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Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen with Nigel Simeone and Andrew McGregor

The best classical releases. Plus, Nigel Simeone recommends his favourite version of Janacek's opera The Cunning Little Vixen, and Anna Lapwood on the complete organ works of JS Bach.

with Andrew McGregor

9.30 Building a Library
Nigel Simeone recommends his favourite version of Janáček's opera The Cunning Little Vixen.

Also known as Tales of Vixen Sharp-Ears, this Czech-language opera was composed from 1921 to 1923. Its libretto was adapted by the composer from a serialised novella by Rudolf Těsnohlídek, which was first published in the newspaper Lidové noviny. The opera contains Moravian folk music and rhythms as it recounts the life of a clever fox as well as a few humans. The music is wonderfully life-affirming while avoiding any sentimentality about cute animals whatsoever. And the final scene, a great meditation on the cycle of life, was played at Janáček's own funeral.

10.20
Anna Lapwood on the complete organ works of JS Bach.

11.30
Record of the Week
Andrew recommends an outstanding new release.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Trad.

    Cornriggs are bonnie

    Performer: Colin Scobie. Performer: Elizabeth Kenny.
    • Linn.
  • Francesco Barsanti

    Concerto grosso in C major, Op. 3, No. 6 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Ensemble Marsyas.
    • Linn.
  • Béla Bartók

    String Quartet No. 5, Sz 102 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Jerusalem Quartet.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Gustav Holst

    A Vigil of Pentecost, H. 123

    Performer: Nathan Williamson. Singer: James Gilchrist.
    • SOMM.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Violin Concerto No. 1 in B flat major K207 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Christoph Koncz. Ensemble: Les Musiciens du Louvre.
    • Sony.
  • Léo Delibes

    Valse lente and Pizzicati (Sylvia)

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Chandos.
  • Marc‐Antoine Charpentier

    Symphonie du Kyrie (Messe pour les trépassés, H.2)

    Lyricist: Anonymous. Ensemble: Ensemble Correspondances. Director: Sébastien Daucé.
    • Charpentier: Messe à quatre chœurs - Carnets de voyage d'Italie.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 114.
  • Marc‐Antoine Charpentier

    Kyrie (Messe à 4 choeurs, H. 4)

    Lyricist: Anonymous. Ensemble: Ensemble Correspondances. Director: Sébastien Daucé.
    • Charpentier: Messe à quatre chœurs - Carnets de voyage d'Italie.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 15-17.
  • Anton Bruckner

    Symphony No. 8 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Christian Thielemann.
    • Sony.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Shrovetide Fair (Petrushka)

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Onyx.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Fantasia in G Minor, Bwv 542

    Performer: David Goode.
    • Johann Sebastian Bach: The Complete Organ Works – Trinity College Chapel, Cambri.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 301.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Trio Sonata No. 3, BWV 527 (Adagio e dolce)

    Performer: David Goode.
    • Johann Sebastian Bach: The Complete Organ Works – Trinity College Chapel, Cambri.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 802.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Fugue in G 'Jig', BWV 577

    Performer: David Goode.
    • Johann Sebastian Bach: The Complete Organ Works – Trinity College Chapel, Cambri.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 901.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter (Schübler Chorales) BWV 650

    Performer: David Goode.
    • Johann Sebastian Bach: The Complete Organ Works – Trinity College Chapel, Cambri.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 506.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Fugue in E-Flat 'St Anne' (Clavierübung III), BWV 552b

    Performer: David Goode.
    • Johann Sebastian Bach: The Complete Organ Works – Trinity College Chapel, Cambri.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 1609.
  • Reynaldo Hahn

    L'île du rêve (scenes 1-7)

    Singer: Helene Guilmnette. Singer: Cyrille Dubois. Choir: Choeur du Concert Spirituel. Orchestra: Munich Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Hervé Niquet.
    • Bru Zane.

Record Review

9.00am

Barsanti & Handel: Edinburgh 1742 (Parte seconda)

Ensemble Marsyas

Peter Whelan (director)

Linn CKD626

Bela Bartók: String Quartets Nos. 1, 3 & 5

Jerusalem Quartet

Harmonia Mundi HMM902240

100 Years of British Song, Volume 1: Holst, Clarke, Gurney & Bridge

James Gilchrist (tenor)

Nathan Williamson (piano)

Somm SOMMCD0621

Delibes: Ballet Suites

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Neeme Järvi (conductor)

Chandos CHSA5257 (Hybrid SACD)

Mozart's Violin - The Complete Violin Concertos

Christoph Koncz (violin/director)

Les Musiciens du Louvre

Sony 19439770672 (2 CDs)

9.30am – Building a Library – Nigel Simeone on Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen

Composer: Leoš Janáček

Reviewer: Nigel Simeone

Recommended Recording:

Lucia Popp (soprano, Vixen)

Dalibor Jedlička (bass, Forester)

Eva Randová (mezzo-soprano, Fox)

Eva Zigmundova (mezzo-soprano, Forester’s Wife)

Vladimir Krejcik (tenor, Schoolmaster)

Vienna Philharmonic

Charles Mackerras (conductor)

Decca 4171292

Other Recommended Recording:

Lucy Crowe (soprano, Vixen)

Gerald Finley (bass-baritone, Forester)

Sophia Burgos (soprano, Fox)

Paulina Malefane (soprano, Forester’s Wife)

Peter Hoare (tenor, Schoolmaster)

London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

Simon Rattle (conductor)

LSO Live LSO0850 (2 Hybrid SACDs)

Recommended Historic Recording:

Hana Böhmová (soprano, Vixen)

Rudolf Asmus (bass, Forester)

Libuše Domanínská (soprano, Fox)

Květa Belanová (soprano, Forester’s Wife)

Antonín Votava (tenor, Schoolmaster)

Chorus and Orchestra National Theatre in Prague

Václav Neumann (conductor)

Supraphon SU39812 (mono)

10.15am – New Releases

Charpentier: Messe à quatre choeurs & Carnets de voyage d'Italie

Ensemble Correspondances

Sébastien Daucé (director)

Harmonia Mundi HMM902640

Bruckner: Symphony No. 8

Vienna Philharmonic

Christian Thielemann (conductor)

Sony 19439786582

Arion: Voyage of A Slavic Soul

Songs by Rimsky Korsakov, Dvořák, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Janáček & Novák

Natalya Romaniw (soprano)

Lada Valešová (piano)

Orchid Classics ORC100131

Stravinsky: Petrushka and Rossini/Respighi: La Boutique fantasque

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Vasily Petrenko (conductor)

Onyx ONYX4192

10.45am – New Releases – Anna Lapwood on new David Goode/Bach box

Johann Sebastian Bach: Complete Organ Works

David Goode (organ)

Signum SIGCD640 (16 CDs)

11.15am – Record of the Week

Reynaldo Hahn: L’île du rêve

Hélène Guilmette (soprano, Mahénu)

Cyrille Dubois (tenor, Georges de Kerven, dit Loti)

Anaïk Morel (mezzo-soprano, Oréna)

Chœur du Concert Spirituel

Munich Radio Orchestra

Hervé Niquet (conductor)

Bru Zane BZ1042

Broadcast

  • Sat 31 Oct 2020 09:00

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