19 April 2008

Listen to this episode for up to 7 days after braodcast

Saturday 19 April 2008 (Radio 3)

Andrew McGregor introduces Radio 3's weekly programme devoted to all that's new in the world of recorded music.

In this week's programme:

WEISSENBERG: En Avril, a Paris (arrangement of Charles Trenet song) from disc Marc-Andre Hamelin in a state of jazz

SEE FULL LISTING UNDER DISC OF THE WEEK

Marc-Andre Hamelin (piano)

Hyperion CDA67656 (CD)


D'INDY: Jour d'ete a la montagne Op. 61 (first movement)



(c/w La Foret enchantee; Souvenirs)

Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Rumon Gamba (conductor)

Chandos 10464 (CD)


ROUSSEL: Symphony No. 2 (second movement)

(c/w Pour une fete de printemps; Suite in F)

Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Stephane Deneve (conductor)

Naxos 8.570529 (CD, Budget)

Building a Library Recommendation

VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS: Symphony No. 6

Reviewer - Stephen Johnson

This week's recommendation will be placed on the website on Monday 21st April

The Essential Tallis

Alexandra Buckle talks to Andrew McGregor about her must-have discs of Tallis' music. With extracts from the following:

TALLIS: Te lucis ante terminum; Salvator mundi; Spem in alium; In iejunio et fletu; O Salutaris hostia; Lamentations I; Lamentations II; Miserere; Mass for 4 voices

Magnificat, Philip Cave (conductor)

Linn Records CKD 233 (Hybrid SACD or digital download, Mid Price)


TALLIS: O salutaris hostia for five voices; In ieiunio et fletu for five voices; Salvator mundi (I) for five voices; In manus tuas Domine for five voices; Salvator mundi (II) for five voices; The Lamentations of Jeremiah (I) for five voices; O sacrum convivium for five voices; O nata lux de lumine for five voices ; Te lucis ante terminum for five voices; The Lamentations of Jeremiah (II) for five voices; Spem in alium for eight five-part choirs

Winchester Cathedral Choir (Winchester College Quiristers, Vocal Ars Chorus), David Hill (conductor)

Hyperion CDA66400 (CD)

TALLIS: Jesu salvator saeculi; Gaude gloriosa; Sermone blando angelus; Magnificat a5; Nunc dimittis a5; Mihi autem nimis; Absterge Domine; Derelinquat impius; Loquebantur variis linguis; Suscipe quaeso Domine; O nata lux

The Cardinalls Musick, Andrew Carwood (director)

Hyperion CDA67548 (CD)


TALLIS: Spem in alium; Sancte Deus; Salvator mundi, salva nos I; Salvator mundi, salva nos II; Gaude gloriosa; Miserere nostril; Loquebantur variis linguis; If ye love me; Hear the voice and prayer; A new commandment; O Lord, give thy Holy Spirit; Purge me, O Lord; Verily, verily I say unto you; Remember not, O Lord God; Tunes for Archbishop Parker's Psalter; O Lord, in thee is all my trust; Christ rising again; Blessed are those that be undefiled; Lamentations of Jeremiah I and II; Absterge Domine; O sacrum convivium; In manus tuas; Salve intemerata; Magnificat (4vv); Ave Dei patris filia from disc The Tallis Scholars Sing Thomas Tallis

The Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips (conductor)

Gimell CDGIM 203 (2CDs, Budget))


TALLIS: Third Tune: Why fum'th in fight; Fifth Tune: E'en like the hunted hind; Second Tune: Let God arise; Sixth Tune: Expend, O Lord; Eighth Tune: God grant with grace; First Tune: Man blest no doubt; Veni creator: Come Holy Ghost; Seventh Tune: Why brag'st in malice; Fourth Tune: O come in one to praise the Lord
(c/w BYRD: Vigilate; Ne irascaris Domine (Cantiones sacrae I, 1589); Exsurge Domine (Cantiones sacrae II, 1591); Infelix ego (Cantiones sacrae II); Laetentur coeli (Cantiones sacrae I); Quis est homo (Cantiones sacrae II) ; Mass Propers for Pentecost ; Communion: Factus est repente (Gradualia II, 1607); Tribulationes civitatum (Cantiones sacrae I); Laudibus in sanctis) from disc Heavenly Harmonies
Stile Antico

Harmonia Mundi HMU 807463 (Hybrid SACD)


Played but not included:

Thomas Tallis: The Complete Works Volume 9 (Instrumental Music and Songs)

