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Beethoven's Piano Sonata No 29 in B flat, Op 106, 'Hammerklavier' in Building a Library with Katy Hamilton and Andrew McGregor

The best new classical releases, plus Katy Hamilton chooses her favourite recording of Beethoven's 'Hammerklavier', and Tom Service reviews the new Berlin Philharmonic box set.

with Andrew McGregor

9.30 Building a Library
Katy Hamilton chooses her favourite recording of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No 29 in B flat, Op 106, 'Hammerklavier'.

Beethoven's Piano Sonata No 29 in B flat, Op 106, known as the Gro脽e Sonate f眉r das Hammerklavier, or simply the 'Hammerklavier', is one of the most important works on the piano repertoire. Beethoven composed the sonata in 1818 and dedicated it to his patron the Archduke Rudolf. Spanning nearly 50 minutes in some performances, the Hammerklavier is a vast journey through four movements, culminating in a monumental fugue. The Hammerklavier has all the hallmarks of Beethoven's late style: the stylised development of brusque motives, a return to classical sonata forms and an exploration of modal harmonies.

10.45
Tom Service reviews the new five-disc box set of the Berlin Philharmonic under Kirill Petrenko, who was elected as their new chief conductor in June 2015. This new box set presents recordings of works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Franz Schmidt and Rudi Stephan made since the announcement of Petrenko's appointment and reveals the exciting new direction of the orchestra in this new partnership.

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

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Richard Strauss

    Romance for cello & orchestra in F major, AV 75

    Performer: Raphaela Gromes. Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Nicholas Carter.
    • Sony.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique', arr. for wind & brass (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Boxwood & Brass.
    • Resonus Classics.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Fugue in G Minor, BWV 542 "The Great"

    Music Arranger: Peter Barczi. Ensemble: Capricornus Consort Basel.
    • Christophorus.
  • John Corigliano

    Tarantella (Gazebo Dances for Band)

    Ensemble: Marinierskapel der Koninklijke Marine. Director: Major Arjan Tien.
    • Channel.
  • John Tavener

    Preces And Responses

    Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: Caroline Dearnley. Performer: Chiara Enderle.
    • Hyperion.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Sarcasms for Piano, Op. 17 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Daniil Trifonov.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Sarcasms for Piano, Op. 17 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Daniil Trifonov.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Messiah, HWV 56 (Pt. 1, Nos. 5-7)

    Singer: Tim Mead. Singer: Roderick Williams. Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: Justin Doyle.
    • Handel: Messiah, HWV 56.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 5-7.
  • Rudi Stephan

    Musik f眉r Orchester 路 Music for Orchestra

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Kirill Petrenko.
    • BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER.
  • Franz Schmidt

    Symphony No. 4; Adagio

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Kirill Petrenko.
    • BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No.9 in D minor, Op.125 'Choral'; I. Allegro ma non troppo e un poco maestoso

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Kirill Petrenko.
    • BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 9; IVb. Presto. Recitativo "O Freunde, nicht diese T枚ne!" - Allegro assai - Presto

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Kirill Petrenko.
    • BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 "Path茅tique": I. Adagio - Allegro non troppo

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Kirill Petrenko.
    • Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 "Path茅tique".
    • Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • 101.
  • Josquin des Prez

    Missa Faysant Regretz (Credo - Sanctus & Benedictus - Agnus Dei)

    Choir: Tallis Scholars. Director: Peter Phillips.
    • Gimell.

Record Review

9.00am <?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Kleztory: Momentum

Kleztory

Chandos CHAN20187

Klengel, Schumann: Romantic Cello Concertos

Raphaela Gromes (cello)

Julian Riem (piano)

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Nicholas Carter (conductor)

Sony 19075868462

Beethoven Transformed, V. 2

Boxwood & Brass

Resonus Classics RES10270

Johann Sebastian Bach: Organ Works On Strings

Capricornus Consort Basel

Peter Barczi (director)

Christophorus CHR77447

Rhapsody in Navy Blue: Originals

Music by Melillo, Copland, Gershwin, Barber etc.

Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy

Major Arjan Tien (conductor)

Channel CCS42920

9.30am 鈥 Building a Library 鈥 Katy Hamilton on Beethoven's Piano Sonata No 29 in B flat, Op 106, 'Hammerklavier'

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Reviewer: Katy Hamilton

Recommended Recording:

Mitsuko Uchida (piano)

Philips 4758662

Other Recommended Recording(s):

Friedrich Gulda (piano)

Amadeo 听415 193-2

10.15am 鈥 New Releases

Tavener: No longer mourn for me & other works for cello

Steven Isserlis (cello)

Matthew Rose (bass)

Abi Sampa (Sufi singer)

Trinity Boys Choir

Philharmonia Orchestra

Omer Meir Wellber (conductor)

Hyperion CDA68246

Daniil Trifonov - Silver Age: Scriabin - Stravinsky - Prokofiev

Daniil Trifonov (piano)

Deutsche Grammophon 4835331 (2 CDs)

Handel: Messiah

Julia Doyle (soprano)

Tim Mead (countertenor)

Thomas Hobbs (tenor)

Roderick Williams (baritone)

RIAS Kammerchor Berlin

Akademie f眉r Alte Musik Berlin

Justin Doyle (director)

Pentatone PTC5186853 (2CDs)

10.45am 鈥 New Releases 鈥 Tom Service on a new Petrenko/Berlin Philharmonic box

Beethoven 路 Tchaikovsky 路 Schmidt 路 Stephan

Berlin Philharmonic

Kirill Petrenko (conductor)

Berliner Philharmoniker BPHR200351 (5 CDs + 1 Blu-ray Audio + 1 Blu-ray Video)

11.15am 鈥 Record of the Week

Josquin: Masses

Hercules Dux Ferrarie, D'ung aultre amer & Missa Faysant regretz

The Tallis Scholars

Peter Phillips (director)

Gimell CDGIM051

Broadcast

  • Sat 7 Nov 2020 09:00

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