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Building a Library on the works of Jan Dismas Zelenka with Hannah French and Andrew McGregor

Hannah French surveys the works and recordings of Jan Dismas Zelenka and chooses her favourite, plus Joanna MacGregor reviews new discs of piano music with Andrew McGregor.

9.30 Building a Library
Hannah French surveys the key works works and recordings of Czech composer Jan Dismas Zelenka and chooses her favourite.

Zelenka was born in Central Bohemia in 1679 and, after his musical education in Prague and Vienna, he spent most of his professional life in Dresden. Much admired by Bach for the harmonic inventiveness of his counterpoint, and friends with Telemann, Pisendel and Weiss, Zelenka was considered one of the giants of the Baroque era. Zelenka's music is also inspired by Czech folk music and it was Smetana who is credited with rediscovering the music of his forebear during the 19th century.

10.45
Joanna MacGregor reviews new discs of piano music with Andrew McGregor.

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

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Violin Sonata in C minor, BWV 1024: I. Adagio

    Performer: Chouchane Siranossian. Performer: Balázs Máté. Director: Leonardo García Alarcón.
    • Bach Before Bach.
    • Alpha.
    • 7.
  • Alexander Gretchaninov

    All-Night Vigil Op.59 (Bless the Lord, O My Soul)

    Choir: Latvian Radio Choir. Conductor: Sigvards Kļava.
    • Grechaninov: All-Night Vigil, Op. 59.
    • Ondine.
    • 1.
  • Astor Piazzolla

    Concierto para bandoneon: II. Moderato

    Performer: William Sabatier. Orchestra: Orchestre Dijon Bourgogne. Conductor: Leonardo García Alarcón.
    • Piazzolla: Concertos.
    • Fuga Libera.
    • 2.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: III. Rondo. Vivace (1808 version)

    Performer: Gianluca Cascioli. Ensemble: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 6.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 3.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Apres un reve, op. 7 no. 1

    Composer: Gabriel Fauré. Performer: Gianluca Cascioli. Performer: Christian-Pierre La Marca. Performer: Nathanaël Gouin. Music Arranger: Stephane Gassot. Music Arranger: Christian-Pierre La Marca. Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Ensemble: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Wonderful World.
    • Naive.
    • 1.
  • Sofia Gubaidulina

    Dialog: Ich und Du

    Performer: Vadim Repin. Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • Sofia Gubaidulina: Dialog: Ich und Du.
    • DG.
    • 1.
  • Gabriel Fauré

    Theme & Variations, Op. 73

    Performer: Imogen Cooper.
    • Le Temps Perdu.
    • Chandos.
    • 15.
  • Franz Schubert

    Fantasie in F minor for piano duet, D940: I. Allegro molto moderato

    Performer: Martha Argerich. Performer: Gabriela Montero.
    • Rendez-Vous With Martha Argerich - Volume 2.
    • Avanti.
    • 5.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, Op. 47 'Kreutzer': III. Finale. Presto.

    Performer: Tedi Papavrami. Performer: Martha Argerich.
    • Rendez-Vous With Martha Argerich - Volume 2.
    • Avanti.
    • 4.
  • Federico Mompou

    Musica callada: No. 1 Angelico & No. 25 (untitled)

    Performer: Lilit Grigoryan.
    • Mompou: Musica Callada.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 1.
  • Anton Bruckner

    Symphony No. 7 in E Major: I. Allegro Moderato

    Orchestra: Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Bruckner: Symphony No. 7.
    • Challenge Classics.
    • 1.

Record Review


9.00am

Ìý

Ìý

Bach Before Bach – Music by Bach, Farina, Muffat, Walther & Westhoff

Chouchane Siranossian

Leonardo García Alarcón

Balazs Maté

AlphaÌý Alpha758Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Alexander Grechaninov: All-Night Vigil

Latvian Radio Chorus

Sigvards Klava (conductor)Ìý

OndineÌý ODE 1397-2Ìý

ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Piazzolla: Concertos

William Sabatier

Emilie Aridon-Kociolek

Orchestre Dijon Bourgogne

Leonardo García Alarcón

Fuga LiberaÌý FUG790

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 6

Ìý

Gianluca Cascioli (piano)

Ensemble Resonanz

Riccardo Minasi (conductor)Ìý

Harmonia MundiÌý HMM902422

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

9.30am – Building a Library – Hannah French’s Zelenka Survey

Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Recommended Recording:Ìý

Zelenka: Officium defunctorum & Requiem

Hana Blažíková (soprano), Markéta Cukrová (alto), Sebastian Monti (tenor), Tomáš Král (bass), Marian Krejcik (bass)

