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Schumann's Piano Concerto with Andrew McGregor and Lucy Parham

Andrew McGregor with the must-have recording of Schumann's Piano Concerto and a round-up of recent orchestral releases.

Andrew McGregor with the must-have recording of Schumann's Piano Concerto and a round-up of recent orchestral releases

9.30am
Building a Library: Schumann's Piano Concerto with Lucy Parham
The Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 was finished in 1845 and is Schumann's only piano concerto. The piece has the character of a fantasy. The work is suffused with a sense of yearning and happiness; of two people in love. It seems in some ways to portray his attempt to woe and finally marry Clara, the daughter of his famous piano teacher, Friedrich Wieck. The main motif of the first movement recalls Florestan's prison aria in Beethoven's opera Fidelio. In Schumann's case this possibly symbolises his struggle for personal freedom and happiness.

10.45am
Mark Simpson and Andrew review a handful of new releases of orchestral music by Mahler and Shostakovich

11.15am
Record of the Week
Andrew's recommendation of a superlative new release just out

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major, Op. 103 'Egyptian': III. Molto allegro

    Performer: Louis Lortie. Orchestra: 大象传媒 Philharmonic. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Violin Sonata No. 8 in G major, Op. 30 No. 3: III. Allegro vivace

    Performer: Richard Tognetti. Performer: Erin Helyard.
    • ABC Classics.
  • Mendoza y Cort茅s

    Cielito Lindo

    Music Arranger: Jorge C贸zatl. Ensemble: The King鈥檚 Singers.
    • Signum.
  • Emil Hartmann

    Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 5: II. Romanza - Andantino con moto

    Performer: Elisabeth Zeuthen Schneider. Performer: Nicolas Dupont. Performer: Tony Nys. Performer: Justus Grimm. Performer: Daniel Blumenthal.
    • Dacapo.
  • Ravi Shankar

    Sukanya: III. Tarana

    Singer: Susanna Hurrell. Singer: Keel Watson. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: David Murphy.
    • LPO.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    K枚nig Stephan, Op. 117: Overture

    Lyricist: August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue. Orchestra: Turku Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Leif Segerstam.
    • Beethoven: K枚nig Stephan & Other Choral Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.
  • Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen

    For Violin & Orchestra: I. Tempo 96; II. Tempo 63

    Performer: Christina 脜strand. Orchestra: Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.
    • Dacapo.
  • Johannes Lupi

    Salve celeberrima virgo

    Ensemble: Brabant Ensemble. Conductor: Stephen Rice.
    • Hyperion.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 43: I. Allegretto poco moderato

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda.
    • LSO Live.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93: IV. Andante - Allegro

    Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • BR Klassik.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    The Bedbug Suite, Op. 19a, Pt. 1 'The Year 1929': I. March

    Orchestra: Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland鈥怭falz. Conductor: Mark Fitz-Gerald.
    • Naxos.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    The Bedbug Suite, Op. 19a, Pt. 1 'The Year 1929': II. Foxtrot

    Orchestra: Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland鈥怭falz. Conductor: Mark Fitz-Gerald.
    • Naxos.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, Part I: Hymnus Veni Creator. Spiritus Allegro im

    Singer: Manuela Uhl. Singer: Polina Pastirchak. Singer: Fatma Said. Singer: Katrin Wundstram. Singer: Katharina Magiera. Singer: Neal Cooper. Singer: Hanno M眉ller鈥怋rachmann. Singer: Peter Rose. Orchestra: D眉sseldorfer Symphoniker. Conductor: 8 Bit.
    • Avi Music.
  • Gustav Mahler, Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo V盲nsk盲 & Carolyn Sampson

    Mahler 4_Movement 3_Long version_CD5A

  • George Frideric Handel

    "Otton, otton" (Agrippina, act 2, scene 5)

    Singer: Jakub J贸zef Orli艅ski. Ensemble: Il Pomo d鈥橭ro. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.
    • Erato.
  • George Frideric Handel

    "Voi ch'udite" (Agrippina, act 2, scene 5)

    Singer: Jakub J贸zef Orli艅ski. Ensemble: Il Pomo d鈥橭ro. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.
    • Erato.
  • George Frideric Handel

    "Spera, alma mia" (Agrippina, act 2, scene 6)

    Singer: Elsa Benoit. Ensemble: Il Pomo d鈥橭ro. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.
    • Erato.
  • George Frideric Handel

    "Il tormento d'Ottone" (Agrippina, act 2, scene 6)

    Singer: Elsa Benoit. Ensemble: Il Pomo d鈥橭ro. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.
    • Erato.
  • George Frideric Handel

    "Par che amor sia" (Agrippina, act 2, scene 7)

    Singer: Elsa Benoit. Ensemble: Il Pomo d鈥橭ro. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.
    • Erato.
  • George Frideric Handel

    "Vaghe fonti" (Agrippina, act 2, scene 7)

    Singer: Jakub J贸zef Orli艅ski. Ensemble: Il Pomo d鈥橭ro. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.
    • Erato.
  • George Frideric Handel

    "Basta che sol tu chieda" (Agrippina, act 2, scene 19)

    Singer: Luca Pisaroni. Ensemble: Il Pomo d鈥橭ro. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.
    • Erato.
  • George Frideric Handel

    "Favorevol la sorte" (Agrippina, act 2, scene 20)

    Singer: Joyce DiDonato. Ensemble: Il Pomo d鈥橭ro. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.
    • Erato.
  • George Frideric Handel

    "Ogni vento" (Agrippina, act 2, scene 20)

    Singer: Joyce DiDonato. Ensemble: Il Pomo d鈥橭ro. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.
    • Erato.

