Handel's Messiah in Building a Library with Jeremy Summerly and Andrew McGregor
Jeremy Summerly compares recordings of Handel's Messiah and chooses his favourite. Emily MacGregor discusses new orchestral releases.
with Andrew McGregor
9.30 Building a Library
Jeremy Summerly compares recordings of Handel's Messiah and chooses his favourite.
Messiah is Handel's best-known work and one of the most frequently performed choral works in western music. It was composed in 1741 with a text compiled from the King James Bible. It is full of show stoppers such as "For unto us a child is born", "The trumpet shall sound" and the ever-rousing "Hallelujah" chorus.
10.45
Emily MacGregor chats to Andrew about some new recordings of orchestral music she has been listening to including violin concertos by Nielsen and Sibelius, symphonies by Sibelius and ballets by Stravinsky.
11.20
Record of the Week
Andrew recommends an outstanding new release.
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Gioachino Rossini
Stabat Mater: Aria "Cujus animam gementem". Allegretto maestoso
Singer: Maria Agresta. Singer: Daniela Barcellona. Singer: Ren茅 Barbera. Singer: Carlo Lepore. Orchestra: Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. Choir: Wiener Singverein. Conductor: Gustavo Gimeno.- Rossini: Stabat Mater.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 2.
-
![]()
Antonio Lotti
Crucifixus a 6
Choir: Choir of King鈥檚 College, Cambridge. Director: Daniel Hyde.- Now The Green Blade Riseth.
- Kings College.
- 8.
-
![]()
Arthur Benjamin
Concertino: II. Andante poco lento
Performer: Simon Callaghan. Orchestra: 大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.- British Piano Concertos.
- Lyrita.
- 7.
-
![]()
Nicolaus Bruhns
Mein Herz ist bereit
Singer: Paul Max Tipton. Ensemble: Yale Institute of Sacred Music. Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki.- Bruhns: Cantatas & Organ Works, Vol. 1.
- BIS.
- 401.
-
![]()
Fr茅d茅ric Chopin
Scherzo No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39
Performer: Valentina Lisitsa.- Chopin: Scherzos & Other Piano Works.
- Naive.
- 3.
-
![]()
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 4 in G Major: I. Bed盲chtig, nicht eilen
Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Semyon Bychkov.- Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G Major.
- PENTATONE.
- 101.
-
![]()
Ralph Vaughan Williams
On Wenlock Edge: V. Bredon Hill
Performer: Julius Drake. Performer: Timothy Ridout. Singer: Nicky Spence. Ensemble: Piatti Quartet.- On Wenlock Edge & other songs.
- Hyperion.
- 18.
-
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto N. 3 in C minor, Op 37: III. Rondo. Allegro
Performer: Kristian Bezuidenhout. Conductor: Pablo Heras鈥怌asado. Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra.- Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 3.
-
![]()
Carl Nielsen
Violin Concerto, Op 33 (FS61): Ib. Allegro cavalleresco
Performer: Johan Dalene. Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Storg氓rds.- Nielsen & Sibelius: Violin Concertos.
- BIS.
- 2.
-
![]()
Richard Strauss
Metamorphosen
Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.- Metamorphosen - R. Strauss; Korngold; Schrecker.
- Chandos.
- 1.
-
![]()
Jean Sibelius
Symphony No 3 in C major, Op 52: II. Andantino con moto, quasi allegretto
Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Klaus M盲kel盲.- Sibelius: Complete Symphonies.
- Decca.
- 2.
-
![]()
Jean Sibelius
Symphony No 5 in E flat major, Op 82: III. Allegro molto
Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Klaus M盲kel盲.- Sibelius: Complete Symphonies.
- Decca.
- 3.
-
![]()
Igor Stravinsky
The Firebird, K010: IX. Danse infernale de tous les sujets de Kastchei
Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Sir Simon Rattle.- Stravinsky Ballets.
- LSO Live.
- 9.
-
![]()
Igor Stravinsky
Petruskha, K012: Scenes 1 - 3
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.- Stravinsky Ballets.
