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Dvorak's Symphony No 7 in Building a Library with Jan Smaczny and Andrew McGregor

The best new classical releases. Jan Smaczny chooses his favourite recording of Dvorak's Seventh Symphony, plus Alexandra Coghlan on new releases of music by Britten and Bruckner.

with Andrew McGregor

9.30 Building a Library
Jan Smaczny chooses his favourite recording of Dvorak's Seventh Symphony

Possibly Dvořák's greatest symphony, he started work on the piece in 1884. After hearing Brahms's new Third Symphony, he was inspired to write a new symphony himself. He said that during his regular stroll to Prague railway station, "the first subject of my new symphony flashed in to my mind on the arrival of the festive train bringing our countrymen from Pest". The Czechs were in fact arriving for a musical celebration of the Czech nation. He decided that his new work would celebrate his patriotism and desire to see the Czech nation flourish.

10.20
Alexandra Coghlan on new releases of choral music by Britten and Bruckner.

11.30
Record of the Week
Andrew recommends an outstanding new release.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Andreas Hammerschmidt

    Triumph, Triumph, Victoria

    Choir: Vox Luminis. Director: Lionel Meunier.
    • Ricercar.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Clarinet Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 120 No. 1 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Jörg Widmann. Performer: Sir András Schiff.
    • ECM.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Goldberg Variations BWV988 (Vars. 29-30)

    Music Arranger: Józef Koffler. Ensemble: Royal Academy of Music Soloists Ensemble. Director: Trevor Pinnock.
    • Linn.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Un bel di vedremo (from Madama Butterfly)

    Singer: Ermonela Jaho. Orchestra: Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana. Conductor: Andrea Battistoni.
    • Opera Rara.
  • Anna Clyne

    Masquerade

    Orchestra: ´óÏó´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • Anna Clyne: Mythologies.
    • Avie.
    • 1.
  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Clarinet Concerto no.1 in F minor Op.73 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Eric Hoeprich. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century. Conductor: Guy Van Waas.
    • Glossa.
  • Johann Gottlieb Graun

    Trio sonata in A Major, GWV Av:XV:41 (3rd mvt)

    Director: Johannes Pramsohler. Ensemble: Ensemble Diderot.
    • The Berlin Album.
    • Audax Records.
    • 106.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Songs of travel, arr. composer & others for voice & orch. The Vagabond

    Singer: Neal Davies. Orchestra: ±á²¹±ô±ôé. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
    • ±á²¹±ô±ôé.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Satan's Dance of Triumph (Job)

    Performer: David Adams. Performer: Darius Battiwalla. Orchestra: ±á²¹±ô±ôé. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
    • ±á²¹±ô±ôé.
  • Anton Bruckner

    Mass No. 2 in E minor (Gloria)

    Choir: King's College Cambridge Choir. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury.
    • Kings College.
  • Benjamin Britten

    A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: Wolcum Yole!

    Performer: Lucy Wakeford. Choir: Choir of The Queen's College, Oxford. Conductor: Owen Rees.
    • A Ceremony of Carols: Britten, Praetorius, McDowall, Weir, Dove.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 602.
  • Benjamin Britten

    A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: There Is no Rose

    Performer: Lucy Wakeford. Choir: Choir of The Queen's College, Oxford. Conductor: Owen Rees.
    • A Ceremony of Carols: Britten, Praetorius, McDowall, Weir, Dove.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 603.
  • Benjamin Britten

    A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: Deo Gracias

    Performer: Lucy Wakeford. Choir: Choir of The Queen's College, Oxford. Conductor: Owen Rees.
    • A Ceremony of Carols: Britten, Praetorius, McDowall, Weir, Dove.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 611.
  • Benjamin Britten

    A Hymn of St Columba

    Performer: Eleanor Carter. Lyricist: Saint Columba. Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Conductor: Graham Ross.
    • Britten: A Ceremony of Carols.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 106.
  • Benjamin Britten

    A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: 4b. Balulalow

    Performer: Tanya Houghton. Lyricist: Anonymous. Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Conductor: Graham Ross.
    • Britten: A Ceremony of Carols.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 118.
  • Benjamin Britten

    A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: 6. This little babe

    Performer: Tanya Houghton. Lyricist: Robert Southwell. Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Conductor: Graham Ross.
    • Britten: A Ceremony of Carols.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 120.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Canticle II "Abraham and Isaac", Op. 51 (extract)

    Performer: Anne Le Bozec. Singer: Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian. Singer: Cyrille Dubois.
    • Britten: Canticles.
    • NoMadMusic.
    • 109.
  • Jaakko Mäntyjärvi

    Ave Maria (Trinity Service)

    Choir: Choir of Trinity College Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Hyperion.
  • Jaakko Mäntyjärvi

    Warum toben die Heiden? (Stuttgarter Psalmen)

    Choir: Choir of Trinity College Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Hyperion.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Betulia liberata, K. 118 (Part 1, Nos. 7-11)

    Singer: Sandrine Piau. Orchestra: Les Talens Lyriques. Conductor: Christophe Rousset.
    • Mozart: Betulia liberata.
    • ´¡±è²¹°ù³Ùé.
    • 7-11.