(c/w Instrumental - Consort: In Nomine I, In Nomine II, ASolfinge Song, Salvator Mundi (trio), Fantasia, Felix Namque II (for lute); Instrumental - Virginals: Felix Namque I, When shall my sorrowful sighing slake, Like as the doleful dove, O ye tender babes of England, Purge me (Fond Youth), Per haec nos (extract from Salve intermerata), Apoint, Lesson 2 in 1, Remember not, O Lord God; Instrumental - Organ: Per haec nos, Apoint, Lesson 2 in 1; Songs: Tu Nimirum, When shall my sorrowful sighing slake, Like as the doeful dove, O Ye tender babes of England, William Byrd: Ye sacred muses, Litany (for organ), Dubia I, Dubia II,

Felix Namque I (organ), Andrew Benson-Williams (organ); Laurence Cummings (virginals); Lynda Sayce (lute); Stephen Taylor (counter tenor); Charivari Agreable; Chapelle du Roi, Alistair Dixon (conductor)

Signum Classics SIGCD042 (CD)

BBC Legends and Wigmore Hall Live

BEETHOVEN*: Piano Concerto No. 5, "Emperor" (recorded 29th January 1992 Usher Hall, Edinburgh)

GERSHWIN **: Piano Concerto in F major (recorded 14th September 1985, Royal Albert Hall, London)

Shura Cherkassky (piano), BBC Symphony Orchestra**, Vernon Handley** (conductor), BBC* Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ronald Zollman (conductor)*

BBC Legends BBCL4231-2 (CD, Mid Price)


CASALS: Prelude; CHOPIN: Piano Sonata No. 3 Op. 58 (recorded 9th June 1984, Aldeburgh); JS BACH arr. Liszt: Organ Prelude and Fugue BWV 543; MOZART: Piano Sonata in F K. 332; VILLA-LOBOS: A Mare Encheu; Passa, Passa Gaviao; CHOPIN: Mazurka in B flat minor Op. 24 No. 4; Mazurka in C major Op. 56 No. 2; MENDELSSOHN: Song Without Words in C Major, Op. 67 No. 4 (Spinning Song)

(recorded 21st June 1987, Aldeburgh)

Mieczyslaw Horszowski (piano)

BBC Legends BBCL 4230-2 (CD, Mid Price)


MOZART: Piano Sonata in B flat major K. 570; BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata in D minor Op. 31 No. 2, 'The Tempest'; SCHUMANN: Arabeske Op. 18; CHOPIN: Mazurka in B minor Op. 33 No. 4; Nocturne in B major Op. 32 No. 1; Etude in F minor Op. 25 No. 2; Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor Op. 66; SCHUMANN: Traumerei Op. 15 No. 7

(recorded 4th June 1991, Wigmore Hall, London)

Mieczyslaw Horszowski (piano)

Wigmore Hall Live WHLive0023 (CD, Mid Price)

NB - this is to be released 28th April 2008


LOCKE: Musick for His Majesty's Sackbutts & Cornetts (recorded 15th February 1966, Royal Festival Hall, London); SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38, "Spring" (recorded 30th November 1965, Royal Festival Hall, London); BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2 in D major Op. 73 (recorded 15th February 1966, Royal Festival Hall, London)

London Symphony Orchestra, Istvan Kertesz (conductor)

BBC Legends BBCL 4229-2 (CD, Mid Price)

Disc of the Week

Marc-Andre Hamelin in a state of jazz

(c/w FRIEDRICH GULDA: Exercise No 1 from Play Piano Play; NIKOLAI KAPUSTIN: Sonata No 2 Op 54; FRIEDRICH GULDA: Exercise No 4 from Play Piano Play; ALEXIS WEISSENBERG : Sonate en etat de jazz; FRIEDRICH GULDA: Exercise No 5 from Play Piano Play; Prelude and Fugue; ALEXIS WEISSENBERG: Six arrangements of songs sung by Charles Trenet - 1) Coin de rue, 2) Vous oubliez votre cheval, 3) En Avril, a Paris, 4) Boum! 5) Vous qui passez sans me voir, 6) Menilmontant; GEORGE ANTHEIL: Jazz Sonata)

Marc-Andre Hamelin (piano)

Hyperion CDA67656 (CD)

Next Week

.

On next week's programme Tess Knighton recommends a recording of Josquin's Missa Pange Lingua (Building a Library) and Andrew McGregor talks to Paul Lewis reflecting on his cycle of Beethoven piano sonatas for Harmonia Mundi as the last one is released.

CD Review on 17th May will be marking Radio 3's Chopin Experience weekend. We'd like you to send in suggestions of what you regard as the quintessential Chopin recordings. During the programme that day Andrew will be joined in the studio by performer and academic David Owen-Norris to play and discuss your suggestions.

