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Beethoven's String Quartet in F, Op 18 No 1, with Laura Tunbridge and Andrew McGregor

Laura Tunbridge chooses her favourite recording of Beethoven's dynamic String Quartet in F, Op 18 No 1, plus a round-up of the week's best classical new releases.

9.30 am
Building a Library
Laura Tunbridge recommends her favourite recording of Beethoven's String Quartet in F, Op 18 No 1.

In Vienna at the end of the 18th century, Beethoven was in his late 20s, the supreme keyboard composer-improviser of his day. With dogged determination and a degree of circumspection he began picking off various genres over which the shadows of the late Mozart and the very much alive Haydn loomed large. With piano sonatas, piano trios and string trios under his belt, it took two laborious years to complete the Op 18 set of six string quartets. The first of the set was intended to make a big impression. Its imposing scale and wide expressive range are typical of the young Beethoven, including a restless dynamic energy and a tragic slow movement inspired, he said, by the tomb scene of Romeo and Juliet.

10.45 am
Kenneth Hamilton with new albums of solo piano music.

11.20 am
Record of the Week: an outstanding new release.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No. 32 in C Major, Hob. I:32: I. Allegro molto

    Orchestra: Heidelberger Sinfoniker. Conductor: Johannes Klumpp.
    • Haydn: Complete Symphonies, Vol. 26.
    • haenssler CLASSIC.
    • 301.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Sonata no.1 in F minor Op.1

    Performer: Alexander Melnikov.
    • Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1, 3 & 5, Visions Fugitives.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.
  • Thomas Adès

    The Four Quarters: IV. The Twenty-fifth Hour

    Ensemble: Castalian String Quartet.
    • Between Two Worlds.
    • Delphian.
    • 10.
  • John Dowland

    Come heavy sleep

    Music Arranger: Sini Simonen. Ensemble: Castalian String Quartet.
    • Between Two Worlds.
    • Delphian.
    • 11.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Suite from "Pelléas et Mélisande", Op. 46: I. At the Castle Gate

    Orchestra: The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.
    • Sibelius: Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 105 & Other Orchestral Works.
    • Ondine.
    • 301.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Suite from "Pelléas et Mélisande", Op. 46: II. Mélisande

    Orchestra: The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.
    • Sibelius: Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 105 & Other Orchestral Works.
    • Ondine.
    • 302.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Suite from "The Age of Gold", Op 22a (1935 Version): III. Polka

    Orchestra: Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.
    • Shostakovich: Jazz & Variety Suites.
    • BIS.
    • 203.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Suite from "The Age of Gold", Op 22a (1935 Version): IV. Dance

    Orchestra: Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.
    • Shostakovich: Jazz & Variety Suites.
    • BIS.
    • 204.
  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu, H 777: No. 9. Duett & No. 19. Chor

    Singer: Kieran Carrel. Singer: Lore Binon. Orchestra: Il Gardellino. Choir: Vlaams Radiokoor. Conductor: Bart Van Reyn.
    • C.P.E. Bach: Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu, H. 777.
    • Passacaille.
    • 9.
  • Dorothee Eberhardt

    Horntrio Kymata: II. -

    Performer: Korbinian Altenberger. Performer: Christoph Ess. Performer: Boris Kusnezow. Ensemble: Trio Tricolor.
    • Magma.
    • Genuin.
    • 602.
  • Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber

    Violin Sonata No. 3 in F major: III. Presto

    Performer: Lina Tur Bonet. Ensemble: Musica Alchemica.
    • Biber: Violin Sonatas.
    • Glossa.
    • 3.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Piano Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 28: III. Allegro molto

    Performer: Steven Osborne.
    • Rachmaninov: Piano Sonata No 1 & Moments musicaux.
    • Hyperion.
    • 3.
  • Benjamin Yusupov

    Melancholy

    Performer: Marija Bokor.
    • Piano Works by Bartók, Vaughan Williams & Yusupov.
    • Prospero Classical.
    • 19.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    L'Oiseau de feu, K010, Tableau 1 (Arr. for Piano by Igor Stravinsky): Movements 15-17

    Performer: Alexey Zuev. Music Arranger: Igor Stravinsky.
    • Stravinsky: The Complete Piano Solos & Transcriptions.
    • Fuga Libera.
    • 18.
  • Frédéric Chopin

    Prelude in C-Sharp Minor, No 25, Op 45

    Performer: Yoav Levanon.
    • A Monument To Beethoven.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 12.
  • Anton Bruckner

    Symphony No. 4 in E-Flat Major, WAB 104 "Romantic" (2nd Version): IV. Finale

    Orchestra: Bruckner Orchester Linz. Conductor: Markus Poschner.
    • Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E-Flat Major, WAB 104 "Romantic" (2nd Version).
    • CapriccioNR.
    • 104.

