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Andrew McGregor with Andrew Mellor and Anna Picard

The best classical releases, plus in Building a Library Andrew Mellor compares recordings of Sibelius's popular Lemminkainen Suite, and Anna Picard reviews new orchestral discs.

with Andrew McGregor.

09.30
Building a Library: Andrew Mellor compares recordings of Sibelius's Lemminkäinen Suite.

Named after the mythical hero of the Finnish epic poem The Kalevala, Siblelius's Lemminkäinen Suite features colourful and evocative orchestral writing and conjures up a range of moods from thrilling and heroic to atmospheric and mysterious. First performed in the 1890s, two of its numbers, The Swan of Tuonela and Lemminkäinen’s Return, were among the works with which Sibelius made his international breakthrough at the beginning of the 20th century but, stung by criticism after its premiere, Siblelius's definitive four movement suite wasn't published until 1954.

10.40
Anna Picard reviews new orchestral discs, including Tchaikovsky from Kirill Peternko in Berlin, Schumann symphonies from Christian Thielemann in Dresden, period instrument Mahler from François-Xavier Roth and Les Siècles, and Tippett symphonies from Martyn Brabbins in Scotland.

11.25
Andrew chooses an outstanding new release as his Disc of the Week.

2 hours, 44 minutes

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93: I. Allegro vivace e con brio

    Orchestra: Danish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Ádám Fischer.
    • Beethoven: Complete Symphonies.
    • Naxos.
    • 5.
  • Heinrich üٳ

    Cantiones Sacrae Op.3, SWV63 & 64

    Choir: Magnificat. Director: Philip Cave.
    • Linn Records.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Luisa Miller: 'Oh! Fede negar potessi - Quando le sere al placido'

    Singer: Michael Fabiano. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Enrique Mazzola.
    • Verdi & Donizetti: Opera Arias.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 1.
  • Ernest Bullock

    Entrance Fanfare

    Conductor: Paul McCreesh. Ensemble: Chetham's School of Music Symphonic Brass Ensemble.
    • An English Coronation, 1902-1953.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 9.
  • Hubert Parry

    I Was Glad: I was glad when they said unto me, Op. 51, "Psalm 122"

    Conductor: David Chatterton. Ensemble: Chetham's School of Music Symphonic Brass Ensemble. Choir: Gabrieli Roar.
    • An English Coronation, 1902-1953.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 10.
  • Ernest Bullock

    The Presentation, Fanfares and Acclamations

    Choir: Gabrieli Consort. Conductor: Paul McCreesh. Ensemble: Chetham's School of Music Symphonic Brass Ensemble. Choir: Gabrieli Roar.
    • An English Coronation, 1902-1953.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 11.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cello Suite No.1 in G BWV1007: I. Prelude

    Performer: Alban Gerhardt.
    • Hyperion.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cello Suite No.1 in G BWV1007: I. Prelude

    Performer: Rachel Podger.
    • Channel Classics.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cello Suite No.2 in D minor BWV1008: V. Menuet 1 & 2

    Performer: Rachel Podger.
    • Channel Classics.
  • Leonid Desyatnikov

    Yiddish: 5. Ikh vel shoyn mer nit ganvenen

    Singer: Hilda Baggio. Ensemble: Jerusalem Quartet.
    • The Yiddish Cabaret.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 14.
  • Erwin Schulhoff

    Five Pieces for String Quartet: V. Alla Tarantella (prestissimo con fuoco)

    Ensemble: Jerusalem Quartet.
    • The Yiddish Cabaret.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 9.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique": I. Adagio. Allegro non troppo

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Kirill Petrenko.
    • Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique".
    • Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • 11.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No.1 in D Major "Titan", Erster Theil: II. Blumine. Andante

    Orchestra: Les Siècles. Conductor: François‐Xavier Roth.
    • Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D Major "Titan" (Hamburg-Weimar 1893-94 Version).
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 2.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No.10 in F-Sharp Minor: III & IV

