Schumann's Myrthen in Building a Library with Elin Manahan-Thomas and Andrew McGregor
Elin Manahan-Thomas's pick of the ultimate recording of Schumann's song cycle Myrthen, plus Allyson Devenish's new release selection.
Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music
9.30 am
Pianist, arranger and composer Allyson Devenish chooses her pick of new releases, as well as the track which she has regularly "On Repeat".
10.30 am
Building a Library
Elin Manahan-Thomas's chooses her favourite recording of Schumann's song-cycle Myrthen.
The 26 songs that Schumann published under the title Myrthen (Myrtles) were all composed in 1840, the year in which great songs flowed out of him in a great flood of inspiration. He gave a beautifully bound edition of the Myrthen songs to his bride Clara on the eve of their wedding that year. This cycle contains some of Schumann's most popular songs such as Der Nussbaum and Die Lotosblume. And some of the greatest Lieder singers from Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau to Christian Gerhaher have recorded their interpretations of many of these great songs.
11.20 am
Record of the Week
Andrew's pick of the best of the best this week
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492 (Excerpts): Non più andrai
Lyricist: Lorenzo Da Ponte. Singer: Adam Plachetka. Orchestra: Czech Ensemble Baroque. Conductor: Roman Válek.- Molieri.
- PENTATONE.
- 101.
-
![]()
Joseph Haydn
Symphony No. 6 in D major 'Le Matin', I. Adagio - Allegro
Ensemble: Florilegium. Conductor: Ashley Solomon.- Haydn: Symphonies 6, 7, 8 'Le matin' 'Le midi' 'Le soir'.
- Channel.
- 1.
-
![]()
Georg Frideric Handel
Theodora, HWV 68, Pt 1, Scene 4: Air. "As with Rosy Steps the Morn" (Irene)
Singer: Joyce DiDonato. Ensemble: Il Pomo d’Oro. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.- Handel: Theodora.
- Erato.
- 20.
-
![]()
Igor Stravinsky
Divertimento, Symphonic Suite from 'The Fairy's Kiss': IV. Pas de deux
Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.- Igor Stravinsky: Symphony in C & Symphony in Three Movements.
- Chandos.
- 9.
-
![]()
Antonín Dvořák
XIII: On The Holy Mountain
Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes.- Poetic Tone Pictures.
- Sony.
- 13.
-
![]()
Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No 4 in A minor, D537: II. Allegretto quasi Andantino
Performer: Paul Lewis.- Schubert: Piano Sonatas D. 537, 568 & 664.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 9.
-
![]()
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Piano Trio in D major, Op 1: I. Allegro non troppo, con espressione
Ensemble: Feininger Trio.- Brahms, Korngold: Piano Trios.
- Avi Music.
- 5.
-
![]()
Sergey Rachmaninov
The Isle of the Dead - Symphonic Poem, Op 29
Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.- Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3, Vocalise & The Isle of the Dead.
- Chandos.
- 1.
-
![]()
Johann Sebastian Bach
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 25
Performer: Glenn Gould.- Bach - Goldberg Variations.
- Naxos.
- 33.
-
![]()
Dmitry Shostakovich
Moscow Cheryomushki Suite (Waltz)
Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.- Decca.
-
![]()
Johannes Brahms
Piano Concerto No 2 in B flat major, Op 83: IV. Allegretto grazioso - Un poco piu presto
Performer: Nelson Freire. Orchestra: Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Horst Stein.- Memories: The Unreleased Recordings.
- Decca.
- 17.
-
![]()
Johann Joseph Vilsmayr
Artificiosus Concentus pro Camera a Violin Solo
Performer: Rachel Podger.- Tutta sola.
- Channel.
- 3.
-
![]()
Robert Schumann
Symphony No 2 in C major, Op 61, re-orchestrated by G. Mahler: II. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
Orchestrator: Gustav Mahler. Orchestra: Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.- Schumann: Symphony Nos. 1 & 2 (Re-orchestrated by Mahler).
- Naxos.
- 6.
-
![]()
Ralph Vaughan Williams
The Lark Ascending
Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor. Performer: Hyeyoon Park.- The Lark Ascending.
- Decca.
- 1.
