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.

Debussy: Preludes, Book 2

Saturday 8 March 2008

Listen to this episode for up to 7 days after broadcast

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:

VILLA-LOBOS: Symphony No. 10 Amerindia (3rd movement)

Lothar Odinius (tenor), Henryk Bohm (baritone), Jurgen Linn (bass-baritone), Members of the Staatsopernchor Stuttgart, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Carl St. Clair (conductor)

CPO 999 786-2 (CD, Mid Price)


SCHMIDT: Das Buch Mit Sieben Siegeln ('Und als das Lamm der Siegel drittes auftat'; Und als das Lamm der Siegel viertes auftat)

Johannes Chum (tenor - St. John), Robert Holl (bass baritone - Voice of the Lord), Sandra Trattnigg (soprano), Michelle Breedt (mezzo-soprano), Nikolai Schukoff (tenor), Manfred Hemm (bass), Robert Kovacs (organ), Wiener Singverein, Tonkunstler orchester Niederosterreich, Kristjan Jarvi (conductor)

Chandos CHSA 50612 (2 Hybrid SACDs, Mid Price)

RONTGEN: Aus Goethes Faust ('Vor dem Tor')

Machteld Baumans (soprano), Marcel Beekman (tenor), Andre Morsch (baritone), Andre Post (tenor), Mark Richardson (baritone), Dennis Wilgenhof (bass), Gijs van Schoonhoven (organ), Kooir van de Nationale Reisopera Enschede, Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, David Porcelijn (conductor)

CPO 777 311-2 (CD, Mid Price)

Building a Library Recommendation

DEBUSSY: Piano Preludes Book II

Reviewer - Stephen Plaistow

First Choice:

(c/w Preludes Book 1, 'Les soirs illumines par l'ardeur du charbon') from disc Debussy Complete Works for Solo Piano, Volume 1
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)

Chandos CHAN10421 (CD)

1. Lent Et Grave
2. Modere (Dans Un Rythme Sans Rigeur Et Caressant)
3. Anime
4. Modere (Harmonieux Et Souple)
5. Tres Modere
6. Triste Et Lent
7. Anime Et Tumultueux
8. Tres Calme Et Doucement Expressif
9. Moderement Anime
10. Profondement Calme (Dans Une Brume Doucement Sonore)
11. Capricieux Et Leger
12. Modere (Nerveux Et Avec Humor)
13. Modere (Extrement Egal Et Leger)
14. Lent Et Melancolique
15. Mouvement De 'Habanera' (Avec De Brusque Oppositions D'Extreme Violence Et De Passionnee Douceur)
16. Rapide Et Leger
17. Calme (Doucement Expressif)
18. (Dans Le Style Et Le Mouvement D'Un Cake-Walk)
19. Lent
20. Scherzando
21. Grave
22. Tres Calme Et Doucement Triste
23. Moderement Anime
24. Moderement Anime
25. Lent Et Reveur - Plus Lent Jusqu'a La Fin


Historic Choice:

(c/w 10 Preludes from Book 1; L'isle joyeuse; Cloches a travers les feuilles; La Serenade interrompue; CHOPIN: Ballade No. 3 in A flat major Op. 47; Scherzo No. 4 in E major, Op. 54; 4 Mazurkas Op. 24; Barcarolle in F sharp major Op. 60; excerpts from Etudes Op. 10; PROKOFIEV: Dance, Op. 32 No. 1)
Sviatoslav Richter (piano)

BBC Legends BBCL 4021-2 (2 CDs, Mid Price)

Disc: 1
1. Ballade No. 3 In A Flat Major, Op. 47
2. Scherzo No.4 In E Major, Op.54: Presto
3. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 1 In G Minor. Lento
4. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 24: No.2 In C Major. Allegro Non Troppo
5. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 24: No.3 In A Flat Major. Moderato
6. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 24: No.4 In B Flat Minor. Moderato
7. Barcarolle In F Sharp Major, op.60: Allegretto
8. 10 Preludes From Book 1: 1. Danseuses De Delphes
9. 10 Preludes From Book 1: 2. Violes
10. 10 Preludes From Book 1: 3. Le Vent Dans La Plaine
See all 17 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2
1. L'Isle Joyeuse
2. Cloches A Travers Les Feuilles Lent
3. Dance, Op.32 No.1
4. Etudes, Op. 10: No.12 In C Minor. Allegro Con Fuoco
5. Etudes, Op. 10: No.3 In E Major. Vivace Ma Non Troppo
6. Etudes, Op. 10: No.1 In C Major.
7. Etudes, Op. 10: No.4 In C Sharp Minor. Presto
8. Etudes, Op. 10: No.6 In E Flat Minor.
9. Etudes, Op. 10: No.10 In A Flat Major. Vivace Assai
10. Etudes, Op. 10: No.12 In C Minor. Allegro Con Fuoco
See all 23 tracks on this disc




Budget Choice:

(c/w Preludes Book 1)
Martino Tirimo (piano)
Regis RRC1111 (CD, Budget)


Next week Francis Knights examines recordings of Biber's Mystery or Rosary Sonatas.

