (Finland), by the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra conducted by the composer; Other: 1729—Handel returns to London after a trip to the continent to recruit new singers for a new season of Royal Academy opera productions directed by Handel and Heidegger (Gregorian date: July 10); Earlier in the month, when in Halle, Germany, Handel had been invited by W.F. Bach to visit J.S. Bach in Leipzig, but Handel declines; 1769—First documented concert in Boston conducted by the Early American composer Josiah Flagg with his militia band.
Tuesday, June 30
Anton Arensky ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Anton Arensky (1861 – 1906): Piano Trio No. 1 Rembrandt Trio Dorian 90146 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Arensky More on Arensky ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1722 —Bohemian composer Georg Anton (Jirí Antonín) Benda, in Alt-Benatek, Bohemia; 1861—Russian composer Anton Arensky, in Novgorod (Gregorian date: July 12); 1892—Hungarian composer Laszlo Lajtha, in Budapest; 1958—Finnish composer and conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, in Helsinki; Deaths: 1987 —Spanish composer Federico Mompou, age 94, in Barcelona; Premieres: 1924 — Gershwin: musical revue, "George White's Scandals of 1924," at the Apollo Theater in New York City; This show includes the classic Gershwin song "Somebody Loves Me" (lyrics by B.G. De Sylva and Ballard MacDonald).
Wednesday, July 1
Strauss and Thomas in New York ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825 – 1899): Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314 Columbia Symphony; Bruno Walter, cond. Sony 64467 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Johann Strauss Junior On Theodore Thomas On Thomas in Chicago ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1926 —Birth of German composer Hans Werner Henze, in Gütersloh, Westphalia Deaths: 1784—German composer Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, age 73, in Berlin; He was the eldest son of J.S. Bach; 1925—French composer Erik Satie, age 59, in Paris Premieres: 1716 — Handel: Concerto Grosso in F, Op. 3, no. 4a, in London (Gregorian date: July 12); 1927 — Bela Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 1, in Frankfurt, Wilhelm Fürtwängler conducting, with the composer as soloist 1933 — R. Strauss: opera "Arabella," in Dresden at the Staatsoper, Clemens Krauss conducting, with vocal soloists Viorica Ursuleac (Arabella), Alfred Jerger (Mandryka), Margit Bokor (Zdenka), and Martin Kremer (Matteo); 1937 — Milhaud: "Scaramouche" Suite for Two Pianos, in Paris 1948 — Rawthorne: Violin Concerto, at Cheltenham Festival in England 1984 — Sallinen: opera, "The King Goes Forth to France," in Helsinki 2000 — Diamond: Symphony No. 10, by the Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz conducting 2001 — Lazarof: "Legends form the Bible," for chorus, horns and vibes, in Berlin, by the Ars-Nova Ensemble, conducted by Peter Schwarz Other: 1867—American premiere of Johann Strauss, Jr.'s "Blue Danube" Waltz at a summer concert of the Theodore Thomas Orchestra in New York (less than five months after the work's premiere in Vienna) 1897—The Music Division of the Library of Congress is founded in Washington, D.C.
Thursday, July 2
Libby Larsen outdoors ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Libby Larsen (b. 1950): Deep Summer Music Colorado Symphony; Marin Alsop, cond. Koch 7520 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Libby Larsen ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1714—German composer Christoph Willibald (Ritter von) Gluck, in Erasbach, Upper Palatinate Deaths: 1778—French writer, music critic, and composer Jean-Jacques Rousseau, age 66, in Ermenonville Premieres: 1900 — Sibelius: tone poem "Finlandia," in Helsinki, with Robert Kajanus conducting; An earlier, vocal version of this music was first performed at the Swedish Theater in Helsinki on Nov, 4, 1899 1929 — Gershwin: musical "Show Girl," at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York; This show included the classic Gershwin song "Liza" 1949 — John Alden Carpenter: Symphony No. 2 (revised version), by the Chicago Symphony at Ravinia, with Fritz Busch conducting; The New York Philharmonic premiered the first version of this symphony on October 22, 1942, with Bruno Walter conducting 1983 — Libby Larsen: "Deep Summer Music" for orchestra, in Terrance, Minn., by the Minnesota Orchestra, Joseph Giunta conducting Other: 1723—Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi agrees to write and rehearse the music for two concerts a month at the Pièta School for Orphaned Girls in Venice
Friday, July 3
Iannaccone's Appalachian Fantasias ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Anthony Iannaccone (b. 1943): From Time to Time Janacek Philharmonic; Anthony Iannaccone, cond. Albany 486 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Anthony Iannaccone On "Continental Harmony" On the PBS "Continental Harmony" documentary ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1854—Czech composer Leo Janácek, in Hukvaldy, Moravia 1878—American song composer George M. Cohan, in Providence, R.I.; He mistakenly believed he was "born on the Fourth of July" as his popular song "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" states; In 1978 the centennial of his birth was honored with a U.S. postage stamp issued on this date 1897—French composer and conductor Philippe Gaubert, in Cahors 1901—American composer and American folksong compiler, Ruth Crawford (Seeger), in East