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Andrew McGregor with Elin Manahan Thomas and Simon Heighes

The best new classical releases, plus in Building a Library Elin Manahan Thomas compares recordings of Poulenc's Gloria and picks a personal favourite.

The best new classical releases: Building a Library: Elin Manahan Thomas compares recordings of Poulenc's Gloria and picks a personal favourite.

9.30am
Building a Library
Singer Elin Manahan Thomas discusses a shortlist of recordings of a 20th-century choral masterpiece, Poulenc's Gloria, whittling it down in order to pick her personal choice of the ultimate library choice.

10.40am
Simon Heighes discusses two new box sets with Andrew: Bach harpsichord and violin concertos from Concerto Copenhagen; and a set of Italian violin concertos by composers from Vivaldi to Paganini.

11.15am
Andrew chooses an outstanding new release as his Recording of the Week.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Francis Poulenc

    Sinfonietta (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas R枚sner.
    • Odradek Records.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    8 Variations on a Theme by Count von Waldstein, WoO 67

    Performer: Peter Hill. Performer: Benjamin Frith.
    • Delphian.
  • Hugo Wolf

    Schlafendes Jesuskind (No. 25 from M枚rike-Lieder)

    Performer: Joseph Middleton. Singer: Mary Bevan.
    • Signum.
  • Henry Litolff

    Piano Trio no.2 in E flat major Op.56 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Leonore Piano Trio.
    • Hyperion.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 'Italian' (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: V盲ster氓s Sinfonietta. Conductor: Simon Crawford鈥怭hillips.
    • dB Productions.
  • Clara Schumann

    Liebst du um Sch枚nheit, Op. 12 No. 4

    Performer: Simon Crawford鈥怭hillips. Singer: Elin Rombo.
    • dB Productions.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 43 in E flat major, 'Mercury' (Finale - Allegro)

    Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • Alpha.
  • B茅la Bart贸k

    Folk Dances for orchestra, Sz. 68, BB 76 (mvts 1-3)

    Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • Alpha.
  • Witold Lutos艂awski

    Symphony No. 3 (opening)

    Orchestra: Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Hannu Lintu.
    • Ondine.
  • Giovanni Battista Viotti

    Violin Concerto No. 22 in A minor (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Symphonia Perusina. Director: Franco Mezzena.
    • Dynamic.
  • Antonio Lolli

    Violin Concerto No. 9 in C major (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Reale Concerto. Director: Luca Fanfoni.
    • Dynamic.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Violin Concerto in E major BWV1042 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Concerto Copenhagen. Director: Lars Ulrik Mortensen.
    • CPO.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Harpsichord Concerto in D major BWV1054 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Concerto Copenhagen. Director: Lars Ulrik Mortensen.
    • CPO.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Triple Concerto in A minor BWV1044 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Concerto Copenhagen. Director: Lars Ulrik Mortensen.
    • CPO.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Concerto for Four Harpsichords in A minor BWV1065 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Concerto Copenhagen. Director: Lars Ulrik Mortensen.
    • CPO.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 'Emperor' (1st mvt)

    Performer: Kristian Bezuidenhout. Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Pablo Heras鈥怌asado.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

Record Review

9.00am

Couleurs: music by Poulenc and Koechlin

Artur Pizarro (piano)

Bamberger Symphoniker

Thomas R枚sner (conductor)

Odradek Records ODRCD364

Beethoven: Works For Piano Four Hands

Peter Hill and Benjamin Frith (piano duet)

Delphian DCD34221

The Divine Muse: songs by Schubert, Wolf and Haydn

Mary Bevan (soprano)

Joseph Middleton (piano)

Signum SIGCD606

Litolff: Piano Trios Nos 1 & 2

Leonore Piano Trio

Hyperion CDA68305

9.30am 鈥 Building a Library 鈥 Elin Manahan Thomas on Poulenc鈥檚 Gloria

Composer: Francis Poulenc

Reviewer: Elin Manahan Thomas

Recommended Recording:

Luba Orgon谩sov谩 (soprano)

Netherlands Radio Choir

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Mariss Jansons (conductor)

RCO Live RCO06003 (Hybrid SACD)

Other Recommended Recording(s):

Catherine Dubosc (soprano)

Westminster Singers

City of London Sinfonia

Richard Hickox (conductor)

Erato 3632942 (download only) and Warner Classics 2435618435 (download only)

Susan Gritton (soprano)

Polyphony

Trinity College Choir Cambridge

Britten Sinfonia

Stephen Layton (conductor)

Hyperion CDA67623

10.15am 鈥 New Releases

Nightingale - A Tribute to Jenny Lind: music by Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann, Berg and Tarrodi

Elin Rombo (soprano)

V盲ster氓s Sinfonietta

Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano/conductor)

dB Productions DBCD196

Haydn 2032 Volume 8: La Roxolana - Symphonies 28, 43 and 63 and Bart贸k Romanian Folk Dances

Il Giardino Armonico

Giovanni Antonini (conductor)

Alpha ALPHA682

Lutos艂awski: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3

Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Hannu Lintu (conductor)

Ondine ODE13325 (Hybrid SACD)

10.45am 鈥 New Releases 鈥 Simon Heighes reviews new Baroque box sets

Italian Violin Concertos: music by Vivaldi, Bonporti, Locatelli, Tartini, Lolli etc.

Various artists

Dynamic CDS7861 (10 CDs)

JS Bach: Complete Harpsichord Concertos & Complete Violin Concertos

Antoine Torunczyk (oboe)

Fredrik From (violin)

Peter Spissky (violin)

Bjarte Eike (violin)

Manfredo Kraemer (violin)

Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord)

Marieke Spaans (harpsichord)

Marcus Mohlin (harpsichord)

Concerto Copenhagen

Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord/director)

CPO 555299-2 (5 CDs)

11.15am 鈥 Record of the Week

Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5

Kristian Bezuidenhout (fortepiano)

Freiburger Barockorchester

Pablo Heras-Casado (conductor)

Harmonia Mundi HMM902411

Broadcast

  • Sat 15 Feb 2020 09:00

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