Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony in Building a Library with Edward Seckerson and Andrew McGregor

Edward Seckerson recommends a version of Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony. Plus, Anna Picard on new releases of vocal music.

with Andrew McGregor

9.30
Building a Library on Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony with Edward Seckerson.

Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 in C major was at first dedicated to Lenin. But eventually the composer dedicated it to the besieged city of Leningrad, where it was first played in 1942, during the siege by German and Finnish forces. It soon became popular in both the Soviet Union and the West as a symbol of resistance to fascism and totalitarianism. The work is still regarded as an important musical testament to the 27 million Soviet people who lost their lives in World War II.

10.40
Anna Picard talk to Andrew about recent recordings of vocal music she has been listening to, including music by Berlioz, Canteloube and Britten.

11.25
Record of the Week: Andrew recommends an outstanding new release.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Der Holle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen (from Die Zauberflote)

    Orchestra: Morphing Chamber Orchestra. Singer: Aleksandra Kurzak.
    • Mozart Concertante.
    • Aparte.
    • 1.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    String Quartet No. 5 in F minor, Op. 9: II. Andante con moto quasi allegretto

    Performer: Tim Vogler. Performer: Frank Reinecke. Performer: Stefan Fehlandt. Performer: Stephan Forck. Ensemble: Vogler Quartett.
    • Dvořák: String Quartets, Vol. 4.
    • CPO.
    • 2.
  • Modest Mussorgsky

    Memories of Childhood

    Performer: Christopher Glynn. Singer: Claire Booth.
    • Modest Mussorgsky: Unorthodox Music.
    • Avie.
    • 4.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Suite in E Major, BWV 1006a (Arr. J. Lindberg for Lute): III. Gavotte en rondeau

    Performer: Jakob Lindberg.
    • Bach on the Rauwolf Lute.
    • BIS.
    • 12.
  • Leos Janáček

    On An Overgrown Path, Book 1 (No. 5, 9 & 10)

    Ensemble: Camerata Zürich. Conductor: Igor Karsko.
    • Leos Janacek: On An Overgrown Path.
    • ECM.
    • 6.
  • Carl Loewe

    Der Erlkonig, Op. 1 No. 3 (Goethe)

    Performer: Jâms Coleman. Singer: Nicholas Mogg.
    • Loewe: The Other Erlking.
    • Champs Hill Records.
    • 4.
  • Anon

    Kontakion 'Grant repose'

    Performer: Steven Isserlis.
    • British solo cello music.
    • Hyperion.
    • 18.
  • Sebastian Fagerlund

    Oceano: I. Sonore

    Performer: Minna Pensola. Performer: Atte Kilpeläinen. Performer: Tomas Djupsjöbacka.
    • Oceano.
    • BIS.
    • 101.
  • Jules Massenet

    Nuit d'Espagne

    Performer: Thibaut Garcia. Singer: Marianne Crebassa.
    • Seguedilles.
    • Erato.
    • 9.
  • Hector Berlioz

    Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7: No. 5 Au cimetiere

    Singer: Stéphanie d'Oustrac. Orchestra: Orchestre Pasdeloup. Conductor: Wolfgang Doerner.
    • Hector Berlioz; Augusta Holmes: La Nuit etoilee.
    • Gramola.
    • 5.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Quatre Chansons Françaises: III. L'Enfance

    Singer: Mari Eriksmoen. Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Britten: Les Illuminations; Quatre Chansons françaises & Canteloube: Chants d'Au.
    • Chandos.
    • 3.
  • Joseph Canteloube

    Chants d'Auvergne, Series 4: Oï ayai & Per l'efon

    Singer: Carolyn Sampson. Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Pascal Rophé.
    • Canteloube: Chants d'Auvergne.
    • BIS.
    • 16.
  • Anonymous

    Nackens Polska

    Performer: Sarah Aristidou. Orchestra: Orchester des Wandels. Conductor: Thomas Guggeis.
    • Æٳ.
    • Alpha.
    • 4.
  • Johann Simon Mayr

    L'Amor Conjugale (Scene 14 & 15)

    Singer: Chantal Santon Jeffery. Singer: Andrés Agudelo. Orchestra: Opera Fuoco. Conductor: David Stern. Singer: Olivier Gourdy.
    • Mayr: l'Amor Conjugale.
    • Aparte.
    • 22.

