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

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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.

Saturday 22 March 2008

Saturday 22 March 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:

BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No. 1 Op. 78 (first movement)

(c/w Violin Sonatas No. 2 Op. 100 and No. 3 Op. 108)
Ilia Korol (violin), Natalia Grigorieva (19th century Streicher piano)

Challenge Classics CC72194 (CD)

BRAHMS: Cello Sonata No. 2 (final movement)
(c/w Cello Sonata No. 1; SCHUMANN: Five Pieces in Folk Style)
Clive Greensmith (cello), Boris Berman (19th century Steinway piano)
Biddulph 80226-2 (CD)

FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A major

(c/w SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Sonata Op. 134)
Sergey Khachatryan (violin), Lusine Khachatryan (piano)

Naive V 5122 (CD)

Album Description
This new CD presents two of the rising stars of instrumental performance, violinist Sergey Khachatryan and his pianist sister Lusine Khachatryan in recordings of the Violin Sonatas of Franck and Shostakovich. César Franck's Sonata in A was written in 1886, and like his symphony it is united by a cyclic use of thematic material that connects the movements. It has become one of the most popular chamber works in the repertoire. The Violin Sonata of Dmitri Shostakovich was written in 1969 and is a work of extraordinary intensity. The piano is often an equal partner in the piece and doesn't so much accompany the violin as echo and goad it. The snaking melody that opens the piece was one of Shostakovich's first forays into the 12-tone method of Schoenberg, and the restless and wry feeling it introduces is maintained throughout the piece.

Sergey Khachatryan was born in 1985 in Yerevan, Armenia. In December 2000 Sergey won the Eighth International Jean Sibelius competition, and in 2005 he claimed First Prize at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. Sergey performs as soloist with an impressive list of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He has worked with many of the world's great conductors, including Kurt Masur, Valery Gergiev, Bernard Haitink, Christoph von Dohnányi, Michael Tilson Thomas and Jukka-Pekka Saraste. Sergey and Lusine Khachatryan give recitals at international venues such as the Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw.

Sergey Khachatryan's debut recording for Naïve of the Violin Concertos of Khatchaturian and Sibelius was extremely well received by the press and was an Editor's Choice in the Gramophone. "His distinctive sound is one that I'm sure we'll be encountering often" - James Jolly, Gramophone. Last year's recording by Khachatryan of both Shostakovich Violin Concertos was similarly acclaimed.


HEINRICH WILHELM ERNST: Erlkonig: Grand Caprice for solo violin, after Schubert

(c/w Othello Fantasy; Six Polyphonic Studies for solo violin; Elegy)
Hyperion CDA67619 (CD)

Building a Library

STRAVINSKY: Rite of Spring

Reviewer - Rob Cowan

First Choice: Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, Peter Eotvos (conductor)
(c/w Mavra, with the Goteborgs Symfoniker)

BMC (Budapest Music Centre) BMC CD 118 (CD)


Next week Simon Heighes examines recordings of Haydn's The Seasons.

New Releases

Andrew talks to Berta Joncus about further releases in cantata cycles from Masaaki Suzuki and John Eliot Gardiner, as well as a new St. Matthew Passion from the Dunedin Consort & Players. With extracts from the following discs:


JS BACH: Matthew Passion (Last Performing version, 1742)

Nicholas Mulroy (The Evangelist), Matthew Brook (Jesus), Susan Hamilton (soprano), Cecilia Osmond (soprano), Clare Wilkinson (alto), Annie Gill (alto), Malcolm Bennett (tenor), Brian Bannatyne-Scott (bass), Dunedin Consort & Players, John Butt (conductor)
Linn CDK313 (3 SACDs or digital download, Budget)

JS BACH: Cantatas Volume 27

(Cantatas for Whit Tuesday
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 BWV 1048
Erwunschtes Freudenlicht BWV 184
Er rufet seinen Schafen mit Namen BWV 175
Soloists: Lisa Larsson, Nathalie Stutzmann, Christoph Genz, Stephen Loges
Recorded: Holy Trinity, Blythburgh
Cantata for Trinity Sunday
Hochsterwunschtes Freudenfest BWV 194
Es ist ein trotzig und verzagt Ding BWV 176
O heil'ges Geist- und Wasserbad BWV 165
Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott BWV 129
Soloists: Ruth Holton, Daniel Taylor, Paul Agnew, Peter Harvey
Recorded: St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall)

The Monteverdi Choir, The English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)

Soli Deo Gloria SDG 138 (2 CDs)


