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B茅la Bart贸k's Piano Concerto No 3 on Building a Library with Kate Molleson and Andrew McGregor

Kate Molleson chooses her favourite recording of B茅la Bart贸k's Piano Concerto No 3 and Jeremy Summerly rounds up new choral recordings. Plus the best new classical releases.

with Andrew McGregor

9.30
Building a Library
Kate Molleson chooses her favourite recording of B茅la Bart贸k Piano Concerto No. 3.

In a desperate fight against the clock, Bart贸k finished his final piano concerto (and but for its last 17 bars, his final completed work) just four days before his death in New York on 26th September 1945. More lyrical and less angular than his first two concertos, the third is much recorded, including by many of the biggest and starriest pianists of our times. Perhaps its most memorable music is the central slow movement, based on Beethoven's 'Heiliger Dankgesang' (Holy song of thanksgiving), the middle movement of his string quartet Op. 132, written by Beethoven after he had recovered from illness. Like the Beethoven, Bart贸k's music here is apparently simple and serene and features, too, a wonderful example of his night music, including evocative bird calls and a magical blending of orchestra and solo piano.

10.40
Jeremy Summerly has been listening to an eclectic bunch of new choral recordings and shares the best of them.

11.20
Record of the Week
Andrew recommends an outstanding new release.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No. 5 in D major, K175 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. Orchestra: Manchester Camerata. Conductor: G谩bor Tak谩cs鈥怤agy.
    • Chandos.
  • Louise Farrenc

    Overture No. 2, Op. 24

    Orchestra: European Soloists, Luxembourg. Conductor: Christoph K枚nig.
    • Naxos.
  • Howard Skempton

    Preludes and Fugue No. 7 in G-Flat Major

    Performer: William Howard.
    • Orchid Classics.
  • Howard Skempton

    Preludes and Fugue No. 8 in G Minor

    Performer: William Howard.
    • Orchid Classics.
  • Howard Skempton

    Preludes and Fugue No. 9 in A-Flat Major

    Performer: William Howard.
    • Orchid Classics.
  • Howard Skempton

    Preludes and Fugue No. 10 in A minor

    Performer: William Howard.
    • Orchid Classics.
  • Howard Skempton

    Nocturne No. 1

    Performer: William Howard.
    • Orchid Classics.
  • Jacques Offenbach

    "Ouvrez, au nom de la loi!" (Ma卯tre P茅ronilla, Act 2)

    Choir: French Radio Chorus. Orchestra: Orchestre national de France. Conductor: Markus Poschner.
    • Bru Zane.
  • Jacques Offenbach

    "Petit papa, prot茅gez-moi" (Ma卯tre P茅ronilla, Act 2)

    Singer: Anais Constans. Choir: French Radio Chorus. Orchestra: Orchestre national de France. Conductor: Markus Poschner.
    • Bru Zane.
  • Jacques Offenbach

    "Allons, allons, il faut partir!" (Ma卯tre P茅ronilla, Act 2)

    Choir: French Radio Chorus. Orchestra: Orchestre national de France. Conductor: Markus Poschner.
    • Bru Zane.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Horn Quintet in E flat, K.407 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Ursula Paludan Monberg. Ensemble: Arcangelo. Conductor: Jonathan Cohen.
    • Hyperion.
  • Josef Suk

    Asrael Symphony, Op. 27 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jakub Hr暖拧a.
    • BR Klassik.
  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Keyboard Sonata K144 in G major

    Performer: Federico Colli.
    • Chandos.
  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Sonata in G major Kk.427

    Performer: Federico Colli.
    • Chandos.
  • Thomas Ad猫s

    Concerto for piano and orchestra (1st mvt)

    Performer: Kirill Gerstein. Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Ad猫s.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Gregorio Allegri

    Miserere mei, Deus

    Choir: Choir of St John鈥檚 College, Cambridge. Director: Andrew Nethsingha.
    • Signum.
  • William Byrd

    Ne irascaris, Domine

    Choir: Choir of St John鈥檚 College, Cambridge. Director: Andrew Nethsingha.
    • Signum.
  • Thomas Tallis

    Loquebantur variis linguis

    Choir: Fiori Musicali Choir. Director: Penelope Rapson.
    • Fiori Musicali.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Nursery Rhymes (excerpt)

    Choir: Cappella Amsterdam. Ensemble: Radio Blazers Ensemble. Director: Daniel Reuss.
    • harmonia mundi.
  • E虅riks Es虒envalds

    Stars

    Choir: Pacific Lutheran University Choir of the West. Conductor: Richard Nance.
    • Signum.
  • J膿kabs Jan膷evskis

    Silent Starlight

    Choir: Mixed Choir of Riga Cathedral Choir School. Director: Jur模is C膩bulis.
    • Hyperion.
  • Arnold Schoenberg

    Verkl盲rte Nacht, Op. 4 (mvts. 3-5)

    Performer: Isabelle Faust. Performer: Anne Katharina Schreiber. Performer: Antoine Tamestit. Performer: Danusha Waskiewicz. Performer: Christian Polt茅ra. Performer: Jean鈥怗uihen Queyras.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

Record Review

9.00am

Mozart: Piano Concertos Vol. 5

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)