You can contact the programme through the CD Review website, e-mail (cdreview@bbc.co.uk) or by calling the Radio 3 Audience Line 08700 100 300.

12 April 2008

Saturday 12 April 2008 (Radio 3)

Andrew McGregor introduces Radio 3's weekly programme devoted to all that's new in the world of recorded music.

CD Review

In this week's programme:


BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D major Op. 61 (first movement); MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D K218 (1st movement cadenza by Nigel Kennedy)

(c/w HORACE SILVER arr. Kennedy: Creepin' In)

Nigel Kennedy (violin and conductor), Polish Chamber Orchestra

EMI 3953732 (CD)

Classic FM Magazine, April 2006
On "Inner Thoughts"
"There's no question about the calibre of these recordings... It's a tribute to his outstanding career"

Album Description
For over twenty-five years, Nigel Kennedy has been acknowledged as one of the world's leading violin virtuosos and is one of the most important violinists Britain has ever produced. His virtuosic technique, unique talent and mass appeal have brought fresh perspectives to both the classical and contemporary repertoire. He is the best selling classical violinist worldwide.

This album combines his first-ever Mozart recording with a fresh perspective on the Beethoven violin concerto he first recorded in 1992. He collaborates again with the Polish Chamber Orchestra of which he has been Artistic Director since 2002. He directs the orchestra from the violin in both concertos to achieve a more direct communication of the orchestra members and the cadenzas are very much his own.

Kennedy says the main reason for re-approaching the Beethoven concerto is that today, he hears the piece as having more rhythmic vitality which he wants to bring out in his new recording, despite still cherishing his first recording with Tennstedt, which he said had a more old-fashioned, romantic approach and was played slower.

Listen out for the Mozart cadenza which definitely gives the piece a contemporary edge. It was recorded with his electric violin and Kennedy expresses in it what the concerto means to him personally and wants to open listeners' minds to change their view of the piece. He has also introduced a harpsichord to the work which adds warmth and gives it even more life.




BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 (2nd movement)

(c/w Symphony No. 4)

Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Paavo Jarvi (conductor)

RCA Red Seal 88697129332 (Hybrid SACD)

The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen - Trailer

This is a movie trailer about The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen showing excerpts from Dvorak's New World Symphony and Richard Strauss' Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings conducted by Paavo Järvi. Also included are excerpts from Beethoven's 7th Symphony performed at the Proms in 2003 under Daniel Harding. Paavo Järvi provides comments about the orchestra. The DVD was produced in 2003.

For more information about The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen visit:
http://www.kammerphilharmonie.com

Building a Library Recommendation

SCHUMANN: Piano Quintet in E flat Op. 44

Reviewer - David Fanning

This week's recommendations will be placed on the website on Monday 14th April.

Next week Stephen Johnson examines recordings of Vaughan-Williams' Symphony No. 6.


Jonathan Swain joins Andrew to pick out some highlights from the new EMI Triples reissues - 3 CDs for the price of one. With extracts from the following discs:

BERWALD: Overtures, Concertos and Symphonies (Overture to Drottningen av Golconda (The Queen of Golconda); Overture to Estrella de Soria; Overture to The Queen of Golconda; Concertos; Symphony No. 1 in G minor 'Sinfonie serieuse'; Symphony No. 2 in D major 'Sinfonie capricieuse'; Symphony No. 3 in C major 'Sinfonie singuliere'; Symphony No. 4 in E flat major 'Sinfonie naive')

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Ulf Bjorlin (conductor)

EMI 5009202 (3CDs, Budget)


RACHMANINOV: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, Symphonic Dances, Isle of the Dead, Scherzo in D, Vocalise

St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Mariss Jansons (conductor)

EMI 5008852 (3CDs, Budget)


VILLA-LOBOS: Bachianas Brasileiras Nos. 1-9, Momoprecoce, Concerto for guitar & small orchestra

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Enrique Batiz (conductor)

EMI 5008432 (3CDs, Budget)


BRAHMS: The Concerto Album

(Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15; Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83; Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77; Double Concerto for Violin & Cello in A minor, Op. 102; Tragic Overture, Op. 81; Variations on a theme by Haydn, Op. 56a 'St Anthony Variations')

Claudio Arrau, Pierre Fournier, Alceo Galliera, Carlo Maria Giulini, Otto Klemperer, David Oistrakh, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise

EMI 5094212 (3CDs, Budget)


