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Vaughan Williams's Symphony No.5 in Building a Library with Kate Kennedy and Gillian Moore

Gillian Moore is joined by conductor Alice Farnham to assess some of the week's new releases, and Kate Kennedy picks her favourite recording of Vaughan Williams's Symphony No.5.

Gillian Moore with the best new recordings of classical music.

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Conductor Alice Farnham joins Gillian for a look at some of the week's new releases.

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Building a Library
Kate Kennedy picks her favourite recording of Vaughan Williams's Symphony No. 5.

Premiered at the Proms in June 1943, Vaughan Williams's fifth symphony calls for the smallest orchestra of any of his symphonies, and its mellowness is in stark contrast to the angry violence of its immediate predecessor. From the gentle horn calls and string cantibile of the opening, through the delicate scherzo, poignant romanza and passacaglia finale, the work is infused with a sense of deep peace - balm from the horrors of the Second World War.

Top Choice:
London Symphony Orchestra
Richard Hickox (conductor)
Chandos CHAN9666

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Record of the Week: Gillian’s top pick.

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1 hour, 59 minutes

Music Played

  • Jean‐Baptiste Lully

    Chaconne pour Madame la Princesse de Conti (Idylle sur la paix)

    Ensemble: Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble.
    • Lully: Idylle sur la Paix - Charpentier: La Fête de Rueil.
    • CPO.
    • 12.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Blinde Kuh (8 Songs Op.58)

    Singer: Florian Boesch. Performer: Malcolm Martineau.
    • LINN.
  • Hugo Wolf

    Harfenspieler 2 (Goethe-Lieder)

    Singer: Florian Boesch. Performer: Malcolm Martineau.
    • LINN.
  • Elsa Barraine

    Symphony no.2 'Voïna' (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne. Conductor: Elena Schwarz.
    • Elsa Barraine: Symphonies 1 & 2.
    • CPO.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Why so full of grief? / Put thy trust in God (Chandos Anthem no.6)

    Ensemble: Arcangelo. Conductor: Jonathan Cohen.
    • Alpha.
  • Morten Lauridsen

    O nata lux (Lux aeterna)

    Choir: Bavarian Radio Symphony Choir. Conductor: Joseph R. Olefirowicz.
    • Morten Lauridsen: Lux aeterna.
    • BR-Klassik.
    • 3.
  • Florence Price

    Piano Concerto in One Movement (Andantino)

    Performer: Han Chen. Orchestra: Malmö Operaorkester. Conductor: John Jeter.
    • Price: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 & Other Orchestral Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 105.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Madamina, il catalogo è questo (Don Giovanni K.527)

    Singer: Andrè Schuen. Orchestra: Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg. Conductor: Roberto González-Monjas.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Arion (14 Songs Op.34)

    Singer: Julia Lezhneva. Performer: Alexander Melnikov.
    • Visiting Rachmaninoff: Chopin Variations - Romances.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 142.
  • William Marsey

    Ghost Story (Man with Limp Wrist)

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Thomas Adès.
    • Halle.
  • Carl Heinrich Biber

    Sonata representativa in A major (The Frog / The Hen and the Cockerel)

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.
    • Just Biber.
    • Channel.
    • 19.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Prelude and Fugue no.19 in E flat major Op.87 no.19

    Performer: Yulianna Avdeeva.
    • Pentatone.

Broadcast

  • Sat 5 Jul 2025 14:00

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