Liverpool, Ohio; She was the second wife of the eminent American composer and enthno-musicologist, Charles Seeger (1886-1979); Charles Seeger's son by his first marriage became the famous American folksinger, Pete Seeger 1926—American composer Meyer Kupferman, in New York City Deaths: 1966 —American composer, writer, and broadcaster, Deems Taylor, age 80, in New York City; For many years he was a broadcast commentator for the national broadcasts of both the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera (Two of his operas were staged at the Met); In 1967, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) established the Deems Taylor Awards for excellence in the fields of music criticism, journalism, and broadcasting; Composers Datebook won a Deems Taylor Award in 2000 1998 —English romantic composer George Lloyd, age 85 Premieres: 1944 — Robert Wright & George Forest: musical "The Song of Norway" (based on the music of Norwegian composer Edward Grieg), during trial run in San Francisco; The musical opened in New York on August 21, 1944 1964 — Robert Ward: opera, "The Lady from Colorado," in Center City, Colorado; 1967 — Havergal Brian: Symphony No. 4 ("Das Siegeslied") in London; This symphony was composed in 1929 1976 — Hovhaness: Violin Concerto ("Ode to Freedom") at Wolf Trap, with André Kostelanetz conducting and Yehudi Menuhin the soloist. Other: 1848—American music publisher Theodore Presser is born in Pittsburgh; In 1883 he founded in Philadelphia the famous music monthly, "The Etude" (which discontinued publication in 1957), and shortly thereafter the Philadelphia-based Presser music publishing firm; He was also a co-founder of the Music Teachers National Association
Saturday, July 4
(Fourth of July)
Hail to the Chief! ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: James Sanderson (17??-18??): Hail to the Chief Manchester Cornet Band Vox Box 5088 & James Sanderson (17??-18??): Hail to the Chief Chestnut Brass Company Newport Classics 85548 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On "Hail to the Chief" ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1694—French composer and organist, Louis Claude Daquin, in Paris 1826—American song composer Stephen Collins Foster, in Lawrenceville, Pa. 1903 —Belgian composer and organist and teacher Flor Peeters, in Thielen Deaths: 1623 —English composer William Byrd, aged c. 80 (the exact date of his birth is not known) in Stondon, Essex Premieres: 1831 — The patriot hymn "America" (to the tune of the British patriotic song "God Save the King/Queen" with new words supplied by Samuel Francis Smith) sung by a children's choir at a Fourth of July service at the Park Street Church in Boston; This premiere performance is commonly (but incorrectly) listed as 1832 1900 — final version of Sibelius: Symphony No. 1, in Stockholm by the Helsinki Philharmonic on tour, with Robert Kajanus conducting; An earlier version of the symphony had been premiered in Helsinki on April 26, 1899, with the same orchestra conducted by the composer 1923 — R. Vaughan Williams: "English Folk Song Suite," in London, by the band of the Royal Military School of Music 1964 — Piston: Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire 1983 — David Amram: "Honor Song for Sitting Bull" for cello and orchestra, by the Long Island Philharmonic, Christopher Keene conducting, and William Da Rosa the soloist Other: 1827—Opening of "Niblo's Gardens," an important 19th century American concert venue, at Broadway and Prince Street in New York City 1828 —The U.S. Marine Band first performed "Hail to the Chief" for a living President at the ground-breaking ceremony for the excavation of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal attended by President John Quincy Adams 1986—Amid fireworks and celebration, the Marine Band performed in New York City for the rededication of the Statue of Liberty, recreating the band's performance under John Philip Sousa for the original dedication ceremonies 100 years earlier
Sunday, July 5
Chamber works by Zwilich and Paulus ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939): Clarinet Quintet David Shifrin, cl; Ida and Ani Kavafian, vn; Paul Neubauer, vla; Fred Sherry, vcl Delos 3183 & Stephen Paulus (b. 1949): Partita Appassionata Troy Gardner, violin; Jill Dawe, piano innova 539 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Ellen Taaffe Zwilich On Stephen Paulus ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1878—English composer and pianist Josef Holbrooke, in Croydon 1895—English composer Gordon Jacob, in London 1897—German-born Israeli composer Paul Ben-Haim (originally Frankenburger), in Munich 1918 —American composer George Rochberg, in Paterson, N.J. 1926—American composer and teacher Kenneth Gaburo, in Somerville, N.J. Deaths: 1992—Argentinian composer and bandonion virtuoso Astor Piazolla, age 71, in Buenos Aires Premieres: 1931 — R. Vaughan Williams: ballet, "Job (A Masque for Dancing)," in London 1990 — Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Clarinet Quintet, at a Chamber Music Northwest concert in Portland, Ore. featuring clarinetist David Shifrin 1996 — Stephen Paulus: "Partita Appassionata," for violin and piano, by William Preucil and Arthur Rowe, at the Seattle Chamber Music Festival 2000 — Leslie Bassett: Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, during a World Saxophone Congress at Pierre Mercure Hall, Montreal, with soloist Clifford Leaman, and the Orchestre Symphonique de Laval, Louis Lavigueur, conducting; Other: 1877—Polish harpsichordist Wanda Landowska is born in Warsaw |
