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Archives Find past shows by date:  Complete archive Your purchase from Public Radio Market helps support the American Composers Forum and Composers Datebook.  |
June 9-15, 2008
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Monday, June 9
Mahler and Salonen on busman holidays ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): Symphony No. 3 Los Angeles Phil.; Esa Pekka Salonen, cond. Sony Classical 60250 & Esa Pekka Salonen (b. 1958): Mimo II Bengt Rosengren, ob; Swedish Radio Symphony; Esa Pekka Salonen, cond. Daphne 1002 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Gustav Mahler On Esa Pekka Salonen 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.
Tuesday, June 10
Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Richard Wagner (1813-1883): Act II Prelude, from Tristan und Isolde Bayreuth Festival Orchestra; Karl Böhm Philips 434 425 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Wagner and his operas On the medieval "Tristan" legend 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.
Wednesday, June 11
Hovhaness and the world's biggest vocal soloist ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000): And God Created Great Whales Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3157 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Alan Hovhaness 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.
Thursday, June 12
Music for the birds by Dvorak and Rautavaara ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904): String Quartet, Op. 96 (American) Vlach Quartet Naxos 8.553371 & Einojuhani Rautavaara (b. 1928): Cantus Arcticus, Op. 61 Lahti Symphony; Osmo Vänskä BIS 1038 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Dvořák On Rautavaara 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).
Friday, June 13
Blind Tom ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins (1849-1908): Battle of Manassas John Davis, p. Newport Classics 85660 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On "Blind Tom" 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;
Saturday, June 14
A star-spangled bummer for Stravinsky? ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): The Star Spangled Banner (arrangement) London Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. BMG/RCA 68865 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Stravinsky On the "Star Spangled Banner" 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;
Sunday, June 15
A surprise commission for Mr. Sousa ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: John Philip Sousa (1854 - 1932): The Washington Post March Dallas Wind Symphony; Jerry Junkin, cond. Reference 94 & John Philip Sousa (1854 - 1932): Peaches and Cream Foxtrot Cincinnati Pops; Erich Kunzel, cond. Moss MMG-10005 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On John Philip Sousa and the Marine Band 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. |
