The Merry Widow Love for Three Oranges

This is my test post for my Classical Music blog just to see if there is any interest in such post. Every post will list composers, conductors and performers of classical music born on the date of the post. It will also list the first performance or premiere of classical music pieces and operas on that same date. Recommended recordings (CD and DVD) of such pieces culled from guides such as the Penguin Guide to Classical Music, the Gramophone Classical Music Guide and others will also be featured.

Today is 30 December and born on this day are :-

1853 - Andre Messager, French composer, in Montiucon. Recordings include his ballet, Les Deux Pigeons and opera, Veronique.

1859 - Josef Foerster, Czech composer, in Prague. Recordings include his Symphony No.4

1904 - Dmitri Kabalevsky, Russian composer, in St.Petersburg. Popular pieces include his Cello Concerto No, 1 and 2, Piano Concerto No.1-4 and the Comedians suite.


Premiere or first performance of the following operas and classical music pieces:-

1877 - Symphony No.2 by Brahms in Vienna
Selected Recording
Recommended by Penguin Guide, 4 stars and Key Recording. "The CD transfer is first class,.............this is one of Stockowski's very finest later recordings."

1879 - Pirates of Penzance, by Sullivan in the Royal Bijou Theatre, Paignton
Selected Recording
Recommended by Penguin Guide, 3 stars and Key Recording. ".......the finest of all the D'Oyly Carte analogue stereo recordings."


1884 - Symphony No.7 by Bruckner in Leipzig
Selected recording
Recommended by Penguin Guide, rated 4 stars. "Hannoncourt's outstanding performance........and is one of his very finest records."

1905 - Merry Widow, opera by Lehar in Theatre An Der Wien in Vienna
Selected recording
Recommended by Penguin Guide, rated 4 stars and Key Recording.

1921 - Love for Three Oranges, opera by Prokofiev in Chicago

Selected recording
Recommended by the Gramophone Guide and also in "1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die"

1938 - Romeo and Juliet, ballet by Prokofiev in Brno

Selected recording
Recommended by the Gramophone Guide and also featured in "1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die"

1961 - Symphony No.4 (revised version) by Shostokovich in Moscow

Selected recording
Recommended by Gramophone Guide. "This could just be the most important Western recording of the fourth..........."

Just pick up any one of the recordings and enjoy. Please give your comments on how this Blog can be improved and what you would like to be included or expended.

Ronald Kwok
http://cbpirate.com/s/cbp/ronaldkwok