Manchester Camerata

G谩bor Tak谩cs-Nagy (conductor)

Chandos CHAN20137(2) (2 Cds)

Louise Farrenc: Symphony No. 1 and other works

Solistes Europ茅ens Luxembourg

Christoph K枚nig (condcutor)

Naxos 8.574094

The Piano Music of Howard Skempton

William Howard (piano)

Orchid Classics ORC100116

Offenbach: Ma卯tre P茅ronilla

V茅ronique Gens (L茅onora 鈥 soprano)

Antoinette Dennefeld (Frimouskino 鈥 mezzo-soprano)

Chantal Santon-Jeffery (Alvar猫s 鈥 soprano)

Ana茂s Constans (Mano毛la 鈥 soprano)

Diana Axentii (paquita / Marietta / Rosita - soprano)

脡ric Huchet (Ma卯tre P茅ronilla 鈥 tenor)

Tassis Christoyannis (Ripardos 鈥 baritone)

Fran莽ois Piolino (Don Guardona 鈥 tenor)

Patrick Kabongo (V茅lasquez Major 鈥 tenor)

Lo茂c F茅lix (V茅lasquez Junior 鈥 tenor)

Yoann Dubruque (Le Marquis Don Henrique 鈥 baritone)

Matthieu L茅croart (Don Fabrice / 1st Judge 鈥 bass-baritone)

Rapha毛l Br茅mard (Le Notaire / P茅drillo - tenor)

J茅r么me Boutillier (Le Corr茅gidor / Brid鈥橭ison / Juanito 鈥 baritone)

Philippe-Nicolas Martin (F茅lipe / Antonio / 2nd Judge 鈥 baritone)

Antoine Philippot (Le Majordome / L鈥橦uissier / Un Valet 鈥 baritone)

French Radio Choir

French National Orchestra

Markus Poschner (conductor)

Bru Zane BZ1039 (2 CDs + book)

9.30am 鈥 Building a Library 鈥 Kate Molleson on Bart贸k鈥檚 Piano Concerto No. 3

Composer: B茅la Bart贸k

Reviewer: Piano Concerto No. 3, Sz. 119, BB 127

Recommended Recording:

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)

大象传媒 Philharmonic

Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)

Chandos CHAN10610

Other Recommended Recording(s):

Andras Schiff (piano)

Budapest Festival Orchestra

Iv谩n Fischer (conductor)

Elatus 0927467352 (download only)

H茅l猫ne Grimaud (piano)

London Symphony Orchestra

Pierre Boulez (conductor)

Deutsche Grammophon 4775330

G茅za Anda (piano)

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Ferenc Fricsay (conductor)

Alto ALC1246 and Deutsche Grammophon 4473992

10.15am 鈥 New Releases

The Early Horn: Leopold and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Graun, Haydn and Telemann

Ursula Paludan Monberg (horn)

Arcangelo

Jonathan Cohen (director/harpsichord)

Hyperion CDA68289

Suk: Symphony No. 2 'Asrael'

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

Jakub Hru拧a (conductor)

BR Klassik 900188

Domenico Scarlatti: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2

Federico Colli (piano)

Chandos CHAN20134

Ad猫s Conducts Ad猫s: Piano Concerto and Totentanz

Christianne Stotijn (mezzo-soprano)

Mark Stone (baritone)

Kirill Gerstein (piano)

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Thomas Ad猫s (conductor)

Deutsche Grammophon 4837998

10.45am 鈥 New Releases 鈥 Jeremy Summerly on new choral releases

Ash Wednesday: Byrd, Allegri, Weelkes and J. S. Bach

Choir of St John's College Cambridge

Andrew Nethsingha (director)

Signum SIGCD605

Tallis: Sacred Choral Music

Fiori Musicali Choir

Penelope Rapson (director)

Fiori Musicali FMCD-1911

Jan谩膷ek: Choral Works

Thomas Walker (tenor)

Dirk Luijmes (harmonium)

Philip Mayers (piano)

Ernestine Stoop (harp)

Cappella Amsterdam

Daniel Reuss (director)

Harmonia Mundi HMM932097

There Will Come Soft Rains: Choral Works by 膾riks E拧envalds

The Pacific Lutheran Choir Of The West

Richard Nance (director)

Signum SIGCD603

Jan膷evskis: Aeternum & other choral works

Katr墨na Kivleniece-C膩bule (soprano saxophone)

Artis S墨manis (alto saxophone)

Ainars 艩ablovskis (tenor saxophone)

Kristaps Bergs (cello)

Ansis Jansons (zither)

Marta Kauli艈a (percussion)

Ernests Medi艈拧 (percussion)

Krist墨ne Adamaite (organ)

Riga Cathedral Choir School Mixed Choir

Jur模is C膩bulis (conductor)

Hyperion CDA68328

11.15am 鈥 Record of the Week

Schoenberg: Violin Concerto & Verkl盲rte Nacht

Isabelle Faust (violin)

Anne Katharina Schreiber (violin)

Antoine Tamestit (viola)

Danusha Waskiewicz (viola)

Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello)

Christian Polt茅ra (cello)

Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Daniel Harding (conductor)

Harmonia Mundi HMM902341

Broadcast

  • Sat 29 Feb 2020 09:00

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