Record Review

9.00am

 

Haydn: Complete Symphonies Volume 26: nos. 11, 15, 32, 107

Heidelberger Sinfoniker

Johannes Klumpp

Hänssler  HC22019

https://haensslerprofil.de/shop/sinfon-musik/haydn-vol-26/

 

 

Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1, 3 & 5, Visions Fugitives

Alexander Melnikov (piano)

Harmonia Mundi  HMM902204

https://store.harmoniamundi.com/release/305354-alexander-melnikov-prokofiev-piano-sonatas-nos-1-3-5-visions-fugitives

 

 

Between Two Worlds: Lassus, Beethoven, Adès & Dowland

Castalian String Quartet

Delphian  DCD34272

https://www.delphianrecords.com/products/between-two-worlds-ades-beethoven-dowland-lassus

 

 

Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 7; Pelléas Et Mélisande; King Christian II

Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Nicholas Collon

Ondine  ODE 1404-2

https://www.ondine.net/?lid=en&cid=2.2&oid=6852

 

 

9.30am - Building A Library: Laura Tunbridge on Beethoven's String Quartet in F, Op 18 No 1

 

 

Recommended Recording:  

 

Cuarteto Casals

Harmonia Mundi  HMM90240002b (3 CDs)

https://store.harmoniamundi.com/release/189582-cuarteto-casals-beethoven-intgrale-des-quatuors-vol1-inventions-

 

 

Other Recommendations:

 

Jerusalem Quartet

Harmonia Mundi  HMC902207/08 (2 CDs)

 

 

Chiaroscuro Quartet

BIS  BIS2488 (Hybrid SACD)

https://bis.se/orchestras-ensembles/chiaroscuro-quartet/beethoven-string-quartets-op-18-vol-1

 

 

 

 

10.15am – new releases

 

Shostakovich: Jazz & Variety Suites

Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Andrew Litton

BIS  BIS2472 (Hybrid SACD)

https://bis.se/conductors/litton-andrew/shostakovich-jazz-and-variety-suites

 

 

C.P.E. Bach: Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu, H. 777

Lore Binon (soprano)

Kieran Carrel (tenor)

Andreas Wolf (baritone)

Vlaams Radiokoor

Il Gardellino

Bart Van Reyn

Passacaille  PAS1115

https://www.passacaille.be/gb/recent-releases/341-cpe-bach-die-auferstehung-und-himmelfahrt-jesu.html

 

 

Magma: Works By Dorothee Eberhardt

Monet Quintett

Trio Tricolor

Genuin  GEN22785

https://www.genuin.de/en/04_d.php?k=641

 

 

Biber: Violin Sonatas

Lina Tur Bonet (violin)

Musica Alchemica

Glossa  GCD924701

http://www.glossamusic.com/glossa/reference.aspx?id=546

 

 

10.40am – New Releases: Kenneth Hamilton on new solo piano music albums

 

Rachmaninov: Piano Sonata No 1 & Moments musicaux

Steven Osborne (piano)

Hyperion  CDA68365

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68365

 

 

Piano Works by Bartók, Vaughan Williams & Yusupov

Marija Bokor (piano)

Prospero Classical  PROSP65552

https://prospero.8merch.com/product/marija-bokor-piano-recital-cd/

 

 

Stravinsky: The Complete Piano Solos & Transcriptions

Alexey Zuev (piano)

Fuga Libera  FUG777 (5 CDs)

https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/stravinsky-complete-piano-solos-transcriptions

 

 

A Monument To Beethoven

Yoav Levanon (piano)

Warner Classics  9029642552

https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/monument

 

 

 

 

11.20am – Record of the Week

 

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major 'Romantic'

(1878-80 Version, plus alternative ‘Country Fair’ finale)

Bruckner Orchester Linz

ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra

Markus Poschner

Capriccio  C8083

http://capriccio.at/bruckner24-4-the-complete-versions-edition

 

 

 

 

***  ENDS *** 

 

 

Broadcast

  • Sat 7 May 2022 09:00

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