Beethoven's Symphony No 1 with Andrew McGregor and Richard Wigmore
In the long-running classical recordings show, Richard Wigmore recommends a recording of Beethoven's Symphony No 1 in C and Hannah French listens to recent releases of baroque music.
With Andrew McGregor
9.30
Building a Library: Richard Wigmore recommends a version from among the recordings of Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21.
Beethoven was a composer with something to prove, namely that he could best Haydn as the most celebrated living composer. Haydn's mastery of all the most important instrumental genres (he'd virtually invented the string quartet and symphony) was a was a constant spur to Beethoven who, by the mid-1790s, had shown he meant business in the string trio and keyboard sonata but had held off the symphony and string quartet... So the 1800 premiere of this chippy 29-year-old's first symphony was an important moment, even if, witty and dancing, the debt to Haydn is obvious and there are few if any signs of the revolutionary symphonic breakthroughs shortly to come.
Of course, this symphony is very well represented in the catalogue but with a foot in both the 18th and 19th centuries, is it best performed by historically informed period-instrument ensembles or grizzled maestros and bloated symphony orchestras?
10.50
Hannah French has been listening to recent releases of baroque music and shares the most appealing.
11.20
Recording of the week: an outstanding new release.
Last on
Music Played
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George Frideric Handel
Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No. 7 in B flat major, HWV325: I. Largo; II. Allegro
Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: Bernhard Forck.- Pentatone.
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William Mathias
Calico Pie (No. 1, Learsongs)
Performer: Glen Dempsey. Performer: Aïda Lahlou. Choir: St. John's Voices. Director: Graham Walker.- Naxos.
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William Mathias
The Owl and the Pussycat (No. 2, Learsongs)
Performer: Glen Dempsey. Performer: Aïda Lahlou. Choir: St. John's Voices. Director: Graham Walker.- Naxos.
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Joseph Haydn
Symphony No. 104 in D major 'London': I. Adagio - Allegro
Director: Richard Tognetti. Orchestra: Australian Chamber Orchestra.- ABC Classics.
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Charles Villiers Stanford
String Quartet No. 6 in A minor, Op. 122: III. Allegro scherzando
Ensemble: Dante Quartet.- Somm.
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Matthew Locke
Consort of Four Parts, suite no. 2
Ensemble: Kitgut Quartet.- Harmonia Mundi.
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Dan Jones
Music for Seven Ice Cream Vans (Live)
Performer: Dan Jones.- Music for Seven Ice Cream Vans (Live).
- NMC Recordings.
- 1.
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Roderick Williams
Motor car (no.2, 3 Songs from Ethiopia Boy) (Live)
Singer: Roderick Williams. Orchestra: Chineke! Orchestra. Conductor: Eduardo Portal.- 3 Songs from Ethiopia Boy (Live).
- NMC Recordings.
- 1.
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Enrique Granados
Goyescas, Book 1: III. El fandango de candil
Performer: Jean‐Philippe Collard.- Granados: Goyescas.
- La Dolce Volta.
- 3.
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Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
Ecce Mars
Performer: Richard Egarr.- Linn.
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André Campra
"Charmant Père de l'harmonie" (Télèphe)
Singer: Katherine Watson. Ensemble: Les Ambassadeurs. Director: Alexis Kossenko.- Aparté.
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Marin Marais
Ariane et Bacchus: Rondeau
Ensemble: Les Ambassadeurs. Director: Alexis Kossenko.- Aparté.
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André Campra
Quelle épaisse vapeur tout à coup m'environne? (Télèphe)
Singer: Katherine Watson. Ensemble: Les Ambassadeurs. Director: Alexis Kossenko.- Aparté.
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Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Oboe Concerto in B flat major, Wq. 164 (H466): II. Largo e mesto, III. Allegro moderato
Performer: Xenia Löffler. Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin.- Harmonia Mundi.
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Geminiano Giacomelli
Quell'usignolo (Merope)
Singer: Ann Hallenberg. Ensemble: Stile Galante. Conductor: Stefano Aresi.- Glossa.
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Luigi Rossi
"Se dolente e flebil cetra"
Performer: Christina Pluhar. Music Arranger: Christina Pluhar. Singer: Véronique Gens. Ensemble: L’Arpeggiata.- Erato.
