Edvard Grieg, no more than 5 feet tall and rarely weighing more than 100 pounds, was a cultural giant of Norway. His birthday was June 15, 1843. He is the composer of the still-popular Piano Concerto in a minor, and of numerous pieces of nationalistic significance for his native country. Today's show features some incidental music, the "Peer Gynt Suite #1" that includes the lyrical "Morning Mood," and the rollicking "In the Hall of the Mountain King."
The curtain is raised on today's show with an overture by that all-time master of overtures, Rossini. Included today are Beethoven's tour de force for piano, orchestra, and chorus that foreshadows his "Ode to Joy." For cello fans, included is a concerto by Vivaldi; for guitar lovers, we have solo works by Tarrega and a quintet by Boccherini. Aram Khatchaturian, and Monteverdi also make an appearance today. We conclude with Lalo's "Symphonie Espanole".