Collegium 1704 & Collegium Vocale 1704

Václav Luks (director)Ìý

AccentÌý ACC24244Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Other recommendations:Ìý

Thomas Hengelbrock conducts Zelenka, Bach & Lotti

Balthasar Neumann Ensemble & Choir,

Thomas Hengelbrock (director)Ìý

Deutsche HMÌý 88697594232Ìý

Ìý

Anima Aeterna

Jakub Józef Orliński (countertenor)

Il Pomo d’Oro

Francesco Corti (director)

EratoÌý 9029674390Ìý

Ìý

Zelenka: Solo Motets

Alex Potter (counter-tenor)

Capriccio Basel Baroque Orchestra

Dominik Kiefer (director)Ìý

Pan ClassicsÌý PC10274ÌýÌý

Ìý

Zelenka: Capriccios Nos. 1-5 & other orchestra works

Camerata Bern

Alexander van Wijnkoop (director)

DG ArchivÌý 4698422Ìý

Ìý

Zelenka: Trio Sonatas Nos. 1-6

ZefiroÌý

ArcanaÌý A394Ìý

Ìý

Zelenka: Sonatas

Monica Huggett (baroque violin)

Ensemble Marsyas

Linn CKD415

Ìý

Zelenka: Hipocondrie à 7 concertanti in A major, ZWV187, etc.

Freiburger Barockorchester

Deutsche HMÌý 74321935532

Ìý

Zelenka: Italian Arias, ZWV176

Hana Blazíková (soprano)

Markéta Cukrová (alto) & Tomás Selc (bass-baritone)

Ensemble Tourbillon

Petr Wagner (director)Ìý

AccentÌý ACC24306Ìý

Ìý

Zelenka: De Profundis/Miserere/Requiem

Il Fondamento Choir

Peter De Groot

Peter Kooij

Ian Honeyman

Il Fondamento

Griet Cornelies

Paul Dombrecht (director)Ìý

PAS9528Ìý

Ìý

Zelenka: Psalmi Vespertini III

Prague Baroque Soloists

Ensemble Inegal

Adam Viktora (director)Ìý

NibiruÌý 01642231Ìý Ìý

Ìý

Zelenka: Missa Nativitatis Domini

Barbora Sojková (soprano)

Markéta Cukrová (alto)

Tomáš Král (bass)

Musica Florea (on period instruments)

Marek Å tryncl (director)Ìý

SupraphonÌý SU41112Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

10.15am – New Releases

Ìý

Ìý

Wonderful World – Music by Fauré, Gershwin, Glass, Say, Strauss, etc.

Christian-Pierre La Marca (cello)Ìý

NaiveÌý V7362Ìý (2 CDs)Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Monteverdi:Ìý Daylight. Stories of Songs, Dances and Loves

Concerto Italiano

Rinaldo Alessandrini (director)Ìý

NaiveÌý OP7366Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Bryars & Pitts: Burden of Truth

The Song Company, Gavin Bryars & Antony Pitts (conductors)

1EqualMusicÌý 1EMBOTÌý (download only)Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Sofia Gubaidulina: Dialog: Ich und Du, The Wrath of God & The Light of the End

Vadim Repin (violin)

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Andris Nelsons (conductor)Ìý

DG 4861457Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

10.40amÌý Joanna McGregor’s Pianists

Ìý

Ìý

Rendez-Vous With Martha Argerich - Volume 2
Martha Argerich (piano)Ìý

AvantiÌý AVA10632 (6 CDs)Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Le Temps Perdu

Imogen Cooper (piano)Ìý

ChandosÌý CHAN 20235Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Mompou: Musica Callada

Lilit Grigoryan (piano)

Orchid ClassicsÌý ORC100178

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Cziffra: Complete Studio Recordings

Georges Cziffra (piano)Ìý

EratoÌý Ìý9029672924 Ìý(41CDs)Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Chansons Populaires – Music by Bartok, Desyatnikov & Tchaikovsky

Lukas GeniuÅ¡as (piano)Ìý

MirareÌý MIR440Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

11.20am – Record of the Week

Ìý

Ìý

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra

Bernard Haitink (conductor)Ìý

Challenge ClassicsÌý CC72895

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Broadcast

  • Sat 6 Nov 2021 09:00

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