Record Review

9.00am

Mozart Concertante

Aleksandra Kurzak (soprano/conductor)

Yuuki Wong (violin)

Tomasz Wabnic (viola)

Morphing Chamber Orchestra

Aparté AP265

Antonín Dvořák: String Quartets, Vol. 4

Vogler Quartett (string quartet)

CPO 555451-2 (2 CDs)

Modest Mussorgsky: Unorthodox Music

Claire Booth (soprano)

Christopher Glynn (piano)

Avie AV2457

Bach on the Rauwolf Lute

Jakob Lindberg (lute)

BIS BIS2552 (Hybrid SACD)

Leos Janacek: On An Overgrown Path

Maia Brami (narrator)

Camerata Zurich

Igor Karsko (director)

ECM 4856432

9.30am – Edward Seckerson on Shostakovich’s Leningrad Symphony No. 7

Recommended Recordings:

Leonard Bernstein (condcutor)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

DG 4777587

Historical Recommendation:


Yevgeny Mravinsky (condcutor)

Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra,

Vanguard Classics OVC1030

Other Recommendations:

Neeme Järvi (conductor)

Scottish National Orchestra

Chandos CHAN8623

Vasily Petrenko (conductor)

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

Naxos 8573057

10.15am – New Releases

Loewe: The Other Erlking

Nicholas Mogg (baritone)

Jâms Coleman (piano)

Champs Hill Records CHRCD165

British Solo Cello Music – Music by Adès, Britten, Gardner, Merrick & Walton

Steven Isserlis (cello)

Mishka Rushdie Momen (piano)

Hyperion CDA68373

Live from Salzburg - Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder & Mahler: Rückert-Lieder

Elina Garanča (mezzo-soprano)

Wiener Philharmoniker

Christian Thielemann (conductor)

DG 4861929

Oceano - Chamber Music by Sebastian Fagerlund

Minna Pensola (violin)

Atte Kilpeläinen (viola)

Tomas Djupsjöbacka (cello)

Christoffer Sundqvist (clarinet)

Paavali Jumppanen (piano)

Hervé Joulain (horn)

Meta4

BIS BIS2324 (Hybrid SACD)

10.40am Anna Picard’s Vocal Music

Séguedilles – Music by Bizet, Falla, Massanet, Ravel, etc.

Marianne Crebassa (mezzo)

Thibaut Garcia (guitar)

Alphonse Cemin (piano)

Orchestre et Choeur du National du Capitole de Toulouse

Ben Glassberg (conductor)

Erato 9029667689

Hector Berlioz; Augusta Holmes: La Nuit étoilée

Stéphanie d'Oustrac (mezzo-soprano)

Orchestre Pasdeloup

Wolfgang Deoerner

Gramola 99247

Britten: Les Illuminations; Quatre Chansons françaises & Canteloube: Chants d’Auvergne

Mari Eriksmoen (soprano)

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Edward Gardner (conductor)

Chandos CHSA 5289 (Hybrid SACD)

Canteloube: Chants d'Auvergne

Carolyn Sampson (soprano)

Tapiola Sinfonietta

Pascal Rophé (conductor)

BIS BIS2513 (Hybrid SACD)

Æther – Music by Ades, Debussy, Poulenc, Stravinsky, etc.

Sarah Aristidou (soprano)

Daniel Barenboim (piano)

Emmanuel Pahud (flute)

Christian Rivet (baroque guitar)

Orchester des Wandels

Chor der Klangverwaltung,

Thomas Guggeis (conductor)

Alpha ALPHA781

11.20am Record of the Week

Mayr: l'Amor Conjugale

Chantal Santon Jeffery (Zeliska/soprano)

Natalie Pérez (Floreska/mezzo-soprano)

Andrés Agudelo (Amorveno/tenor)

Bastien Rimondi (Ardelao/tenor)

Adrien Fournaison (Moroski/bass baritone)

Olivier Gourdy (Peters/bass baritone)

Opera Fuoco

David Stern (conductor)

Aparté AP267 (2 CDs)

Broadcast

  • Sat 11 Dec 2021 09:00

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive Radio 3 audio archive of programmes about composers and their works.

Browse previous episodes of the Record Review Podcast

Browse previous episodes of the Record Review Podcast

All episodes since 2010, listed alphabetically by composer surname.

Why the music we love as teens stays with us for life

Cognitive neuropyschology can explain why we return to old favourites again and again.