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Andrew McGregor with Hannah French

The best new classical releases. In Building a Library Hannah French compares recordings of Vivaldi's Op 3 concertos, 'L'estro armonico'. Plus discs for International Women's Day.

9.30
Building a Library: Hannah French compares recordings of Vivaldi's set of 12 concertos, Op.3, better known as L'estro armonico - and picks a favourite.

Vivaldi's reputation across Europe was at its height in 1711 when the Amsterdam-based publisher Estienne Roger published twelve of his concertos for strings as Opus 3 under the title L'estro armonico. The popularity of L'estro armonico was instant and new editions soon appeared in London and Paris. Quantz was impressed by the novelty of Vivaldi's Op.3 and J.S. Bach arranged a dozen of them for keyboard instruments. The 12 concertos together put on a dazzling display of virtuosity, baroque drama, rhythmic energy and intense harmonic development. L'estro armonico, which translates roughly as 'musical rapture', encapsulates Vivaldi's inventiveness in the collection as a whole.

10.50
On the eve of International Women's Day, Andrew McGregor reviews the most recent releases of music by female composers.

11.25
Andrew chooses an outstanding new release as his Recording of the Week.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Concerto for Two Keyboards in C minor, BWV1060 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Olivier Fortin. Performer: Emmanuel Frankenberg. Ensemble: Ensemble Masques.
    • Alpha.
  • Anton Diabelli

    Waltz in C major

    Performer: Rudolf Buchbinder.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Max Richter

    Diabelli

    Performer: Rudolf Buchbinder.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • J枚rg Widmann

    Diabelli-Variation

    Performer: Rudolf Buchbinder.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Reinhard Keiser

    Concerto

    Ensemble: Capella Orlandi Bremen. Conductor: Thomas Ihlenfeldt.
    • CPO.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Edward, Op. 75 No. 1

    Performer: Simon Lepper. Singer: St茅phane Degout. Singer: Felicity Palmer.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No. 6 in C major, D589 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos.
  • Anton Bruckner

    Symphony No. 6 in A major (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Dausgaard.
    • BIS.
  • Dmitri Kabalevsky

    24 Preludes Op. 38 (Nos. 8-11)

    Performer: Michael Korstick.
    • CPO.
  • Louise Farrenc

    Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 32 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: European Soloists, Luxembourg. Conductor: Christoph K枚nig.
    • Naxos.
  • Rhian Samuel

    The Deed (4th mvt, Clytemnestra)

    Orchestra: 大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jac van Steen.
    • BIS.
  • Rhian Samuel

    Dirge (7th mvt, Clytemnestra)

    Singer: Ruby Hughes. Orchestra: 大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jac van Steen.
    • BIS.
  • Viera Jan谩rcekov谩

    String Quartet no.8 "entr眉ckt"

    Ensemble: Asasello Quartett.
    • Genuin.
  • Viera Jan谩rcekov谩

    String Quartet no.8 "entr眉ckt"

    Ensemble: Asasello Quartett.
    • Genuin.
  • Lera Auerbach

    Angels 1 to 6 (from 72 Angels - In splendore lucis)

    Choir: Nederlands Kamerkoor. Ensemble: Rasch猫r Saxophone Quartet. Conductor: Peter Dijkstra.
    • Alpha.
  • Lera Auerbach

    Angels 19 to 24 (from 72 Angels - In splendore lucis)

    Choir: Nederlands Kamerkoor. Ensemble: Rasch猫r Saxophone Quartet. Conductor: Peter Dijkstra.
    • Alpha.
  • Olga Neuwirth

    Remnants of Songs - An Amphigory (5th mvt)

    Performer: Antoine Tamestit. Orchestra: Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Susanna M盲lkki.
    • Kairos.
  • Hubert Parry

    Judith (Act 1, Scene 2)

    Singer: Sarah Fox. Singer: Kathryn Rudge. Choir: Crouch End Festival and Children's Chorus. Orchestra: London Mozart Players. Conductor: William Vann.
    • Chandos.