- LSO Live.
- 1.
Record Review
The link below each recording takes you directly to the label鈥檚 website. Please be aware that non-UK labels may be cheaper via a record store or an online retailer.
听
9.00am
听
Rossini: Stabat Mater
Maria Agresta (soprano)
Daniela Barcellona (mezzo)
Ren茅 Barbera (tenor)
Carlo Lepore (bass-baritone)
Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg
Wiener Singverein
Gustavo Gimeno
Harmonia Mundi HMM905355
听
听
Now the Green Blade Riseth 鈥� music by Byrd, Lotti, Stainer, etc.
Choir of King's College, Cambridge
Daniel Hyde
King鈥檚 College听 KGS0065
听
听
British Piano Concertos 鈥� music by Addison, Benjamin, Maconchy, etc.
Simon Callaghan (piano)
大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales
Martyn Brabbins
听
Lyrita 听SRCD407
听
听
Nicolaus Bruhns: Cantatas and Organ Works, Vol. 1
Yale Institute of Sacred Music
Masaaki Suzuki
BIS听 BIS2271 (Hybrid SACD)
听
听
Chopin: Scherzos & Other Piano Works
Valentina Lisitsa (piano)
Na茂ve 听V7700
听
听
9.30am - Building A Library: Jeremy Summerly on Handel鈥檚 Messiah
听
听
Recommended Recording:听 听
听
Dorothee Mields (soprano)
Benno Schachtner (alto)
Benedikt Kristj谩nsson (tenor)
Tobias Berndt (bass)
Gaechinger Cantorey
Hans-Christoph Rademann
Accentus Music听 ACC30499 (2 CDs)
听
听
Other Recommendations:
听
Jennifer Vyvyan (soprano)
Monica Sinclair (alto)
Jon Vickers (tenor)
Giorgio Tozzi (bass)
Royal Philharmonic Chorus
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Thomas Beecham
RCA Victor Red Seal听 LD 6409 (4 LPs)
听
听
Emma Kirkby (soprano)
Judith Nelson (soprano)
Carolyn Watkinson (alto)
Paul Elliott (tenor)
David Thomas (bass)
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
The Academy of Ancient Music
Christopher Hogwood
Decca, L鈥橭iseau Lyre听 4788160
听
Susan Hamilton (soprano)
Annie Gill (alto)
Claire Wilkinson (alto)
Nicholas Mulroy (tenor)
Matthew Brook (bass)
Dunedin Consort & Players
John Butt
Linn听 CKD285 (2 Hybrid SACDs)
听
听
听
听
听
10.15am 鈥� New Releases
听
Mahler: Symphony No. 4
Chen Reiss (soprano)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov
Pentatone听 PTC5186972
听
听
Vaughan Williams: On Wenlock Edge & other songs
Nicky Spence (tenor)
Julius Drake (piano)
Timothy Ridout (viola)
Piatti Quartet
Hyperion听 CDA68378
听
听
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3
Kristian Bezuidenhout (fortepiano)
Freiburger Barockorchester
Pablo Heras-Casado
Harmonia Mundi 听HMM902412
听
听
1040am 鈥� New Releases: Emily McGregor on new orchestral releases
听
Nielsen & Sibelius: Violin Concertos
Johan Dalene (violin)
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storg氓rds
BIS听 BIS2620 (Hybrid SACD)
听
听
Metamorphosen - R. Strauss; Korngold; Schrecker
Sinfonia of London
John Wilson
Chandos听 CHSA 5292 (Hybrid SACD)
听
听
Sibelius: Complete Symphonies
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Klaus M盲kel盲
Decca听 4852256 (4 CDs)
听
听
听
听
11.20am 鈥� Record of the Week
听
Stravinsky Ballets
London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle
LSO Live听 LSO5096 (2 Hybrid SACDs)
听
Broadcast
- Sat 16 Apr 2022 09:00大象传媒 Radio 3
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
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.