JS BACH: Cantatas Volume 3

(Cantatas for the Fourth and Fifth Sundays after Trinity
Ein ungefarbt Gemute BWV 24
Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe BWV 185
Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 177
Gott ist mein Konig BWV 71
Soloists: Magdalena Kozena, Nathalie Stutzmann, Paul Agnew, Nicolas Teste,
Joanne Lunn, William Towers, Kobie van Rensburg, Peter Harvey
Recorded: Tewkesbury Abbey (final cantata Blasiuskirche, Muhlhausen)
Cantata for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity
Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir BWV 131
Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten BWV 93
Siehe, ich will viel Fischer aussenden BWV 88
Soloists: Joanne Lunn, William Towers, Kobie van Rensburg, Peter Harvey
Recorded: Blasiuskirche, Muhlhausen)
The Monteverdi Choir, The English Baroque, John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)
Soli Deo Gloria SDG 141 (2 CDs)

JS BACH: Cantatas Volume 38 (Solo Cantatas)

(Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht, BWV52
Ich habe genung, BWV82
Ich armer Mensch, ich Sundenknecht, BWV55
Bekennen will ich seinen Namen, BWV58)
Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Peter Kooij (bass), Gerd Turk (tenor), Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki (conductor)
BIS SACD 1631 (SACD)

JS BACH: Cantatas Volume 37 (Solo Cantatas)

(Gott soll allein mein Herze haben, BWV 169
Vergnugte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust, BWV 170
Geist und Seele wird verwirret, BWV 35
Bekennen will ich seinen Namen, BWV 200)
Robin Blaze (counter-tenor), Bach Collegium Japan Masaaki Suzuki (conductor)
BIS SACD 1621 (SACD)

JS BACH: Secular Cantatas

(Angenemes Wiederau BWV30a
Vereinigte Zwietracht BWV207)
Monika Frimmer (soprano), Robin Blaze (alto), Markus Schafer (tenor), Stephan MacLeod (bass),
Les Chantres du centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, Olivier Schneebeli, Cafe Zimmermann, Gustav Leonhardt (conductor)

Alpha 118 (CD)

1. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
2. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
3. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
4. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
5. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
6. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
7. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
8. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
9. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
10. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
11. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
12. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
13. Angenehmes Wiederau BWV 30a
14. Vereinigte Zwietracht Der Wechselnden Saiten BWV 207
15. Vereinigte Zwietracht Der Wechselnden Saiten BWV 207
16. Vereinigte Zwietracht Der Wechselnden Saiten BWV 207
17. Vereinigte Zwietracht Der Wechselnden Saiten BWV 207
18. Vereinigte Zwietracht Der Wechselnden Saiten BWV 207
19. Vereinigte Zwietracht Der Wechselnden Saiten BWV 207
20. Vereinigte Zwietracht Der Wechselnden Saiten BWV 207
21. Vereinigte Zwietracht Der Wechselnden Saiten BWV 207
22. Vereinigte Zwietracht Der Wechselnden Saiten BWV 207
23. Vereinigte Zwietracht Der Wechselnden Saiten BWV 207

Disc of the Week

MOZART: Symphony 38 K. 504 ("Prague)

(c/w Symphonies 39-41)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras (conductor)

Linn CKD 308 (2 SACDS or digital download, Mid Price)

Review
Simply the excellent performance you would expect from the SCO under Sir Charles Mackerras. --The Sunday Herald

Product Description
2 SACD DISCS Mozart Symphonies 38 Through 41 Scottish Chamber Orchestra Sir Charles Mackerass This eagerly anticipated addition to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra series sees Mozart specialist Sir Charles Mackerras deliver a truly memorable recording of Mozart s four last symphonies. Sir Charles s fruitful partnership with the SCO has been evident since their highly successful recording of Mozart Requiem (CKD 211) was received to wide critical acclaim in 2003. Their special relationship and musical synchronicity makes Mozart Symphonies Nos 38 41 equally exhilarating. The Vienna Symphonies show Mozart at his most diverse, both in musical content and in orchestral colouration. Notable firsts include Mozart s use of clarinets rather then traditional oboes as the main woodwind instrument in Symphony No 39 and the introduction of a new orchestral colour in the form of muted violins in the Jupiter . Sir Charles Mackerras, the SCO s Conductor Laureate, has produced numerous award- winning recordings, performed fifty times at the Edinburgh Festival and in 2005 was the first recipient of the Queen s Medal for Music . The Orchestra has a large international fan base following recent performances in Spain, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, the USA, Portugal and the Netherlands. The SCO s previous Mozart recordings have been critically acclaimed; Mozart Serenades and Mozart Wind Concertos each consistently received four and five star reviews and BBC Music Magazine named Sir Charles Mackerras s Mozart Requiem a Benchmark Recording in January 2007. Recommended track: Disc 2, track 1 -Mackerras and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra demonstrate their Mozartean flair in a sparkling performance of the opening movement of Symphony No 40

Next Week

On next week's CD Review Simon Heighes recommends a recording of Haydn's oratorio The Seasons (Building a Library) and Alyn Shipton discusses some recent Philip Glass recordings with Andrew McGregor.