Record Review

9.00am

Bach: Concertos for Two Harpsichords

Olivier Fortin (harpsichord)

Emmanuel Frankenberg (harpsichord)

Ensemble Masques

Alpha ALPHA572

The Diabelli Project: music by Beethoven, Richter, Tan Dun, Schubert, Mozart, Auerbach etc.

Rudolf Buchbinder (piano)

Deutsche Grammophon 483 7707 (2 CDs)

Reinhard Keiser: Theatralische Music and other Cantatas and Arias

Olivia Vermeulen (mezzo-soprano)

Capella Orlandi Bremen

Thomas Ihlenfeldt (conductor)

CPO 555 060-2

Epic: Lieder and Balladen - music by Schubert, Loewe, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt and Wolf

St茅phane Degout (baritone)

Dame Felicity Palmer (mezzo-soprano)

Marielou Jacquard (mezzo-soprano)

Simon Lepper (piano)

Harmonia Mundi HMM902367

Schubert: Symphonies, Vol. 2 鈥 Nos. 2 & 6 & Italian Overtures

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Edward Gardner (conductor)

Chandos CHSA5245 (Hybrid SACD)

9.30am 鈥 Building a Library 鈥 Hannah French on Vivaldi鈥檚 鈥楲鈥檈stro armonico鈥 鈥 12 concerti, Op. 3

Composer: Antonio Vivaldi

Reviewer: Hannah French

Recommended Recording:

Rachel Podger (violin & director)

Brecon Baroque

Channel CCSSA36515 (2 Hybrid SACDs)

Other Recommended Recording(s):

Federico Guglielmo (violin and direction)

L'Arte dell'Arco

Brilliant Classics 94629 (2 CDs) or 95200 (20 CDs)

Fabio Biondi (violin and direction)

Europa Galante

Erato 2564619520 (2 CDs) and 5453152 (download)

10.15am 鈥 New Releases

Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 (1881 Version)

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Thomas Dausgaard (conductor)

BIS BIS2404 (Hybrid SACD)

Kabalevsky: Complete Preludes

Michael Korstick (piano)

CPO 555272-2

Hindemith: Kammermusik I-II-III; Kleine Kammermusik

Christopher Park (piano)

Xi Zhai (piano)

Bruno Philippe (cello)

Kronberg Academy Soloists

Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra

Christoph Eschenbach (conductor)

Ondine ODE1341-2

10.45am 鈥 New Releases 鈥 Sara Mohr-Pietsch chooses recent recordings of women composers for International Women鈥檚 Day

Louise Farrenc: Symphony No. 1 and other works

Solistes Europ茅ens Luxembourg

Christoph K枚nig (condcutor)

Naxos 8.574094

Clytemnestra: orchestral songs by Mahler, Berg and Rhian Samuel

Ruby Hughes (soprano)

大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales

Jac van Steen (conductor)

BIS BIS2408 (Hybrid SACD)

Insights To-morrow: works by Viera Jan谩r膷ekov谩, M谩rton Ill茅s and Lisa Streich

Asasello Quartett

Genuin GEN20639

Lera Auerbach: 72 Angels

Netherlands Chamber Choir

Rasch猫r Saxophone Quartet

Peter Dijkstra (conductor)

Alpha ALPHA593

Olga Neuwirth: Miramondo Multiplo, Remnants of Songs and Masaot / Clocks Without Hands

H氓kan Hardenberger (trumpet)

Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester

Ingo Metzmacher (conductor)

Antoine Tamestit (viola)

ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra

Susanna M盲lkki (conductor)

Wiener Philharmoniker

Daniel Harding (conductor)

Kairos KAI0015010

11.15am 鈥 Record of the Week

Parry: Judith

Sarah Fox (Judith, soprano)

Kathryn Rudge (Meshullemeth, mezzo-soprano)

Toby Spence (Manasseh, tenor)

Henry Waddington (High Priest of Moloch / Messenger of Holofernes, bass-baritone)

Crouch End Festival Chorus

London Mozart Players

William Vann (conductor)

Chandos CHSA5268(2) (2 Hybrid SACDs)

Broadcast

  • Sat 7 Mar 2020 09:00

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