    Composer: Michelle Castelletti. Orchestra: Lapin kamariorkesteri. Conductor: John Storgårds.
    • Mahler: Symphony No. 10 (Arr. M. Castelletti for Chamber Orchestra).
    • BIS.
    • 3.
  • Robert Schumann

    Symphony No.1 'Spring': I. Andante un poco maestoso

    Orchestra: Staatskapelle Dresden. Conductor: Christian Thielemann.
    • Sony Classical.
  • Michael Tippett

    Symphony in B flat: III. Allegro e cantabile

    Orchestra: ѿý Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.
    • Hyperion.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Beethoven Piano Sonata in A flat, Op. 110

    Performer: Steven Osborne.
    • Hyperion.

Record Review

9.00am

Complete Beethoven Symphonies
Danish Chamber Orchestra
Adam Fischer (conductor)
Naxos  8.505251 (5 CDs)


‘Cantiones sacrae’ - Sacred choral music by Heinrich üٳ
Magnificat (choir)
Philip Cave (director)
Linn Records CKD 607 (2 CDs)


Tenor arias by Verdi & Donizetti
Michael Fabiano (tenor)
London Voices (choir)
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Enrique Mazzola (conductor)
Pentatone PTC 186750

9.30am – Building a Library – Andrew Mellor on Sibelius’s Lemminkainen Suite, Op. 22

Composer: Jean Sibelius

Reviewer: Andrew Mellor

Recommended Recording:

Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Paavo Järvi (conductor)
Erato 648 4032 (4 CDs)

Other Recommended Recordings:

Los Angeles Philharmonic
Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor)
Sony Classical SK48 067

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Leif Segerstam (conductor)
Ondine ODE 852-2

Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä (conductor)
BIS-1015

10.20am – New Releases


‘An English Coronation 1902 - 1953’ – Music from the past four coronations by Tallis, Byrd, Gibbons, Purcell, Bach, Handel, Elgar, Parry, Vaughan Williams etc.
Simon Russell Beale (Narrator/Archbishop of Canterbury)
Gabrieli Consort & players (ensemble)
Gabrieli Roar (choir)
Chetham’s Symphonic Brass Ensemble
Matthew Martin (organ)
Paul McCreesh (conductor)
Signum Classics SIGCD 569 (2 CDs)


Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1-6
Alban Gerhardt (cello)
Hyperion CDA68261/2 (2 CDs)


Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1-6 (Transcribed by R. Podger)
Rachel Podger (violin)
Channel Classics CCS SA 41119 (2 Hybrid SACDs)


‘The Yiddish Cabaret’ – Korngold: String Quartet No. 2; Schulhoff: Five Pieces for String Quartet; Desyatnikov: Yiddish for string quartet & soprano
Hilda Baggio (soprano)
Jerusalem Quartet
Harmonia Mundi HMM902631


10.45 am – New Releases – Anna Picard on Orchestral Releases

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6

Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko
Berliner Philharmoniker BPHR190264 (Hybrid SACD + download)


Mahler: Symphony No. 1 ‘Titan’
Les Siècles (orchestra)
François-Xavier Roth (conductor)
Harmonia Mundi HMM 905299


Mahler: Symphony No. 10 (Completed and arranged for chamber orchestra by Michelle Castelletti)
Lapland Chamber Orchestra
John Storgårds (conductor)
Bis BIS-2376 (Hybrid SACD)


Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4
Staatskapelle Dresden
Christian Thielemann (conductor)
Sony Classical 19075943412 (2 CDs)

Tippett: Symphonies Nos. 3, 4 & B-flat
Rachel Nicholls (soprano)
ѿý Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins (conductor)
Hyperion CDA68231/2 (2 CDs)


11.20am – Record of the Week

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Opp. 109, 110 & 111
Steven Osborne (piano)
Hyperion CDA68219

Broadcast

  • Sat 18 May 2019 09:00

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