A Classical Almanac: On This Day in Music – August 23 This Saturday morning, August 23, at 9:00 a.m., Classic 107 invites you to take a little trip through music history with a Classical Almanac. We’ll mark the anniversaries of composers, performers, and premieres that all happened on this very date. From Baroque opera to Romantic piano concertos and 20th-century film scores, the playlist offers a fascinating cross-section of milestones worth celebrating. Here’s what’s coming up: 9:00 – Friedrich Hartmann Graf: Cello Concerto in D Jan Vogler, cello; Munich Chamber Orchestra, Reinhart Goebel We begin with the bright and elegant Cello Concerto in D by Friedrich Hartmann Graf, born on this day in 1727. Graf, a German composer and flautist, was part of a family of musicians and became known for his graceful works that bridged late Baroque and early Classical styles. This concerto, performed by Jan Vogler, shows off the lyrical singing quality of the cello while still delighting in a courtly charm. 9:06 – Rameau: Chaconne from Les Indes Galantes Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski On August 23, 1735, Paris audiences first experienced the exotic splendour of Rameau’s Les Indes Galantes. This opéra-ballet, full of colour and dance, was designed to dazzle with depictions of distant lands. The Chaconne is one of its most jubilant moments—a stately dance that builds layer upon layer of rhythmic energy. Marc Minkowski and his period ensemble bring it vividly to life. 9:12 – Moszkowski: Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 59 Piers Lane, piano; BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Jerzy Maksymiuk Born on this day in 1854, Moritz Moszkowski was a Polish-German pianist and composer who enjoyed great fame in the late 19th century for his brilliant piano writing. His Piano Concerto in E minor is a virtuosic showpiece, balancing dazzling runs and sparkling passagework with lush Romantic lyricism. While his popularity waned after his death in 1925, pianists like Piers Lane continue to keep his music alive on concert stages and recordings. 9:27 – Mozart: String Quintet in C minor, K. 406 Griller Quartet with William Primrose, viola In 1903, William Primrose—one of the 20th century’s greatest violists—was born in Glasgow. Known for his rich tone and impeccable technique, he later played with the NBC Symphony under Toscanini and inspired generations of string players. To mark his birthday, we’ll hear him join the Griller Quartet in Mozart’s String Quintet in C minor, K. 406. The work’s dark, dramatic energy makes it one of Mozart’s most striking chamber pieces. 9:33 – Constant Lambert: Music from Anna Karenina National Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernard Herrmann Another birthday to celebrate: Constant Lambert, born in London in 1905. A composer, conductor, and influential writer, Lambert was central to Britain’s musical life in the interwar years. He also dabbled in film, writing the score for Anna Karenina (1948). His music, both atmospheric and emotionally nuanced, shows how easily he could adapt his style to suit the big screen. 9:43 – Vaughan Williams: Norfolk Rhapsody Philharmonia Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin On August 23, 1906, audiences in London heard the first performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1. This lyrical work draws on folk tunes collected in the English countryside, weaving them into a flowing orchestral tapestry. Leonard Slatkin and the Philharmonia capture both the rustic charm and the pastoral sweep that makes this piece a Vaughan Williams gem. 9:53 – Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C major – Final Movement Staatskapelle Dresden, Wolfgang Sawallisch Finally, we close by marking the birthday of conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch, born August 23, 1923, in Munich. Known for his long tenure with the Vienna Symphony and later the Philadelphia Orchestra, Sawallisch was admired for his clarity and warmth on the podium. It seems fitting to end with him leading Schumann’s radiant Symphony No. 2, a work whose triumphant finale encapsulates the spirit of Romantic optimism. Tune In! From Baroque splendour to Romantic fire and 20th-century resonance, this Classical Almanac offers a rich sampling of anniversaries that shaped music history. Join us Saturday, August 23, starting at 9:00 a.m. on Classic 107, and step into the past—through music that continues to inspire today.