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Summer Record Review: Andrew McGregor with Mark Lowther. Proms Composer Josef Suk

Andrew McGregor debates a recent reissue of classic recordings by Louis Fremaux and the CBSO on the Warner label with Mark Lowther.

with Andrew McGregor;

0930 Proms Composer: Josef Suk
Andrew explores recordings of music by the Czech composer Josef Suk, whose symphonic poem 'Prague' features in Prom 56. Suk was just 11 when he entered the Prague Conservatory in 1885. He graduated six years later, but stayed on an extra year to study with Dvořák, who came to regard Suk as his most talented pupil. Suk didn't have to wait long for recognition - he wrote some of his best-known music before he was 20 - and he soon came to be regarded as the musical heir to his distinguished teacher, who later also became his father-in-law; Suk married Dvořák's daughter Otilie in 1898. Not surprisingly, Suk's early style is very much rooted in the music of Dvořák, but as he matured and was exposed to the music of the European modernists, his musical language grew more complex and less accessible, even embracing polytonality. His work both as a teacher - he was appointed Professor of Composition at the Prague Conservatory in 1922 - and performer - he played 2nd violin with the Czech (originally Bohemian) Quartet for 40 years - meant that composing could only be a part-time activity, but his compact oeuvre of piano, chamber, choral, vocal and orchestral music contains some real gems.

1030 Andrew talks to Mark Lowther about a recent reissue of classic recordings by Louis Frémaux and the CBSO on the Warner Classics label.

1145
Excerpt from Josef Suk's Piano Quartet in A minor, Op 1
Josef Suk Piano Quartet

Producer Chris Barstow.

3 hours, 12 minutes

Music Played

  • Leonard Bernstein

    7 Anniversaries For Piano

    Performer: Andrew Cooperstock.
    • BRIDGE : 9485A.
    • BRIDGE.
    • 1.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No. 5 In D Minor Op.47

    Orchestra: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Manfred Honeck.
    • REFERENCE : FR724.
    • Reference.
    • 1.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Bridal Suite Part 1

    Performer: Andrew Cooperstock.
    • Complete solo Works for Piano.
    • Bridge.
    • 13.
  • Josef Suk

    Pohadka (Fairy Tale) Op 16 ii. Intermezzo: Swans and Peacocks

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek.
    • CHANDOS : CHAN9063.
    • Chandos.
    • 2.
  • Josef Suk

    Zal (Sorrow - Ten Songs Op. 15 No. 1)

    Performer: Marián Lapšanský. Performer: Daniel Buranovský. Choir: Pražský komorní sbor. Conductor: Josef Pančík.
    • CHANDOS : CHAN9257.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 14.
  • Josef Suk

    Appassionato (Four Pieces Op. 17 No. 2)

    Performer: Josef Suk. Performer: Jan Panenka.
    • SUPRAPHON : 40752.
    • SUPRAPHON.
    • 13.
  • Josef Suk

    Piano Quintet in G minor Op. 8 - Scherzo: Presto

    Orchestra: Nash Ensemble.
    • HELIOS : CDH 55416.
    • Helios.
    • 10.
  • Josef Suk

    Fantasy In G Minor Op.24

    Performer: Josef Suk. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Karel Ančerl.
    • SUPRAPHON : SU-110601-2.
    • Supraphon.
    • 4.
  • Josef Suk

    Asrael (Symphony) In C Minor Op 27

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek.
    • Chandos : CHAN 9042.
    • Chandos.
    • 4.
  • Josef Suk

    Epilogue Op 37 v. Pilgrim - Bringer of Consolation

    Singer: Zora Jehlickova. Singer: Ivan Kusnjer. Singer: Jan Galla. Choir: Prague Philharmonic Choir. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Václav Neumann.
    • Josef Suk.
    • Supraphon.
    • 5.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Komm in mein Herzenhaus / Und wenn die Welt (Cantata no.80)

    Singer: Mary Bevan. Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Ensemble: Clare Baroque. Conductor: Graham Ross.
    • Reformation 1517-2017.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 5.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Violin Concerto in E minor Op. 64 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Isabelle Faust. Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Pablo Heras‐Casado.
    • Violin Concerto.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.
  • Richard Wagner

