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Joanna MacGregor on Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto

Joanna MacGregor joins Andrew McGregor with her personal library recommendation for Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto, plus new recordings of German Lieder with Flora Willson.

Pianist Joanna MacGregor joins Andrew with her personal library recommendation for Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto, plus new recordings of German Lieder with Flora Willson.

Presented by Andrew McGregor

9.30am
Building a Library
Perhaps the deepest-felt of Beethoven's piano concertos, the G major poses both interpretative and technical challenges of the highest order. Joanna MacGregor has been listening to a wide range of different interpretations and discusses with Andrew her ultimate recommendation to buy, download or stream.

10.40am
Flora Willson joins Andrew with five new recordings of German song, including Schubert from Benjamin Appl and James Rutherford, Clara Schumann from Adrianne Pieczonka and an imaginative mixed recital from baritone Hanno Müller-Brachmann.

11.15
Record of the Week
Andrew's hot-off-the-press pick of the best of the best.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Last on

Sat 26 Mar 2022 09:00
BBC Radio 3

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Building a Library on Bruckner's Ninth Symphony with William Mival

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Nicholas Kenyon on The Marriage of Figaro

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Music Played

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Der Schauspieldirektor, K486: Overture

    Orchestra: Manchester Camerata. Conductor: Gábor Takács‐Nagy.
    • Mozart: Piano Concerto Nos. 22 & 231.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt 1 (Excerpts)

    Choir: Bach Choir. Conductor: David Hill.
    • Bach Inspired.
    • Stone Records.
    • 1.

  • Charlotte Harding

    Glow

    Choir: Bach Choir. Orchestra: Faust Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: David Hill.
    • Bach Inspired.
    • Stone Records.
    • 2.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Violin Sonata in D major Op.12 no.1 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Performer: Christopher Glynn.
    • Beethoven: Sonatas For Violin and Piano Op. 12 No.1, Op. 24 & Op. 96.
    • Channel.
    • 3.

  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    Hero und Leander, Dramatic Scene

    Singer: Chen Reiss. Orchestra: Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich. Conductor: Daniel Grossmann.
    • Fanny Hensel & Felix Mendelssohn: Arias, Lieder, Overtures.
    • Onyx.
    • 13.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Sonata for Violin and Continuo in E Minor, BWV 1023, 1st and 2nd movements

    Performer: Gottfried von der Goltz. Performer: Annekatrin Beller. Performer: Torsten Johann.
    • Bach: Sonatas For Violin and Continuo.
    • Aparte.
    • 15.

  • Alexandre Tansman

    Suite-Divertissement: Scherzino & Sarabande

    Ensemble: Notos Quartett.
    • Paris Bar - Françaix Tansman Lajtha.
    • Sony.
    • 7.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Stabat Mater: Stabat Mater dolorosa, Cujus animam gementem, O quam tristis et afflicta

    Performer: Jan Tomasz Adamus. Singer: Jakub Józef Orliński. Choir: Capella Cracoviensis.
    • Vivaldi: Stabat Mater, Rv 621.
    • Erato.
    • 1.

  • Zoltán Kodály

    Esti Dal, K. 110

    Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Marcus Creed.
    • Kodály & Ligeti: Choral Works.
    • OUR Recordings.
    • 501.

  • György Ligeti

    Éjszaka és reggel: No. 1, Éjszaka

    Singer: Malene Nordtorp. Singer: Daniel Åberg. Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Marcus Creed.
    • Kodály & Ligeti: Choral Works.
    • OUR Recordings.
    • 201.

  • Franz Schubert

    Winterreise (extracts)

    Performer: Eugene Asti. Singer: James Rutherford.
    • Bis.

  • Franz Schubert

    Winterreise (extracts)

    Performer: James Baillieu. Singer: Benjamin Appl.
    • Alpha.

  • Clara Schumann

    Liebeszauber; Der Mond kommt still gegangen

    Performer: Liz Upchurch. Singer: Adrianne Pieczonka.
    • Analekta.

  • Frank Martin

    Ach Gott, wie graust mir vor dem Tod

    Performer: Hendrik Heilmann. Singer: Hanno Müller‐Brachmann.
    • MDG.

  • Franz Schubert

    Die schone Mullerin (extracts)

    Performer: Joseph Middleton. Singer: Iestyn Davies.
    • Signum.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Matthäus-Passion: Movements 1 - 10

    Performer: Julian Prégardien. Singer: Sabine Devieilhe. Singer: Lucile Richardot. Singer: Stéphane Degout. Singer: Georg Finger. Choir: Pygmalion. Director: Raphaël Pichon.
    • Matthäus-Passion.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.

Record Review

9.00am

 

Mozart: Piano Concerto Nos. 22 & 23, etc.

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)

Manchester Camerata

Gábor Takás-Nagy

Chandos  CHAN20166

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2020166

 

 

Bach Inspired – music by JS Bach, Harding, Higgins, etc.