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Carl Nielsen
Flute Concerto, FS119
Performer: Clara Andrada. Orchestra: Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jaime Martín.- Ondine.
Record Review
9.00am
Handel: Concerti grossi: Op. 6 (7-12)
Akademie fϋr Alte Musik Berlin
Bernhard Forck (conductor)
Pentatone PTC5186738
Mathias: Choral Music - A May Magnificat; Learsongs; Riddles
Marie-Noëlle Kendall (piano)
Glen Dempsey (piano)
Aïda Lahlou (piano)
Shanna Hart (organ)
Hugh Crook (organ)
David Ellis (bells)
St. John's Voices
The Gentlemen of St John's
Graham Walker (conductor)
Naxos 8574162
https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.574162
Haydn Symphonies 49 & 104 | Mozart Symphony No 25
Australian Chamber Orchestra
Richard Tognetti (violin/director)
ABC Classics ABC4818572
https://www.abcmusic.com.au/discography/aco-haydn-mozart
Stanford: String Quartets Nos. 1, 2 & 6
Dante Quartet
Somm SOMM0607
9.30am – Building a Library – Richard Wigmore on Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Reviewer: Richard Wigmore
Recommended Recording:
Danish Chamber Orchestra
Ádám Fischer
Naxos 8505251 (5 CDs or download)
Other Recommended Recording(s):
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Teldec 0927497682 (5 CDs or download) or Warner Classics 2564637792 (14 CDs or download)
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Riccardo Chailly
Decca 4783493 (CD and download) or 4783492 (5 CDs or download)
London Classical Players
Roger Norrington
Erato 0834232 (download only)
10.15am – New Releases
’Tis too late to be wise - String quartet before the string quartet: music by Haydn, Purcell, Locke and Blow
Kitgut Quartet
Harmonia Mundi HMM902313
http://www.harmoniamundi.com/#!/albums/2578
Dan Jones: Music for Seven Ice Cream Vans
Dan Jones (sound design)
NMC NMCDL2019-16 (download only)
https://www.nmcrec.co.uk/recording/music-seven-ice-cream-vans-live-recording
Roderick Williams: 3 Songs from Ethiopia Boy
Roderick Williams (baritone)
Chineke! Orchestra
Eduardo Portal (conductor)
NMC NMCDL2019-11 (download only)
https://www.nmcrec.co.uk/recording/three-songs-ethiopia-boy-live-recording
Granados: Goyescas
Jean-Philippe Collard (piano)
La Dolce Volta LDV73
10.45am – New Releases – Hannah French reviews new Baroque releases
Sweelinck: Fantasias, Toccatas & Variations
Richard Egarr (harpsichord)
Linn CKD589
https://www.linnrecords.com/recording-sweelinck-fantasias-toccatas-variations
L'Opéra du Roi Soleil: arias and instrumental music by Lully, Marais, Campra etc.
Katherine Watson (soprano)
Les Ambassadeurs
Alexis Kossenko (conductor)
Aparté AP209
https://www.apartemusic.com/albums/lopera-du-roi-soleil/?lang=en
C.P.E. Bach: Oboe Concertos and Symphonies
Xenia Löffler (oboe)
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
Harmonia Mundi HMM902601
http://www.harmoniamundi.com/#!/albums/2579
The Farinelli Manuscript
Ann Hallenberg (mezzo-soprano)
Stile Galante
Stefano Aresi (director)
Glossa GCD923521
Luigi Rossi: La Lyra d’Orfeo & Arpa Davidica
Véronique Gens (soprano)
Céline Scheen (soprano)
Giuseppina Bridelli (mezzo-soprano)
Philippe Jaroussky (counter-tenor)
Jakub Józef Orliński (counter-tenor)
Valer Sabadus (counter-tenor)
L'Arpeggiata
Christina Pluhar (director/theorbo/harp)
Erato 9029537230 (3 CDs)
https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/luigi-rossi-la-lyra-dorfeo-arpa-davidica
11.15am – Record of the Week
Nielsen, Ibert & Arnold: Flute Concertos
Clara Andrada (flute)
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
Jaime Martín (conductor)
Ondine ODE13402
Broadcast
- Sat 18 Jan 2020 09:00BBC Radio 3
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