BARTOK: The Concerto Album

(Concerto for Orchestra, Sz.116 - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Rafael Kubelik; Violin Concerto No. 2, Sz 112 - Kyung-Wha Chung, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle; Piano Concerto No. 2, BB 101, Sz. 95 - Sviatoslav Richter, Orchestre de Paris, Lorin Maazel; Piano Concerto No. 3, BB 127, Sz. 119 - Martha Argerich, Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Charles Dutoit; Violin Concerto No. 1, Sz 36 - Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Philharmonia Orchestra, Libor Pesek; Viola Concerto, Sz120 (Ed. Tibor Serly) - Tabea Zimmermann, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, David Shallon; The Miraculous Mandarin, Op. 19, Sz. 73 (Suite) - Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy; Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Sz. 106 - Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy)

EMI 5094072 (3CDs, Budget)


RAVEL: Orchestral Works

(Valses nobles et sentimentales; Bolero; Sheherazade - Ouverture de feerie; Rapsodie Espagnole; Ma Mere l'Oye; Le Tombeau de Couperin; Daphnis et Chloe; Pavane pour une infante defunte; Alborada del gracioso (Miroirs No. 4); Une barque sur l'ocean; Menuet antique; La Valse)

Orchestre de Paris, Jean Martinon (conductor)

EMI 5008922 (3CDs, Budget)

Disc of the Week

BEETHOVEN: Bagatelles Op. 126; Fur Elise

(c/w Bagatelles Op. 33 and 119)

Linda Nicholson (Fritz Fortepiano of 1815)

Accent ACC24180 (CD)

Next Week

On next week's programme Stephen Johnson recommends a recording of Vaughan Williams' Symphony No 6 (Building a Library) and Alexandra Buckle talks about Tallis recordings.

5 April 2008

Listen to this episode for up to 7 days after broadcast

Saturday 5 April 2008 Radio 3)

Andrew McGregor introduces Radio 3's weekly programme devoted to all that's new in the world of recorded music.

On this week's programme:
09.05am

MOZART: Sonata in A KV 305 from disc Complete sonatas for keyboard and violin Vol 5

(c/w Sonata in C KV 403 (385c); Sonata in B flat KV31; Sonata in D KV 306)

Rachel Podger (violin); Gary Cooper (fortepiano)

Channel Classics CCS SA 25608 (Hybrid SACD)


MICHAEL NYMAN: In Re Don Giovanni




(c/w Revisiting the Don ; Trysting Fields; Not Knowing the Ropess, Wedding Tango; Wheelbarrow Walk; Fish Beach; Knowing the Ropes; O my Dear Papa; I am an unusual thing;
Profit and Loss)

Michael Nyman Band

Mn Records MNRCD 113 (CD)


MOZART: Cosi fan tutte or The School for Lovers

English version by Marmaduke Browne, adapted by John Cox
Fiordiligi, Janice Watson (soprano)
Dorabella, Diana Montague (mezzo soprano)
Guglielmo, Christopher Maltman (baritone)
Ferrando, Toby Spence (tenor)
Despina, Lesley Garrett (soprano)
Don Alfonso, Thomas Allen (baritone)
Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Gareth Hancock (assistant conductor), Sir Charles Mackerras (conductor)

Chandos Opera in English CHAN 3152(3) (3 CDs) (Mid Price)


MOZART: Vesperae Solennes de Confessore (K339)

(c/w MOZART Ave verum Corpus; FAURE: Requiem)

Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano); Ruth Massey (alto); Mark Dobell (tenor); Roderick Williams (baritone);
The Sixteen; Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Harry Christophers (conductor)

CORO Live COR 16057 (CD)

Building a Library Recommendation

SCRIABIN: Le Poeme de l'extase

Reviewer - William Mival

New Releases - Vaughan Williams and Finzi

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: On Wenlock Edge - From far, from eve and morning

(c/w IVOR GURNEY: Ludlow and Teme; IAN VENABLES: Songs of Eternity and Sorrow, Op.36)

Andrew Kennedy (tenor), Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano), Dante Quartet

Signum Classics SIGCD112 (CD)


VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: On Wenlock Edge - Is my team ploughing?

