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Rachmainov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with Marina Frolova-Walker and Andrew McGregor

Marina Frolova-Walker chooses her favourite recording of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, plus Joseph McHardy reviews new discs of baroque music with Andrew McGregor.

9.30 Building a Library
Marina Frolova-Walker chooses her favourite recording of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, a set of dazzling variations for piano and orchestra on Paganini's 24th Caprice for solo violin, was premiered in 1934 in Baltimore by the Philadelphia Orchestra and Leopold Stokowski with Rachmaninov playing the solo part. Rachmaninov had already written four piano concerti, and this Rhapsody parades as a one-movement piano concerto that takes Paganini's theme on a journey through brisk and highly virtuosic variations at the beginning and end and through richly lyrical variations in the slower middle section. The Rhapsody has become a cornerstone of the virtuoso piano repertoire and it has also been adapted for ballet.

10.45
Harpsichordist and choral conductor Joseph McHardy reviews new discs of baroque music with Andrew.

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

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    2 Pieces, Op. 10, TH 132: No. 1, Nocturne

    Performer: Barry Douglas.
    • Tchaikovsky Plus One, Vol. 3.
    • Chandos.
    • 6.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in B minor for Violin RV386

    Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Ensemble: Benedetti Baroque Orchestra.
    • Baroque.
    • Decca.
    • 8.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Cello Sonata No. 2 in F Major, Op. 99: II. Adagio affettuoso

    Performer: Emmanuelle Bertrand. Performer: Pascal Amoyel.
    • Johannes Brahms: Sonatas & Liebeslieder For Cello and Piano.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 11.
  • Béla Bartók

    44 Duos for Violin: Pizzicato, Scherzo & Serbian Dance

    Performer: Airi Yoshioka. Singer: Susan Botti. Ensemble: Duo della Luna.
    • Mangetsu.
    • New Focus Recordings.
    • 10.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sinfonia concertante in E flat for Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon & Orchestra, K297b: III. Andantino con variazioni

    Performer: Emmanuel Pahud. Performer: Radovan Vlatković. Performer: Gilbert Audin. Performer: François Leleux. Orchestra: Orchestre de chambre de Paris.
    • Mozart & Flute in Paris.
    • Warner Classics.
  • Jocelyn Pook

    We Rode and We Rode

    Singer: Lorin Sklamberg. Singer: Melanie Pappenheim.
    • Drawing Life: Remembering Terezin.
    • Humming Records.
    • 1.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 "Eroica" (Arr. F.X. Scharwenka for Piano

    Ensemble: Tessa Uys. Ensemble: Ben Schoeman.
    • Beethoven Symphonies, Vol. 1.
    • SOMM Recordings.
    • 3.
  • Gustav Mahler

    The Sound Of The Earth

    Composer: Xiaogang Ye. Performer: Shanghai Municipal Committee Band. Singer: Shenyang. Singer: Liping Zhang. Singer: Michelle DeYoung. Singer: Brian Jagde.
    • Mahler: & Xiaogang Ye:The Song of the Earth.
    • DG.

Record Review

9.00am

Ìý

Ìý

Tchaikovsky Plus One Vol. 3

Barry Douglas (piano)

ChandosÌý CHAN20160Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Baroque – Music by Vivaldi and Geminiani

Nicola Benedetti (violin)Ìý

Benedetti Baroque OrchestraÌý

DeccaÌý 4851891

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Johannes Brahms: Sonatas & Liebeslieder For Cello and Piano

Emmanuelle Bertrand (cello)Ìý

Pascal Amoyel (piano)Ìý

Harmonia MundiÌý HMM902329Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Mangetsu – Music by Botti, Bartok, Dusman, etc

Susan Botti (voice)

Airi Yoshioka (violin)

Duo Della Lana

New Focus RecordingsÌý FCR305Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

9.30am – Building a Library – Marina Frolova-Walker on Rachmaninov Paganini Rhapsody

Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Recommended Recording: Ìý

Daniil Trifonov (piano)

Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-SéguinÌý (conductor)Ìý

DG 4794970ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Historic Choice:

Ìý

William Kapell (piano)
Philadelphia Robin Hood Dell Orchestra
William Steinberg (conductor)

NaxosÌý 8110692

Ìý

Ìý

Other recommendations:Ìý

Behzod Abduraimov (piano)

Luzerner Sinfonieorchester

James Gaffigan (conductor)Ìý

SonyÌý 19075981622

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

10.15am – New Releases

Ìý

Ìý

Mozart & Flute in Paris

Emmanuel Pahud (flute)

Orchestre de chambre de Paris

François Leleux (conductor)Ìý

Warner ClassicsÌý 9029673932 (2 CDs)Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Drawing Life:Ìý Remembering TerezinÌý

Melanie Pappenheim (soprano)Ìý

Lorin Sklamberg (vocalist)Ìý

Jocelyn Pook (director)Ìý

Humming Records HUM001CDÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonies for Piano Duo, Vol.1

Tessa Uys, Ben Schoeman (piano duo)

SommÌý SOMMCD0637

Ìý

ÌýÌý


10.40am – Joseph McHardy Baroque and ChoralÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Con Arte e Maestria – Music by Webber, Gabrieli, Palestrina

Oliver Webber (violin)

Steven Devine (harpsichord)

Resonus ClassicsÌý RES10282

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

JS Bach: Goldberg Variations

Samuele Telari (accordion)

DelphianÌý DCD34257

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Fux: Dafne in Lauro

Monica Piccinini Ìý(Diana/soprano)ÌýÌýÌý

Arianna Vendittelli Ìý(Dafne/soprano)Ìý

Sonia Tedla Chebreab Ìý(Amore/soprano)Ìý

Rafaelle Pe Ìý(Apollo/countertenor)Ìý

Valerio Contaldo Ìý(Mercurio/tenor)

ZefiroÌý (ensemble)Ìý

Alfredo Bernardini (conductor)Ìý ÌýÌý

ArcanaÌý A488 (2 CDs)Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Isaac: Missa Wohlauff gut Gsell von hinnen & other works

Cinquecento

HyperionÌý CDA68337

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Monteverdi:Ìý L’OrfeoÌý

Johan Linderoth (Orfeo/tenor)

Ensemble Lundabarock

Höör Barock

Ensemble Altapunta

Fredrik Malmberg (director)Ìý

BISÌý BIS2519Ìý (2 Hybrid SACDs)Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

11.20am – Record of the Week

Ìý

Ìý

Mahler: & Xiaogang Ye:The Song of the Earth

Michelle DeYoung (mezzo-soprano)

Brian Jagde (tenor)

Liping Zhang (soprano)

Shenyang (bass-baritone)

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

Long Yu (conductor)Ìý

DGÌý 4837452ÌýÌý (2 CDs)Ìý

Ìý

Ìý


Ìý

Ìý

Broadcast

  • Sat 24 Jul 2021 09:00

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