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Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony in Building A Library with Edward Seckerson and Andrew McGregor

Edward Seckerson compares recordings of Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony in E minor and chooses his favourite, plus Natasha Loges reviews new concerto recordings with Andrew McGregor.

9.30 Building a Library

Edward Seckerson compares recordings of Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony in E minor and chooses his favourite. Today, Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony is one of the composer's most popular works. Rachmaninov composed it in Dresden, during a period of retirement from concert activities, and conducted its premiere in Saint Petersburg in January 1908, to great critical acclaim. In his 2nd symphony, Rachmaninov introduces a single motto at the beginning that appears and evolves in each of the four movements, a compositional idea that can also be seen in Tchaikovsky, who was a great early influence on him. The symphony is a large-scale work lasting an hour that begins with dark, brooding melodic lines and ends in a triumphant scherzo finale.

10.45
Natasha Loges reviews new and recent concerto recordings with Andrew McGregor.

11.20
Record of the Week
Andrew recommends an outstanding new release.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Last on

Sat 25 Jun 2022 09:00
BBC Radio 3

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Haydn's operas in Building a Library with Roger Parker and Andrew McGregor

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Beethoven's Missa Solemnis in Building a Library with Elin Manahan Thomas and Andrew McGregor

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Music Played

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Tosca, SC 69 Act 1: Recondita armonia

    Singer: Freddie De Tommaso. Singer: Lise Davidsen. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni.
    • Il Tenore.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Ermenegildo Del Cinque

    Sonata No. 15 for Three Cellos in C major: I. Adagio, II. Spiritoso moderato

    Performer: Ludovico Minasi. Performer: Teodoro Baù. Performer: Cristina Vidoni. Performer: Simone Vallerotonda. Performer: Andrea Buccarella.
    • Ermenegildo del Cinque: Sonatas for Three Cellos.
    • Arcana.
    • 9.

  • Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek

    Symphony in D major, Op 24: III. Scherzo

    Orchestra: Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt.
    • Mozart: Symphony No. 38 'Prague' & Voříšek: Symphony in D Major.
    • Accentus Music.
    • 6.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Non potra (from Orlando)

    Singer: Giulia Semenzato. Orchestra: Kammerorchester Basel.
    • Angelica diabolica.
    • Alpha.
    • 7.

  • Christoph Willibald Gluck

    Don Juan (ending)

    Ensemble: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.

  • Arcangelo Corelli

    Strepiti sonori: Sinfonia per le trombe, Sinfonia grande con le trombe: Vivace - Allegro - Adagio

    Ensemble: Ensemble Exit. Ensemble: L'Ensemble Hemiolia. Director: Emmanuel Resche-Caserta.
    • Corelli & Melani: Trionfo Romano.
    • Chateau de Versailles Spectacles.
    • 1.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Dances and Folk Song Setting from Pan's Anniversary: Pan Is Our All

    Singer: Jess Dandy. Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Ensemble: Britten Sinfonia. Director: William Vann.
    • Ralph Vaughan Williams: Pan's Anniversary and Other Works.
    • Albion.
    • 11.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    String Quartet No 2 in A minor, Op 13: I. Adagio - Allegro vivace

    Ensemble: Danish String Quartet.
    • Prism IV.
    • ECM.
    • 7.

  • David Lang

    The Writings No.2 If I am Silent

    Ensemble: Cappella Amsterdam.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    The Four Seasons: Spring, RV269: I. Spring

    Performer: Jacob Reuven. Performer: Omer Meir Wellber. Ensemble: Sinfonietta Leipzig.
    • Vivaldi & Piazzolla: The mandolin seasons.
    • Hyperion.
    • 5.

  • Astor Piazzolla

    Cuatro Estaciones Portenas: IV. Verano porteno

    Performer: Jacob Reuven. Ensemble: Sinfonietta Leipzig. Director: Omer Meir Wellber.
    • Vivaldi & Piazzolla: The mandolin seasons.
    • Hyperion.
    • 12.

  • Dora Pejačević

    Piano Concerto in G minor Op.33 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Peter Donohoe. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
    • Dora Pejacevic: Piano Concerto & Symphony.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.

  • Dora Pejačević

    Symphony in F sharp minor, Op.41; III Scherzo

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
    • Dora Pejačević: Piano Concerto & Symphony.
    • Chandos.
    • CHSA5299.
    • 7.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Piano Concerto No 1 in G minor, Op 25: II. Andante

    Performer: Yuja Wang. Conductor: Kurt Masur. Orchestra: Verbier Festival Orchestra.
    • Yuja Wang Plays Mendelssohn.
    • DG.
    • 2.

  • Heitor Villa‐Lobos

    Bachianas Brasileiras No 4: II. Coral (Canto do Sertao)

    Performer: Eric Kim. Orchestra: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jesús López Cobos.
    • Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras Nos. 2, 4 & 8.
    • Telarc.
    • 6.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Piano Concerto No 2 in G minor, Op 22: III. Presto

    Performer: Alexandre Kantorow. Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Jean‐Jacques Kantorow.
    • Saint-Saens: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2.
    • BIS.
    • 3.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    The Great Venetian Mass: Sanctus - Benedictus - Agnus Dei

    Singer: Lucile Richardot. Ensemble: Les Arts Florissants. Conductor: Paul Agnew.
    • Vivaldi: The Great Venetian Mass.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 21.

