Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony in Building a Library with Marina Frolova-Walker and Andrew MacGregor

Marina Frolova-Walker recommends a version of Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony. Roger Parker reviews new opera recordings.

with Andrew McGregor

9.30
Marina Frolova-Walker recommends a version of Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony in Building a Library.

Sergei Prokofiev wrote his Symphony No 5 in B-flat major in just a month in the summer of 1944 during World War II. He intended it as "a hymn to free and happy Man, to his mighty powers, his pure and noble spirit." The 1945 premiere was conducted by Prokofiev himself and the symphony has remained one of the composer's most popular works.

10.40
Roger Parker talks to Andrew about some new opera recordings: Rameau's Platee; Verdi's Macbeth and Puccini's Madam Butterfly.

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

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Solfeggio in C minor, H220 Wq117 / 2

    Performer: Marc-Andr茅 Hamelin.
    • C.P.E. Bach: Sonatas & Rondos.
    • Hyperion.
    • 27.
  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Viola Concerto in G major, TWV 51:G9 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Antoine Tamestit. Ensemble: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Director: Bernhard Forck.
    • Telemann: Viola Concertos, Overtures & Fantasias.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 8.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 7 in A: IV. Allegro con brio

    Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.
    • Beethoven : Symphonies 1 - 5.
    • Alia Vox.
    • 4.
  • Kalevi Aho

    Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello, Piano & Chamber Orchestra: I. Lullaby

    Ensemble: Storioni Trio. Orchestra: Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Olari Elts.
    • Kalevi Aho: Double & Triple Concertos.
    • BIS.
    • 5.
  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Rondo in C minor Wq.59 no.4

    Performer: Marc-Andr茅 Hamelin.
    • C.P.E. Bach: Sonatas & Rondos.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Rondo capriccioso in E major / E minor, Op.14, MWV U 67

    Performer: Peter Donohoe.
    • Felix Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words (lieder Ohne Worte) Vol. 1.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Wenn mein Schatz (from Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen)

    Singer: Dietrich Fischer鈥怐ieskau. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Wilhelm Furtw盲ngler.
    • The Complete Wilhelm Furtwangler on Record.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 7.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 ('Path茅tique'): IV. Finale

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Wilhelm Furtw盲ngler.
    • The Complete Wilhelm Furtwangler on Record.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 4.
  • Robert Schumann

    Schumann: Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120: IV. Finale

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Wilhelm Furtw盲ngler.
    • The Complete Wilhelm Furtwangler on Record.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 4.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Quale smania vi prende! from Madama Butterfly

    Singer: Stefano Secco. Singer: Lester Lynch. Singer: Alexander Kaimbacher. Orchestra: The Gulbenkian Orchestra.
    • Puccini: Madama Butterfly.
    • Pentatone.
    • 4.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Scuoti quella fronda di ciliegio from Madama Butterfly

    Singer: Melody Moore. Singer: Elisabeth Kulman.
    • Puccini: Madama Butterfly.
    • Pentatone.
    • 10.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Je les vis apparaitre from Macbeth

    Singer: Silvia Dalla Benetta. Singer: Cassandre Berthon. Orchestra: Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini. Conductor: Roberto Abbado.
    • Verdi: Macbeth.
    • Dynamic.
    • 6.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Previens Lady Macbeth from Macbeth

    Singer: Ludovic T茅zier. Singer: Silvia Dalla Benetta. Orchestra: Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini. Conductor: Roberto Abbado.
    • Verdi: Macbeth.
    • Dynamic.
    • 9.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Clarinet Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1

    Performer: Michael Collins. Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Brahms: 3 Sonatas.
    • BIS.
    • 4.

Record Review

Saturday 8th January 2022

09.00 鈥 10.15, 大象传媒 Radio 3

Presenter: Andrew McGregor

/programmes/m00138f2

9.00am

C.P.E. Bach: Sonatas & Rondos

Marc-Andr茅 Hamelin (piano)

Hyperion听 CDA68381/2听 (2 CDs)听

Telemann: Viola Concertos, Overtures & Fantasias

Antoine Tamestit (viola)

Sabine Fehlandt听 (viola)

Akademie F眉r Alte Musik Berlin

Bernhard Forck (conductor)

Harmonia Mundi听 HMM902342听

Beethoven R茅volution Vol. II

Symphonies 6 to 9

Sara Gouzy (soprano)

Salome Fischer (alto)

Mingjie Lei (tenor)

Manuel Walser (baritone)

Le Concert des Nations

La Capella Nacional de Catalunya

Jordi Savall听 (conductor)听

Alia Vox听 AVSA9946听 (3 Hybrid SACDS)听

Aho: Double/Triple Concertos
Anneleen Lenaerts (harp)听

Dimitri Mestdag (cor anglais)

Storioni Trio

Antwerp Symphony Orchestra

Olari Elts (conductor)听

BIS听 BIS2426 (Hybrid SACD)听

9.30am - Building A Library:听 Marina Frolova-Walker on Prokofiev Symphony No. 5

Recommended Recording:

Andrew Litton (conductor)听

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

BIS听 BIS2124 (Hybrid SACD)听

Other Recommendations:听

Herbert von Karajan (conductor)听

Berliner Philharmoniker

DG听 4636132

10.15am 鈥 New Releases

Felix Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words (Lieder Ohne Worte) Vol. 1

Peter Donohoe (piano)

Chandos听 CHAN 20252听

The Complete Wilhelm Furtw盲ngler on Record

Wilhelm Furtw盲ngler (conductor)听

Warner Classics 9029523240听 (55 CDs)听

听听

1040 New Releases: Roger Parker鈥檚 Operas

Puccini: Madama Butterfly

Melody Moore (Butterfly/soprano)

Stefano Secco (Pinkerton/tenor)

Elisabeth Kulman (Suzuki/mezzo-soprano)

Lester Lynch (Sharpless/baritone)

Coro & Orquestra Gulbenkian

Lawrence Foster (conductor)听

Pentatone听 PTC5186783 (2 Hybrid SACDS)听

Verdi: Macbeth (French version)

Ludovic T茅zier (Macbeth/baritone)

Silvia Dalla Benetta (Lady Macbeth/soprano)

Riccardo Zanellato (Banquo/bass)

Giorgio Berrugi (Macduff/tenor)

Filarmonia Arturo Toscanini

Roberto Abbado (conductor)听

Dynamic听 CDS7915听 (2 CDs)听

Rameau: Plat茅e

Marcel Beekman (Plat茅e - tenor)

Jeanine De Bique (La Folie - soprano)

Cyril Auvity (Thespis/Mercure - tenor)

Marc Mauillon (Momus/Cith茅ron - baritone)

Edwin Crossley-Mercer (Jupiter 鈥 bass-baritone)

Les Arts Florissants, Arnold Schoenberg Chor听

William Christie (conductor)听

Harmonia Mundi HAF890534950听 (2 CDs)

11.20am 鈥 Record of the Week

Brahms: 3 Sonatas

Michael Collins (clarinet)

Stephen Hough (piano)

BIS听 BIS2557听 (Hybrid SACD)听

Broadcast

  • Sat 8 Jan 2022 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.