(c/w Piano Quintet in C minor; Romance and Pastorale - two pieces for violin and piano)

Mark Padmore (tenor); Schubert Ensemble with Alison Dods (violin)

Chandos CHAN 10465 (CD)


VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: On Wenlock Edge - Clun

(c/w WARLOCK: The Curlew; BLISS: Elegiac Sonnet; IVOR GURNEY: Ludlow and Teme)

James Gilchrist (tenor); Anna Tilbrook (piano); Michael Cox (flute) Gareth Hulse (cor anglais)
The Fitzwilliam String Quartet

LINN CKD 296 (CD)


FINZI: Dies Natalis, Op.8 - The Rapture

(c/w FINZI: Romance for string orchestra Op.11; WALTON: Sonata for string orchestra (l972)

Toby Spence (tenor); Scottish Ensemble; Jonathan Morton (artistic director)

WIGMORE HALL WHLive0021 (CD)


FINZI: Dies Natalis, Op.8 - Wonder

(c/w Prelude for String Orchestra; The Fall of the Leaf (Elegy) (compl. Howard Ferguson); Two sonnets for Tenor and Orchestra; Nocturne (New Year Music); Farewell to Arms)

James Gilchrist (tenor), Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, David Hill (conductor)

NAXOS 8.570417 (CD)

New Recordings

Wiebke Thormahlen talks to Andrew about recent releases of Baroque violin and cello repertoire, on both period and modern instruments. With extracts from the following discs:

CPE BACH: Gamba Sonatas & Fantasias

Solo a Viola da Gamba e Basso in D major H 559
Fantasie in A major H.278; Fantasie in C minor H.75; La Stahl H.94; Solo a Viola da Gamba e Basso in C major H 558; Les Langueurs Tendres H.110

Lorenzo Ghielmi (fortepiano), Vittorio Ghielmi
(viola da gamba), Gianluca Buratto (bass-baritone)

WINTER & WINTER910 140-2 (CD)


CPE BACH: Viola da gamba Sonatas

Sonatas in C major, Wq.136, H.558; D major, Wq.137, H559; Trio sonata in G minor, Wq.88 H.510

Dmitry Kouzov (cello), Peter Laul (harpsichord and piano)

NAXOS 8.570740 (CD)


JS BACH: Unaccompanied Sonata No.2 in A minor;
BARTOK: Sonata No.1 for violin and piano Sz.75 BB84

Midori (violin), Robert McDonald (piano)

SONY 82796977452 (CD)


Boccherini : Sei Quartetti per Archi, Op.2
QuartettI Nos. I to VI
Alea Ensemble

STRADIVARIUS STR 33758 (CD)


BUXTEHUDE : Sonatas for violin, viola da gamba and cembalo Op.1 (buxWV 252-258)

L'Estravagante: Stefano Montanari (violin), Rodney Prada (viola da gamba), Maurizio Salerno (cembalo)

ARTS 47731-8 (SACD)


BUXTEHUDE: Six Sonatas (Complete Chamber Music 3)

Sonatas in G major, BuxWV 271; A minor, BuxWV 272; F major, BuxWV 269; D major BuxWV 267; B flat major BuxWV 273; C major BuxWV 266

John Holloway and Ursula Weiss (violins), Jaap ter Linden and Mogens Rasmussen (viola da gamba), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord and organ)

Naxos 8.557250 (CD)


BIBER: Mensa Sonora, seu Musica instrumentalis' Pars I to VI

Purcell Quartet

CHAN 0784 (CD)

Disc of the Week

HAYDN: The Creation (Part 1 played)

Sandrine Piau (soprano),Miah Persson (soprano), Ruth Massey (contralto), Peter Harvey (baritone), Mark Padmore (tenor), Neal Davies (bass), Chetham's Chamber Choir, Gabrieli Consort & Players, Paul McCreesh (conductor)

Archiv 477 7361 (2 CDs, Mid Price)

Album Description
Acclaimed for their recordings of large-scale masterpieces including Bach's St Matthew Passion, Handel's Saul and Mozart's Mass in C Minor, Paul McCreesh and his Gabrieli Consort turn their attention to Haydn's greatest work: The Creation
Paul McCreesh has revised large parts of the text of the English-language version, also rewriting the recitatives "as Haydn might have done had he been more familiar with the English language"

Not only is this the world premiere recording of this newly revised version, it is also the first release of Die Schoepfung in its equally authentic English version in the Deutsche Grammophon catalogue

Employing a luxuriously large cast of five soloists, almost 100 singers and 113 players as used by Haydn for the premiere of the German version, this promises to be the English-language recording of The Creation

McCreesh and the Gabrieli Consort are regarded as highly acclaimed experts in recreating large-scale orchestral/choral works as they might have been performed historically; here they bring their unique insight to Haydn's well-loved masterwork

Next Week

On next week's programme David Fanning examines recordings of Schumann's Piano Quintet in E flat Op.44 and Jonathan Swain picks out some highlights from EMI's bumper set of re-issues of recordings from some of the leading musicians of the stereo age.