Record Review Podcast Podcast
Building a Library: a guide to the best recordings of the greatest classical music. Each week an expert and enthusiast brings along a wide range of recordings of a well-known piece. They explore the music and the different ways of performing it, ending with a recommendation for your library
UK Only
Episodes to download
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Building a Library: Schumann's Liederkreis, Op. 24
Sat 29 Apr 2017
Liederkreis was written in the year he devoted to song composition after marrying Clara.
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Building a Library: Mahler's Second Symphony
Tue 25 Apr 2017
Bill Mival assesses recordings of the epic 'Resurrection' symphony, live from Spiritland.
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Building a Library: Rachmaninov's Cello Sonata
Sat 15 Apr 2017
Rachmaninov's Cello Sonata was overshadowed by the success of his Piano Concerto No. 2.
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Building a Library: Kodaly's Dances of Galanta
Sat 8 Apr 2017
Kodaly's joyful work is based on the Hungarian dances of Galanta where he lived as a boy.
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Building a Library: Verdi's Aida
Sat 1 Apr 2017
Set in the Egypt of the Pharaohs, Verdi's Aida premiered at the Cairo opera house in 1871
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Building a Library: Mozart's Clarinet Concerto
Sat 25 Mar 2017
Mozart's final instrumental work was written for his friend, clarinettist Anton Stadler.
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Building a Library: Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time
Tue 21 Mar 2017
Messaien's piece was premiered at a prisoner of war camp, outdoors in the rain, in 1941.
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Building a Library: Schoenberg's Gurrelieder
Sat 11 Mar 2017
Nicholas Baragwanath guides us through Schoenberg's epic Romantic cantata, Gurrelieder.
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Building a Library: Survey of Ethel Smyth recordings
Sat 4 Mar 2017
Explore the music of an underrated composer and a member of the women's suffrage movement
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Monteverdi Il ritorno d'Ulisse
Sat 13 Jun 2015
Comparing recordings of Monteverdi's least-known opera, Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria
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Nielsen 3rd Symphony
Sat 6 Jun 2015
Andrew Mellor compares recordings of Nielsen's 'Sinfonia Espansiva' and makes a...
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Mendelssohn Piano Trio Op.49
Sat 30 May 2015
Harriet Smith compares recordings of Mendelssohn's Piano Trio in D minor, Op.
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Offenbach: Tales of Hoffmann
Sat 23 May 2015
Sarah Lenton recommends a recording from the available versions of Offenbach's opera,...
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Mozart - Horn Concertos
Mon 18 May 2015
Jonathan Freeman-Attwood compares recordings of Mozart鈥檚 Horn Concertos
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Walton's Cello Concerto
Sat 9 May 2015
Helen Wallace compares recordings of Walton's Cello Concerto and makes a personal...
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Scriabin's Prometheus
Sat 2 May 2015
William Mival recommends a version from the available recordings of Scriabin's Prometheus
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Verdi Macbeth
Sat 25 Apr 2015
Roger Parker compares recordings of Verdi's first Shakespearean opera Macbeth and a...
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Purcell Funeral Music
Sat 18 Apr 2015
Kirsten Gibson recommends a recording from the available versions of Purcell鈥檚 Music...
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Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake
Sat 11 Apr 2015
Marina Frolova-Walker makes a recommendation from the available recordings of ballet,...
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Sibelius's 4th Symphony
Sat 4 Apr 2015
David Nice recommends a version from the available recordings of Sibelius's 4th Symphony.
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Elgar's 2nd Symphony
Sat 28 Mar 2015
Richard Morrison recommends a recording from the available versions of Elgar's 2nd...
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Haydn's Nelson Mass
Sat 21 Mar 2015
Jeremy Summerly discusses Haydn's Nelson Mass, his Missa in angustiis, live in the...
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Bizet's Carmen
Sat 14 Mar 2015
Flora Willson recommends a recording from the available versions of Bizet's opera Carmen
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Clara Schumann Piano Trio
Sat 7 Mar 2015
David Owen Norris recommends a recording from the available versions of Clara Piano...
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Schubert Piano Sonata in A major D959
Sat 28 Feb 2015
Sarah Walker recommends a recording from the available versions of Schubert's Piano in...
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Bach Magnificat
Sat 21 Feb 2015
Simon Heighes recommends a version from the available recordings of Bach's Magnificat
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Ravel Piano Concerto in G
Sat 14 Feb 2015
Jonathan Swain recommends a version from the available recordings of Ravel's Piano in...
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Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 鈥極rgan鈥�
Sat 7 Feb 2015
Geoffrey Norris recommends a recording from the available versions of Saint-Saens No...
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Beethoven Eroica Symphony
Sat 31 Jan 2015
Nicholas Kenyon recommends a version of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony from the available...
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Berg's Wozzeck
Sat 17 Jan 2015
Gillian Moore makes a recommendation from the available recordings of Berg's opera,...
Browse previous episodes of the Record Review Podcast
All episodes since 2010, listed alphabetically by composer surname.