Record Review

9.00am

Ìý

Andreas Hammerschmidt: Ach Jesus stirbt

Vox Luminis

Lionel Meunier (director)

Ricercar RIC418

Ìý

Brahms: Clarinet Sonatas

Jörg Widmann (clarinet)

András Schiff (piano)

ECM 4819512

Ìý

Bach: Goldberg Variations arranged by Jozef Koffler

Royal Academy of Music Soloists Ensemble

Trevor Pinnock (director)

Linn CKD609

Ìý

Anima Rara: arias by Puccini, Leoncavallo, Mascagni, Verdi etc.

Ermonela Jaho (soprano)

Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana

Andrea Battistoni (conductor)

Opera Rara 9293802532

Ìý

Anna Clyne: Mythologies

Irene Buckley (voice)

Jennifer Koh (violin)

´óÏó´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra

Marin Alsop (conductor)

Sakari Oramo (conductor)

Andrew Litton (conductor)

André de Ridder (conductor)

Avie AV2434

Ìý

9.30am – Building a Library – Jan Smaczny on Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70

Ìý

Composer: Antonín Dvořák

Reviewer: Jan Smaczny

Recommended Recording:

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Jiří Bělohlávek (conductor)

Decca 4786757 (6 CDs)

Ìý

Other Recommended Recording(s):

Ìý

London Symphony Orchestra

Istvan Kertesz (conductor)

Decca 4300462

Ìý

Wiener Philharmoniker

Myung-Whun Chung (conductor)

Deutsche Grammophon 4492072

Ìý

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

Marin Alsop (conductor)

Naxos 8572112

Ìý

Budapest Festival Orchestra

Iván Fischer (conductor)

Channel CCSSA30010

Ìý

10.15am – New Releases

Ìý

Carl Maria von Weber: the Clarinet Concertos

Eric Hoeprich (clarinet)

Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century

Guy van Waas (conductor)

Glossa GCD921128

Ìý

The Berlin Album - Trio Sonatas From Berlin

Trio Sonatas by Benda, Graun, Kirnberger, Princess Anna Amalia of Prussia & Janitsch

Ensemble Diderot

Johannes Pramsohler (director)

Audax ADX13726

Ìý

Vaughan Williams: Job & Songs of Travel

Neal Davies (baritone)

David Adams (violin)

Darius Battiwalla (organ)

Hallé Orchestra

Mark Elder (conductor)

Hallé CDHLL7556

Ìý

10.45am – New Releases – Alexandra Coghlan on new choral releases

Ìý

Bruckner: Mass in E Minor, Motets

Choir of King's College Cambridge

Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Stephen Cleobury (conductor)

Kings College KGS0035

Ìý

A Ceremony of Carols: Britten, Praetorius, McDowell, Weir, Dove

Choir of the Queen's College, Oxford

Lucy Wakeford (harp)

Laurence John (organ)

Owen Rees (director)

Signum SIGCD627

Ìý

Britten: A Ceremony of Carols and works by Ireland, Bridge and Holst

Tanya Houghton (harp)

Eleanor Carter (organ)

Ashley Show (organ)

Choir of Clare College, Cambridge

Graham Ross (director)

Harmonia Mundi HMM905329

Ìý

Britten: Canticles

Paul-Antoine Benos-Djian (countertenor)

Cyrille Dubois (tenor)

Marc Mauillon (baritone)

Vladimir Dubois (horn)

Pauline Haas (harp)

Anne Le Bozec (piano)

NoMadMusic NMM077D

Ìý

Mäntyjärvi: Choral Music

Choir of Trinity College Cambridge

Stephen Layton (director)

Hyperion CDA68266

Ìý

11.15am – Record of the Week

Ìý

Mozart: Betulia liberata

Sandrine Piau (soprano, Amital)

Amanda Forsythe (soprano, Cabri and Carmi)

Pablo Bemsch (tenor, Ozia)

Teresa Iervolino (mezzo-soprano, Giuditta)

Nahuel Di Pierro (bass, Achior)

Accentus

Les Talens Lyriques

Christophe Rousset (director)

Aparté AP235 (2 CDs)

Broadcast

  • Sat 17 Oct 2020 09:00

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