-
![]()
Gioachino Rossini
Messa di Gloria: Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris - Quoniam tu solus Sanctus - Cum Sancto Spiritu
Performer: Alessandro Carbonare. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano. Singer: Michael Spyres. Singer: Carlo Lepore. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Choir: Chorus of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia.- Messa di Gloria.
- Warner Classics.
- 9.
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.
Molieri (Mozart and Salieri Arias)
Adam Plachetka (bass-baritone)
Czech Ensemble Baroque
Roman Válek
Pentatone PTC5187022
https://www.pentatonemusic.com/product/molieri-arias-by-mozart-and-salieri/
Haydn: Symphonies 6, 7, 8 'Le matin' 'Le midi' 'Le soir'
Florilegium
Ashley Solomon
Channel Classics CCS44722
https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/haydn-symphonies-6-7-8-le-matin-le-midi-le-soir
Lisette Oropesa (Theodora; soprano)
Joyce DiDonato (Irene; mezzo-soprano)
Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian (Didymus; countertenor)
Michael Spyres (Septimius; tenor)
John Chest (Valens; baritone)
Il Pomo d'Oro
Maxim Emelyanychev
Erato 5419717791 (3 CDs)
https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/handel-theodora
Igor Stravinsky: Symphony in C & Symphony in Three Movements
BBC Philharmonic
Sir Andrew Davis
Chandos CHSA5315 (Hybrid SACD)
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%205315
09.30am – Allyson Devenish: New Releases
Dvořák: Poetic Tone Pictures, Op.85
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
Sony 19439912092
https://www.sonyclassical.com/releases/releases-details/dvorak-poetic-tone-pictures-op-85
Schubert: Piano Sonatas D. 537, 568 & 664
Paul Lewis (piano)
Harmonia Mundi HMM902690
https://www.harmoniamundi.com/#!/albums/2788
Brahms, Korngold: Piano Trios
Feininger Trio
Avi Music AVI8553513
https://avi-music.de/index_e.html#
Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3, Vocalise & The Isle of the Dead
Sinfonia of London
John Wilson
Chandos CHSA5297 (Hybrid SACD)
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%205297
Allyson Devenish: On Repeat
Bach - Goldberg Variations (1955)
Glenn Gould (piano)
Naxos 8.111247
https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=8.111247
10:10 am
Listener On Repeat
Shostakovich - The Dance Album
Philadelphia Orchestra
Riccardo Chailly
Decca 4525972
Nelson Freire - Memories: The Unreleased Recordings – music by Beethoven, Richard Strauss, Brahms, etc.
Nelson Freire (piano)
Decca 4853136 (2 CDs)
https://www.deccaclassics.com/en/catalogue/products/memories-nelson-freire-12791
Tutta sola – music by JS Bach, Vilsmayr, Tartini, etc.
Rachel Podger (violin)
Channel Classics CCSSA44422 (Hybrid SACD)
https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/tutta-sola
10.30am – Building a Library: Elin Manahan-Thomas on Schumann’s Myrthen
Recommended recording:
Camilla Tilling (soprano)
Christian Gerhaher (baritone)
Gerold Huber (piano)
Sony 19075945362
Other recommendation:
Dorothea Röschmann (soprano)
Ian Bostridge (tenor)
Graham Johnson (piano)
Hyperion CDS44441-50
https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDJ33107 (download only)
11:15 am
Schumann: Symphony Nos. 1 & 2 (Re-orchestrated by Mahler)
ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Marin Alsop
Naxos 8.574429
https://www.naxos.com/featurePages/Details/?id=Marin_Alsop_conducts_Mahlers_revised_orchestrations
Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
Hyeyoon Park (violin)
Benjamin Grosvenor (piano)
Decca (download or streaming)
11.25am – Record of the Week
Rossini: Messa di Gloria
Eleonora Buratto (soprano)
Teresa Iervolino (contralto)
Lawrence Brownlee (tenor)
Michael Spyres (tenor)
Carlo Lepore (bass)
Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Antonio Pappano
Warner Classics 5419723452
https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/rossini-messa-di-gloria
Broadcast
- Sat 29 Oct 2022 09:00BBC Radio 3
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive Radio 3 audio archive of programmes about composers and their works.
Browse previous episodes of the Record Review Podcast
All episodes since 2010, listed alphabetically by composer surname.
Why the music we love as teens stays with us for life
Cognitive neuropyschology can explain why we return to old favourites again and again.