Record Review

9.00am

Saint-Sa毛ns: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 and 5 'Egyptian'

Louis Lortie (piano)

大象传媒 Philharmonic

Edward Gardner (conductor)

Beethoven & Mozart Violin Sonatas

Richard Tognetti (violin)

Erin Helyard (piano)

ABC Classics ABC4818192 (2 CDs)

Finding Harmony: music by Legrand, Bach, Byrd, Alma Androzzo etc.

The King's Singers

Signum SIGCD607

Emil Hartmann: Chamber Music

Elisabeth Zeuthen Schneider (violin)

Nicolas Dupont (violin)

Tony Nys (viola)

Justus Grimm (cello)

Daniel Blumenthal (piano)

Dacapo 8226183

Ravi Shankar: Sukanya

Susanna Hurrell (soprano)

Eleanor Minney (mezzo-soprano)

Alok Kumar (tenor)

Njadbulo Madlala (baritone)

Michel de Souze (baritone)

Keel Watson (bass-baritone)

M Balachandar (mridangam and konnakol)

Rajkumar Misra (tabla)

Parimal Sadaphal (sitar)

Ashwani Shankar (shehnai)

Pirashanna Thevarajah (ghatam, morsing and konnakol)

大象传媒 Singers

London Philharmonic Orchestra

David Murphy (conductor)

LPO LPO0115 (2 CDs)

9.30am 鈥 Building a Library 鈥 Lucy Parham on Schumann鈥檚 Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Composer: Robert Schumann

Reviewer: Lucy Parham

Recommended Recording:

Andr谩s Schiff (piano)
Concertgebouw Orchestra
Antal Dorati (conductor)
Decca 4119422

Other Recommended Recordings:


Murray Perahia (piano)
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Colin Davis (conductor)
Sony 88697721002

Andreas Staier (fortepiano)
Orchestra de Champs Elysees
Philippe Herreweghe (conductor)
Harmonia Mundi HMA1951731

Krystian Zimerman (piano)
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan (conductor)
DG 4390152

10.20am 鈥 New Releases

Beethoven: K枚nig Stephan; Leonore Prohaska; Opferlied, Germania

Reetta Haavisto (soprano)

Johanna Lehesvuori (soprano)

Maikki S盲ikk盲 (soprano)

Kristina Raudanen (alto)

Merja M盲kel盲 (alto)

Andreas Nordstr枚m (tenor)

Niklas Sp氓ngberg (bass)

Juha Kotilainen (bass)

P盲ivi Severeide (harp)

Claus Obalski (narrator)

Roland Astor (narrator)

Ernst Oder (narrator)

Angela Eberlein (narrator)

The Key Ensemble

Chorus Cathedralis Aboensis

Turku Philharmonic Orchestra

Leif Segerstam (conductor)

Madsen: Nachtmusik & Gudmundsen-Holmgreen: For Violin and Orchestra

Christina Astrand (violin)

Per Salo (piano)

Danish National Symphony Orchestra

Ryan Bancroft (conductor, Madsen)

Nicholas Collon (conductor, Gudmundsen-Holmgreen)

Dacapo 8226138

Hellinck: Missa Surrexit pastor; Lupi: Te Deum & motets

The Brabant Ensemble

Stephen Rice (director)

Hyperion CDA68304

10.45am 鈥 New Releases 鈥 Mark Simpson reviews Mahler & Shostakovich orchestral releases

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4

London Symphony Orchestra

Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)

LSO Live LSO0832 (Hybrid SACD)

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10

Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Mariss Jansons (conductor)

BR Klassik 900185

Shostakovich: The Bedbug; Love and Hate

Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz

Mark Fitz-Gerald (conductor)

Naxos 8574100

Mahler: Symphony No. 8

Manuela Uhl (soprano)

Polina Pasztircs谩k (soprano)

Fatma Said (soprano)

Katrin Wundsam (mezzo-soprano)

Katharina Magiera (alto)

Neal Cooper (tenor)

Hanno M眉ller-Brachmann (baritone)

Peter Rose (bass)

Choir of the St盲dtischer Musikverein zu D眉sseldorf

Philharmonischer Chor, Bonn

Youth Choir of the Clara-Schumann Musikschule, D眉sseldorf

D眉sseldorfer Symphoniker

Adam Fischer (conductor)

Mahler: Symphony No. 4

Carolyn Sampson (soprano)

Minnesota Orchestra

Osmo V盲nsk盲 (conductor)

BIS BIS2356 (Hybrid SACD)

11.15am 鈥 Record of the Week

Handel: Agrippina

Joyce DiDonato (Agrippina, mezzo-soprano)

Jakub J贸zef Orli艅ski (Ottone, countertenor)

Elsa Benoit (Poppea, soprano)

Luca Pisaroni (Claudio, bass)

Franco Fagioli (Nerone, countertenor)

Carlo Vistoli (Narciso, countertenor)

Biagio Pizzuti (Lesbo, baritone)

Andrea Mastroni (Pallante, bass)

Marie-Nicole Lemieux (Giunone, contralto)

Il Pomo d'Oro

Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor)

Erato 9029533658 (3 CDs)

Broadcast

  • Sat 11 Jan 2020 09:00

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