Record Review

The link below each recording takes you directly to the label’s website. Please be aware that non-UK labels may be cheaper via a record store or an online retailer.

 

9.00am

 

Il Tenore – music by Puccini and Bizet

Freddie De Tommaso (tenor)

Lise Davidsen (soprano)

Natalya Romaniw (soprano)

Aigul Akhmetshina (mezzo)

Philharmonia Orchestra

Paolo Arrivabeni

Decca  4852945

https://www.deccaclassics.com/en/artists/freddie-de-tommaso

 

 

Ermenegildo del Cinque: Sonatas for Three Cellos

Ludovico Minasi (cello, direction)

Cristina Vidoni (cello)

Teodoro Baù (cello)

Simone Vallerotonda (archlute, guitar)

Andrea Buccarella (harpsichord)

Arcana  A528

https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/del-cinque-sonatas-three-cellos

 

 

Mozart: Symphony No. 38 'Prague' & Voříšek: Symphony in D Major

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Herbert Blomstedt

Accentus  ACC30574

https://accentus.com/discs/mozart-vorisek-herbert-blomstedt-gewandhausorchester/

 

 

Angelica diabólica – music by Porpora, Steffani, Handel, etc.

Giulia Semenzato (soprano)

Basel Chamber Orchestra

Alpha  ALPHA830

https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/angelica-diabolica

 

 

Gluck: Don Juan - Semiramis

Le Concert Des Nations

Jordi Savall

Alia Vox  AVSA9949 (Hybrid SACD)

https://www.alia-vox.com/en/catalogue/gluck-don-juan-semiramis/

 

 

9.30am - Building A Library: Edward Seckerson on Rachmaninov’s 2nd Symphony

 

 

Recommended Recording:

 

St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra

Mariss Jansons

Warner Classics  5850752

 

 

Other recommendation:

 

London Symphony Orchestra

André Previn

Warner Classics  0852892

https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/rachmaninov-symphony-no-2

 

 

 

 

 

10.15am – new releases

 

Corelli & Melani: Trionfo Romano

Emmanuelle de Negri (soprano)

Ensemble Exit

Ensemble Hemiolia

Emmanuel Resche-Caserta (violin, direction)

Château de Versailles Spectacles  CVS071

https://tickets.chateauversailles-spectacles.fr/uk/merchandising/38385/cvs071-cd-trionfo-romano

 

 

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Pan's Anniversary and Other Works

Mary Bevan (soprano)

Sophie Bevan (soprano)

Johnny Herford (baritone)

Samuel West (narrator)

Timothy West (narrator)

Choir of Clare College, Cambridge

Britten Sinfonia

William Vann

https://rvwsociety.com/pans-anniversary/

 

 

Prism IV – music by JS Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn

Danish String Quartet

ECM  4857306

https://www.ecmrecords.com/catalogue/1648123614

 

 

David Lang: The Writings

Cappella Amsterdam

Daniel Reuss

Pentatone  PTC5187001

https://www.pentatonemusic.com/product/david-lang-the-writings/

 

 

10.40am – New Releases: Natasha Loges on new concerto recordings

 

Vivaldi & Piazzolla: The mandolin seasons

Jacob Reuven (mandolin)

Omer Meir Wellber (accordion, harpsichord, conductor)

Sinfonietta Leipzig

Hyperion  CDA68357

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68357

 

 

Dora Pejačević: Piano Concerto & Symphony

Peter Donohoe (piano)

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Sakari Oramo

Chandos  CHSA5299 (Hybrid SACD)

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%205299

 

 

Yuja Wang Plays Mendelssohn

Yuja Wang (piano)

Kirill Troussov (violin)

David Aaron Carpenter (viola)

Maxim Rysanov (viola)

Sol Gabetta (cello)

Leigh Mesh (double bass)

Verbier Festival Orchestra

Kurt Masur

DG  4863002

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/yuja-wang-plays-mendelssohn-12659

 

 

Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras Nos. 2, 4 & 8

Eric Kim (cello)

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Jesús López Cobos

Telarc  444737

 

 

Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Alexandre Kantorow (piano)

Tapiola Sinfonietta

Jean-Jacques Kantorow

BIS  BIS2400 (Hybrid SACD)

https://bis.se/performers/kantorow-alexandre/saint-saens-piano-concertos-nos-1-2

 

 

11.20am – Record of the Week

 

Vivaldi: The Great Venetian Mass

Sophie Karthäuser (soprano)

Lucile Richardot (mezzo-soprano)

Les Arts Florissants

Paul Agnew

Harmonia Mundi  HAF8905358

https://store.harmoniamundi.com/format/1046547-vivaldi-the-great-venetian-mass

 

Broadcast

  • Sat 25 Jun 2022 09:00
    BBC Radio 3

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