Listener Requests

SCHOENBERG: Violin Concerto (second movement)
(c/w SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto Op. 47)
Hilary Hahn, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor)
Deutsche Grammophon 477 7346 (CD)


LISZT: Piano Concerto No.1 (fourth movement)

(c/w SHOSTAKOVICH: Concerto No. 1 for piano, trumpet and strings in C minor, Op. 35; PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D flat major, Op. 10)
Lise de la Salle (piano); Lisbon Gulbenkian Foundation Orchestra, Gabor Baldocki (trumpet), Lawrence Foster (conductor)
Naive V5053 (CD)

New Releases

Richard Morrison has been watching three new opera DVDs: Eugene Onegin from the New York Met starring Renee Fleming; Mussorgsky's epic drama Khovanshchina from Barcelona's Liceu; and a real rarity - Thomas Hampson as Busoni's anti-hero Doktor Faust.


TCHAIKOVSKY: Eugene Onegin



Renee Fleming (Tatiana), Elena Zaremba (Olga), Svetlana Volkova (Madame Larina), Larisa Shevchenko (Filippyevna), Ramon Vargas (Lenski), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Eugene Onegin), Keith Miller (A Captain), Jean-Paul Fouchecourt (Triquet), Richard Bernstein (Zaretski), Sergei Aleksashkin (Prince Gremin), Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet, Valery Gergiev (conductor)

Decca 074 32489 (2 DVDs, Mid Price)

Opera Review | 'Eugene Onegin'
Star Power, Charisma and Ardor in ‘Onegin’

The Metropolitan Opera’s affecting revival of its 1997 production of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin,” which opened on Friday night, is all the more impressive because it might have turned out so differently. In a risky move, the production brought major Russian artists steeped in their national operatic heritage together with two Met stars making brave forays into far-afield repertory.

The Russian maestro Valery Gergiev conducted, in his first Met performance of this work, Tchaikovsky’s best-known operatic masterpiece. It is an adaptation of Pushkin’s novel in verse about the dashing, worldly and aloof Onegin, who learns too late from a bookish, love-struck young woman that life will pass him by unless he dares to be emotionally vulnerable. In addition this was the first Met Onegin for the baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, who was born to play the role.

Read more...

Renee Fleming - Eugene Onegin - Letter Scene (part 1)



Renee Fleming - Eugene Onegin - Letter Scene (part 2)



Ramon Vargas as Lensky "Kuda, kuda vy udalilis" Eugen Onegin



Hvorostovsky & Vargas - Eugene Onegin - Duel Scene




BUSONI: Doktor Faust

Thomas Hampson (Doktor Faust), Gunther Groissbock (Wagner, his medical student and Master of Ceremonies), Gregory Kunde (Mephistopheles), Reinaldo Macias (The Duke of Parma), Sandra Trattnigg (The Duchess of Parma), Martin Zysset (a lieutenant), Chorus and Orchestra of the Zurich Opera House, Philippe Jordan (conductor)

Arthaus Musik NTSC101283 (2 DVDs)




MUSSORGSKY: Khovanshchina

Vladimir Ognovenko (Pricne Ivan Khovansky), Vladimir Galouzine (Prince Andrei Khovansky), Robert Brubaker (Prince Vasily Golitsyn), Nikolai Putilin (Shaklovity), Vladimir Vaneev (Dosifei), Elena Zaremba (Marfa), Graham Clark (Scribe), Nataliya Tymchenko (Emma), Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Michael Boder (conductor)

Opus Arte OA0989 D (2 DVDs)

Listener Requests

MONTEVERDI: Lagrime d'amante al sepolcro dell'amata (Sestina from Il sesto libro de madrigali 1614) from disc Fire and Ashes

(c/w allo - Tirsi e Clori, Chiome d'oro, Vorrei baciarti, Ardo avvampo, Ogni amante (Book VIII), Con dolce tormento, E cosi a poco a poco, Batto qui pianse, Che dar piu, Si ch'io vorrei (Book IV), Rimante in pace (Book III))
I Fagiolini, Robert Hollingworth (director)
Chandos CHAN 0749 (CD)


ROUSSEL: Symphony No.3 Op.42 (2nd movement)

(c/w Le Festin de l'araignee, Op. 17)
Orchestre de Paris, Christoph Eschenbach (conductor)

Ondine ODE 11072 (CD)


BARTOK: The Wooden Prince: "The Prince builds a wooden prince"

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop (conductor)

Naxos 8.570534 (CD, Budget)

Disc of the Week

SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1 in B flat Major Op. 38 ('Spring Symphony')

(c/w Overture to Schiller's 'Braut von Messina', Op. 100, Overture to the opera 'Genoveva', Op. 81; Symphony in G minor, 'Zwickau Symphony';
Overture, Scherzo and Finale, Op. 52)
Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard

BIS SACD 1569 (Hybrid SACD)

Next Week

On next week's programme Francis Knights recommends a recording of Biber's Mystery or Rosary Sonatas and conductor John Traill discusses new releases of Beethoven Symphonies.