Category Archives: Anniversary

On this day in 1946 – the premiere of the Paul Hindemith oratorio, When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d

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by Ben Hogwood. Image of the composer in 1945 by Foto von der Fondation Hindemith, Blonay, courtesy of Wikipedia

On this day, 80 years ago, the premiere of a substantial work by Paul Hindemith took place in the New York City Center. When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d: A Requiem for those we love (An American Requiem) is a setting of a large poem by Walt Whitman, and was commissioned by the conductor Robert Shaw and the Robert Shaw Chorale cin the wake of the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945.

Hindemith responded with a setting for alto, baritone, choir and orchestra, and Shaw conducted the premiere. Here is a more recent recording that he made for the Telarc label in 1987, which helped promote the cause of a seldom-heard work that is in fact amongst Hindemith’s finest works:

Published post no.2,887 – Thursday 14 May 2026

On this day in 1946 – Charles Ives premieres

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by Ben Hogwood. Image courtesy of Wikipedia

On this day, 80 years ago, an important concert featuring premieres by Charles Ives took place at the McMillin Theatre, Columbia University, New York City.

Three works were given their premieres by a group of graduate students from the Juilliard School – two short pieces for orchestra, The Unanswered Question and Central Park In The Dark, and the String Quartet no.2. Listened in sequence they give insight into Ives’s originality as a composer, which shines as brightly today as it did then:

Published post no.2,884 – Monday 11 May 2026

On this day – anniversaries for Marcel Dupré & Adolphe Adam

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by Ben Hogwood. Image by La Presse, courtesy of Wikipedia

Two French composers share significant anniversaries on this day. The first, organist-composer Marcel Dupré, was born on this day 140 years ago. His innovations for the instrument were many, and here is one of his most thrilling works – the early Prelude and Fugue in B major, once proclaimed to be ‘unplayable’ by fellow composer Charles-Marie Widor:

Sharing this anniversary is Adolphe Adam, who died on this day 170 years ago, in 1856. One of his most celebrated works is the ballet Giselle, premiered in 1841 with the ballerina Carlotta Grisi in the title role (below). The ballet, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, can be listened to below:

Published post no.2,876 – Sunday 3 May 2026

On this day 90 years ago – the first performance of Prokofiev’s ‘Peter and the Wolf’

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by Ben Hogwood. Image courtesy of Wikipedia

On this day in 1936, the first performance took place of Prokofiev’s much-loved Peter and the Wolf. This piece was commissioned by the Central Children’s Theatre in Moscow, and given its first performance on May 2 in the Large Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. Prokofiev dedicated the work to his children.

You can enjoy the witty and touching setting below, in an arrangement for chamber ensemble at the Royal College of Music, narrated by Lucy Hollins and conducted by Sam Scheer:

Published post no.2,875 – Saturday 2 May 2026

On this day in 1885 – the first performance of Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony

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by Ben Hogwood Image of Dvořák courtesy of Wikipedia

On this day in 1885, the first performance of Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony took place, at St. James’s Hall in London, with Dvořák himself conducting.

It is one of his finest symphonies, highly regarded by critics and audiences alike, and shows a clear affinity with the work of Brahms. Characteristically for Dvořák, it is bursting with melody – as this classic recording with the London Symphony Orchestra and István Kertész shows:

Published post no.2,866 – Wednesday 22 April 2026