    Parsifal - Komm, komm, holder Knabe

    Singer: Gundula Janowitz. Singer: Anja Silja. Singer: Else-Margrete Gardelli. Singer: Dorothea Siebert. Singer: Rita Bartos. Singer: Sona Cervena. Singer: Jess Thomas. Orchestra: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Hans Knappertsbusch.
    • The Gundula Janowitz Edition.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 10.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Porgi, Amor...(Le nozze di Figaro)

    Singer: Gundula Janowitz. Orchestra: Orchestra of the German Opera, Berlin. Conductor: Karl Böhm.
    • The Gundula Janowitz Edition.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 12.
  • Richard Strauss

    SEPTEMBER (Vier letzte Lieder)

    Singer: Gundula Janowitz. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • The Gundula Janowitz Edition.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 13.
  • William Walton

    Façade Suite No.2 - Fanfare

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.
    • WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
    • WARNER.
    • 1.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    When the Stars Are Brightly Shining (Tosca)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Singer: David Hughes. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.
    • WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
    • WARNER.
    • 5.
  • Jules Massenet

    Le Cid - Aubade

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.
    • Warner 01902 9588 6738.
    • Warner.
    • 4.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Symphony No.3 (2nd Movt)

    Performer: Christopher Robinson. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.
    • WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
    • WARNER.
    • 6.
  • John McCabe

    Notturni ed Alba

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Singer: Jill Gomez. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.
    • WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
    • WARNER.
    • 9.
  • Hector Berlioz

    Grande Messe des Morts - Tuba Mirum

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Choir: CBSO Chorus. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.
    • WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
    • WARNER.
    • 2.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Cello Concerto No.1

    Performer: Paul Tortelier. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.
    • WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
    • WARNER.
    • 9.
  • William Walton

    Te Deum

    Performer: Francis Grier. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Choir: CBSO Chorus. Choir: Choristers of Worcester Cathedral. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.
    • WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
    • WARNER.
    • 14.
  • Claude Debussy

    Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.
    • WARNER 01902 9588 6738.
    • WARNER.
    • 8.
  • Josef Suk

    Quartet In A Minor Op.1

    Ensemble: Josef Suk Piano Quartet.
    • Dvorak - Suk/ Piano Quartets.
    • Supraphon.
    • 5.

Record Review

9.00 a.m.

Bernstein: Complete Solo Works for Piano

BERNSTEIN: Anniversaries (7); Anniversaries (4) for piano (1948); Anniversaries (5) for piano (1949-51); Anniversaries (13); Touches - Chorale, Eight Variations and Coda; Piano Sonata; Non troppo presto; Music for the Dance No. 2; Four Sabras; Bridal Suite

COPLAND: (arr: Bernstein) El Salon Mexico

Andrew Cooperstock (piano)

BRIDGE BRIDGE9485A/B (2CD)

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 & Barber: Adagio for Strings

BARBER: Adagio for Strings Op. 11

SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5 in D minor Op. 47

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck (conductor)

REFERENCE RECORDINGS FR724 (Hybrid SACD)

0930 Proms Composer: Josef Suk

Suk: Fairy Tale/String Serenade

Pohadka (Fairy Tale) Op. 16

Serenade for strings in E flat Op.6

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek (conductor)

CHANDOS CHAN 9063 (CD)

Dvorak: Moravske Drojzpevy (Moravian Duets)

DVORAK: Moravian Duets Op. 32, B. 60 & B. 62

EBEN: Swallows and Maidens

SMETANA: Czech Song Choruses

SUK: Songs (10) Op. 15

Prague Chamber Chorus, Marian Lapsansky (piano), Daniel Buranovsky (piano), Josef Pancik

CHANDOS CHAN9257 (CD)

Suk: Early Recordings

CD1:

DVORAK: Romantic Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 75 (B 150)

Sonatina for Violin and Piano in G major, Op. 100 (B 183)

Sonata for Violin and Piano in F major, Op. 57 (B106)

SUK: Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op 17

CD2:

JANACEK: Sonata for Violin and Piano

SMETANA: From the Homeland

JEZEK: Sonata for Violin and Piano

MARTINU: Duo for violin and Cello No. 1 H157

Duo for Cello and Violin No 2, H371

CD3:

GRIEG: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.3 in C minor, Op.45

SCHUMANN: Evening Song for Violin and Piano, Op.85, No.12

RESPIGHI: Sonata for Violin and Piano in B minor (1917)

BRAHMS: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.1 in G major, Op. 78

Valse for Violin and Piano in A major, Op. 39 No. 15

CD4:

BRAHMS: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in A major, Op. 100

Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108

SCHUBERT: Sonatina for Violin and Piano in D major, Op. 137 No.1

Duo for Violin and Piano in A major, Op. 162

CD5:

DEBUSSY: Sonata for Violin and Piano

Clair de lune for Violin and Piano

La plus que lente

POULENC: Sonata for Violin and Piano

FRANCK: Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major

CD 6:

MOZART: Duo for Violin and Viola in B flat major, K424

HONEGGER: Sonatina for Violin and Cello

KODALY: Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7

Josef Suk (violin), Josef Hala (piano), Jan Panenka (piano), Alfred Holecek (piano), Andre Navarra (cello), Milan Skampa (viola).

SUPRAPHON SU 4075-2 (6 CD)

Josef Suk: Piano Quintet & Piano Quartet

SUK: Piano Quartet in A minor Op. 1; Four Pieces for Violin and Piano Op. 17; Piano Quintet in G minor Op. 8

The Nash Ensemble - Marianne Thorsen (violin), Lawrence Power (viola), Paul Watkins (cello), Ian Brown (piano), Benjamin Nabarro (violin)

HELIOS CDH55416 (CD)

Dvorak: Violin Concerto/Suk: Fantasy

DVORAK: Concerto in A minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 53

SUK: Fantasy in G minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 24

Josef Suk (violin), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl (conductor)

SUPRAPHON 11 0601-2 (CD)

Suk: Asrael Symphony

SUK: Asrael Symphony Op. 27

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek (conductor).

CHANDOS CHAN 9042 (CD)

Josef Suk

CD1:

SUK: Asrael – Symphony in C minor, Op. 27

CD2:

SUK: A Summer’s Tale, Symphonic poem, Op. 29

Praga, Symphonic Poem, Op. 26

CD3:

SUK: The Ripening, Symphonic Poem, Op. 34

Fairy Tale, Concert Suite from the Music to Zeyer’s Tale. Raduz and Mahulena, Op. 16

CD4:

SUK: Epilogue – Symphony for Orchestra, Large and Small mixed Chorus, Soprano, Baritone and Bass, Op. 37.

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Zora Jehlickova (soprano), Ivan Kusnjer (baritone), Jan Galla (bass), Prague Philharmonic Choir, Lubomir Matl, Petr Skvor (violin), Vaclav Neumann (conductor), Libor Pesek (conductor).

SUPRAPHON SU 3864-2 (4 CDs)

Reformation 1517-2017

BACH, J S: Cantata BWV79 'Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild'; Cantata BWV80 'Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott'

BRAHMS: Warum ist das Licht gegeben? Op. 74 No. 1

CROFT: O God, our Help in Ages past

CRUGER: Now thank we all our God (Nun danket)

LUTHER: Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott; Mit Freud und Freud ich fahr dahin

MENDELSSOHN: Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten

NEUMARK: Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Lord, Thou has been our refuge

Holly Holt (soprano), Catherine Clark (mezzo-soprano), Jackson Riley (tenor), Christopher Holliday (bass), Paul Sharp (trumpet), Nicholas Morris (organ), Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, Clare Baroque, Graham Ross (director)

HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902265 (CD)

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto & Symphony No. 5

MENDELSSOHN: Hebrides Overture Op. 26; Violin Concerto in E minor Op. 64; Symphony No. 5 in D major Op. 107 'Reformation'

Isabelle Faust (violin), Freiburger Barockorchester, Pablo Heras-Casado (conductor)

HARMONIA MUNDI HMM902325 (CD)

The Gundula Janowitz Edition

CD1:

MOZART: Concert Arias, Idomeneo, Cosi Fan tutte

CD2:

TELEMANN: Ino

HANDEL: Der Messias

BACH: Weihnachtsoratorium

CD3:

BEETHOVEN: Egmont, C major Mass

BRAHMS: Ein deutsches Requiem

CD4:

WEBER: Der Freischutz, Oberon

WAGNER: Tannhauser, Lohengrin, Rienzi, Parsifal

LORTZING: Der Waffenschmied

STRAUSS II: Die Fledermaus

CD5:

R. STRAUSS: Vier letzte Lieder (Haitink), Capriccio

ORFF: Carmina burana

MOZART: Le nozze di Figaro, “Waisenhaus” Mass

MENDELSSOHN: Paulus

BRAHMS: Ein deutsches Requiem

CD6:

HAYDN: Die Jahreszeiten, Die Schopfung

BEETHOVEN: Missa solemnis

CD7:

GLUCK: Orfeo ed Euridice

MOZART: Cosi fan tutte

BEETHOVEN: Fidelio

CD8:

WAGNER: Die Walkure

CD9:

WAGNER: Die Walkure, Lohengrin

WEBER: Der Freischutz

CD10-13:

SCHUBERT: Lieder with Irwin Gage (piano)

CD14:

R. STRAUSS: Vier letzte Lieder (Karajan)

BACH: B minor Mass Matthaus-Passion

WAGNER: Gotterdammerung

Gundula Janowitz (soprano), Claudio Abbado, Leonard Bernstein, Wilfried Boettcher, Karl Bohm, Bernard Haitink, Eugen Jochum, Herbert von Karajan, Carlos Kleiber, Hans Knappertsbusch, Rafael Kubelik, Ferdinand Leitner, Kurt Masur, John Pritchard, Karl Richter, Christoph Stepp.

DEUTCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 479 7348 (14 CD’s)

1050 – Mark Lowther on Louis Frémaux

Louis Fremaux: The Complete CBSO Recordings

BERLIOZ: Grande Messe des Morts Op. 5 (Requiem); Le carnaval romain Overture Op. 9; Benvenuto Cellini Overture; La Damnation de Faust Op. 24 (excerpts); Les Troyens a Carthage (excerpts)

BIZET: Roma, symphony for orchestra in C major; Symphony in C

CHABRIER: Espana

DEBUSSY: Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune

DUKAS: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

FAURE: Requiem Op. 48; Cantique de Jean Racine Op. 11; Ballade in F sharp major for solo piano or piano & orchestra Op. 19

HONEGGER: Movement symphonique No. 1 'Pacific 231'

IBERT: Divertissement; Symphonie marine; Bacchanale; Louisville Concerto; Bostoniana

LALO: Symphonie espagnole Op. 21; Cello Concerto in D minor

LITOLFF: Concerto Symphonique No. 4 in D minor Op. 102

MASSENET: Le Cid - Ballet music; Scenes pittoresques; La Vierge: Le Dernier Sommeil de la vierge (Legende sacree)

MCCABE, J: Notturni ed Alba; Symphony No. 2

OFFENBACH: Orphee aux Enfers Overture; La Grande-Duchesse de Gerolstein - Overture; La Belle Helene Overture; Barbe-bleue - Overture; La Perichole: Overture

POULENC: Gloria; Piano Concerto; Les Biches

RAVEL: Bolero

SAINT-SAENS: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor Op. 33; Symphony No. 3 in C minor Op. 78 'Organ Symphony'; Le carnaval des animaux; Le Cygne; Etude en forme de valse (No. 6 from Six Etudes Op. 52); Prelude to Le Deluge Op. 45; Wedding Cake - Valse-Caprice for piano & strings Op. 76; Allegro Appassionato in B minor Op. 43; Danse macabre Op. 40

SATIE: Trois Gymnopedies

WALTON: Facade; Gloria; Coronation Te Deum; Crown Imperial; Orb and Sceptre; The Wise Virgins

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Louis Fremaux (conductor)

WARNER CLASSICS 90295886738 (12CD)

1150 - DOTW

Dvorak – Suk : Piano Quartets

DVORAK: Piano Quartet No. 2 in E Flat major, Op. 87 (1889)

SUK: Piano Quartet in A minor, Op. 1 (1891)

Josef Suk Piano Quartet, Radmin Kresta (violin), Eva Krestova (viola), Vaclav Petr (cello), Vaclav Macha (piano)

SUPRAPHON SU 4227-2 (CD)

Broadcast

  • Sat 26 Aug 2017 09:00

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