Bach Choir

Faust Chamber Orchestra

David Hill

Stone Records  5060192781182

https://stonerecords.co.uk/album/bach-inspired/

 

 

Beethoven: Sonatas For Violin and Piano Op. 12 No.1, Op. 24 & Op. 96

Rachel Podger (violin)

Christopher Glynn (fortepiano)

Channel  CCSSA44222 (Hybrid SACD)

https://www.channelclassics.com/catalogue/beethoven-sonatas-for-violin-and-piano-nos-1-5-10/

 

 

Fanny Hensel & Felix Mendelssohn: Arias, Lieder, Overtures

Chen Reiss (soprano)

Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich

Daniel Grossmann

Onyx  ONYX4231

https://onyxclassics.com/release/fanny-hensel-felix-mendelssohn-bartholdy/

 

 

Bach: Sonatas For Violin and Continuo

Gottfried von der Goltz (violin)

Annekatrin Beller (cello)

Torsten Johann (harpsichord)

Aparté  AP276

https://www.apartemusic.com/albums/bach-sonatas-for-violin-and-continuo/?lang=en

 

 

9.30am - Building A Library: Joanna MacGregor on Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto

 

 

Recommended Recording:   

 

Emil Gilels (piano)

Philharmonia Orchestra

Leopold Ludwig

Warner Classics  4768282

https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/beethoven-piano-concertos-nos-4-5

https://testament.co.uk/product/emil-gilels-3/

 

 

Other Recommendations:

 

Maria João Pires (piano)

Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Daniel Harding

Onyx  ONYX4125

https://onyxclassics.com/release/beethoven-piano-concertos-nos-3-4-2/

 

 

Krystian Zimerman (piano)

London Symphony Orchestra

Sir Simon Rattle

DG  4839971 (3CDs)

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/krystian-zimerman

 

 

Kristian Bezuidenhout (fortepiano)

Freiburger Barockorchester

Pablo Heras-Casado

Harmonia Mundi  HMM902413

https://store.harmoniamundi.com/release/202043-freiburger-barockorchester-pablo-heras-casado-and-kristian-bezuidenhout-beethoven-piano-concertos-vol-2

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.15am – New Releases

 

Paris Bar - Françaix Tansman Lajtha

Notos Quartett

Sony  19439986682

https://www.sonyclassical.de/alben/releases-details/paris-bar-francaix-tansman-lajtha

 

 

Vivaldi: Stabat Mater, Rv 621

Jakub Józef Orliński (counter-tenor)

Capella Cracoviensis

Jan Tomasz Adamus

Erato  9029506070 (CD + DVD video)

https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/vivaldi-stabat-mater

 

 

Gyorgi Ligeti; Zoltán Kodály: Lux Aeterna

Malene Nordtorp (soprano)

Daniel Åberg (bass)

Danish National Vocal Ensemble

Marcus Creed

OUR Recordings  6.220676 (Hybrid SACD)

https://www.ourrecordings.com/albums/lux-aeterna

 

 

1040am – New Releases: Flora Willson on German lieder

 

 

Schubert: Winterreise

James Rutherford (baritone)

Eugene Asti (piano)

BIS  BIS2410 (Hybrid SACD)

https://bis.se/performers/rutherford-james/schubert-winterreise

 

 

Schubert: Winterreise

Benjamin Appl (baritone)

James Baillieu (piano)

Alpha  ALPHA854

https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/schubert-winterreise-2

 

 

Clara - Robert - Johannes: Lyrical Echoes

Adrianne Pieczonka (soprano)

Liz Upchurch (piano)

Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra

Alexander Shelley

Analekta  AN288801 (2CDs)

https://www.analekta.com/en/albums/naco-lyrical-echoes/

 

 

Mahler/ Brahms/ Martin: Vocal Works

Hanno Müller-Brachmann (baritone)

Hendrik Heilmann (piano)

MDG  MDG9082231 (Hybrid SACD)

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9313718--mahler-brahms-martin-vocal-works

 

 

Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin

Iestyn Davies (countertenor)

Joseph Middleton (piano)

Signum  SIGCD697

https://signumrecords.com/product/schubert-die-schone-mullerin/SIGCD697/

 

 

11.20am – Record of the Week

 

 

JS Bach: Matthäus-Passion

Julian Prégardien (Evangelist)

Stéphane Degout (Christus)

Sabine Devieilhe (soprano)

Hana Blažiková (soprano)

Lucile Richardot (mezzo)

Tim Mead (countertenor)

Reinoud Van Mechelen (tenor)

Emiliano Gonzalez Toro (tenor)

Christian Immler (bass-baritone)

Maitrise de Radio France         

Pygmalion

Raphaël Pichon

Harmonia Mundi  HMM90269193 (3CDs)

https://store.harmoniamundi.com/format/971780-j-s-bach-matthaus-passion-bwv-244

 

 

***  ENDS *** 

Broadcast

  • Sat 26 Mar 2022 09:00
    BBC Radio 3

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