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Mahler's Symphony No 6 in Building a Library with Edward Seckerson and Andrew McGregor

In Building a Library, Edward Seckerson chooses his favourite recording of Mahler's Symphony No 6 in A minor, plus a round-up of some of the best new classical releases.

Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.

9.30 am
Kate Kennedy shares some new releases that have caught her attention with Andrew and reveals her 'On Repeat' choice and explains her current preoccupation with it.

10.30 am
Building a Library
Edward Seckerson chooses his favourite recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 6 in A minor.

More often than not, Mahler's symphonies end positively, whether in triumph, exaltation, joyful exuberance, quiet bliss, or resignation and acceptance. But the Sixth is unique in its tragic, minor-key conclusion and this Symphony as a whole is among his darkest music. Intriguingly, he wrote it during one of the happiest periods of his life, the summers of 1903 and 1904. Mahler was convinced that, in his music, he had the ability to foresee and even predict events and, painful though it might be, as an artist he could not avoid doing so. And in 1907, when he looked back on the Sixth Symphony's finale with its 'three hammer blows of fate' he could point to the death of his daughter Maria, the diagnosis of the severe heart disease which would kill him, and the bitter end of his decade as director of the Vienna Opera. Closer to our own times, some have suggested that, as well as tragic autobiography, Mahler was predicting the tragedies of a whole century.

11.20 am
Record of the Week
An exceptional new release.

Send us your On Repeat recommendations at recordreview@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @BBCRadio3

2 hours, 47 minutes

Last on

Sat 7 Jan 2023 09:00
BBC Radio 3

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Rachmaninov's 24 Preludes in Building a Library with Lucy Parham and Hannah French

Next

Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No 2 in G minor in Building a Library with Ben Gernon and Andrew McGregor

See all episodes from Record Review

Music Played

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 3 in G Major, Hob I:3: I. Allegro

    Conductor: Johannes Klumpp. Orchestra: Heidelberger Sinfoniker.
    • Haydn: Complete Symphonies, Vol. 27.
    • haenssler CLASSIC.
    • 101.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Keyboard Suite, HWV 430 in E major 'The Harmonious Blacksmith': Air - Double 1 - Double 2 - Double 3 - Double 4 - Double 5

    Performer: Ton Koopman.
    • Handel: Five Great Suites For Harpsichord (London, 1720).
    • Challenge Classics.
    • 19.

  • Malcolm Arnold

    Divertimento No 2: Fanfare - Nocturne - Chaconne

    • Malcolm Arnold: Clarinet Concerto No. 1 and other works.
    • Chandos.
    • 5.

  • Maurice Ravel

    String Quartet in F major: Assez vif, tres rythme

    Ensemble: Takács Quartet.
    • Hough, Dutilleux & Ravel: String Quartets.
    • Hyperion.
    • 5.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Cello Sonata No 1 In E Minor, Op 38: I. Allegro non troppo

    Performer: Leonard Elschenbroich. Performer: Alexei Grynyuk.
    • Brahms: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2, Four Serious Songs.
    • Onyx.
    • 1.

  • Steve Reich

    WTC / 911: III. WTC

    Ensemble: Kuss Quartet.
    • Krise/Crisis.
    • Rubicon.
    • 8.

  • Franz Schubert

    Erlkonig, D328

    Singer: Matthias Goerne. Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
    • Schubert Revisited.
    • DG.
    • 07.

  • James McMillan

    Ye Sacred Muses (2)

    Ensemble: The King’s Singers. Ensemble: Fretwork.
    • Tom And Will.
    • Signum.
    • 10.

  • Pál Hermann

    Cello Concerto: I. Allegro cantabile

    Orchestra: Lviv International Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Theodore Kuchar.
    • Hermann: Complete Surviving Music, Vol. 1.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 101.

  • Josquin des Prez

    Nymphes des bois/Requiem aeternam (La deploration de Johannes Ockeghem)

    Ensemble: The Gesualdo Six. Conductor: Owain Park.
    • HYPERION.

  • Chiel Meijering

    Rock That Trombone

    Performer: Jörgen van Rijen. Ensemble: Alma Quartet.
    • Mirrored in Time.
    • BIS.
    • 115.

  • Galina Grigorjeva

    Prayer for Cello & Male-Voice Choir

    Performer: Theodor Sink. Choir: National Male Choir of Estonia. Singer: Margus Vellmann. Singer: Grigori Rutškin.
    • Galina Grigorjeva: Music for Male-Voice Choir.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 109.

  • Gaetano Donizetti

    Caterina Cornaro, A 63 (Excerpts): Guerra... Su, corriamo concordi

    Lyricist: Giacomo Sacchèro. Choir: Coro Donizetti Opera. Orchestra: Gli Originali. Conductor: Riccardo Frizza. Singer: Javier Camarena.
    • Signor Gaetano.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 116.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Coronation Mass, K. 317: VI. Agnus Dei

    Choir: Bavarian Radio Symphony Choir. Singer: Sophie Harmsen. Singer: Steve Davislim. Singer: Krešimir Stražanac. Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: Howard Arman. Singer: Katharina Konradi.
    • Mozart: Krönungsmesse, K. 317 & Other Choral Works (Live).
    • BR-Klassik.
    • 108.

  • Bohuslav Martinů

    Piano Trio No 1, H 193 "5 Pièces brèves"

    Ensemble: 葵トリオ.
    • Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1 "5 Pièces brèves" - Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3.
    • haenssler CLASSIC.

  • Billy Taylor

    I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free

    Performer: Christian Reif. Music Arranger: Jeremy Siskind. Singer: Julia Bullock.
    • Walking In The Dark.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 5.

  • Samuel Barber

    Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24

    Singer: Julia Bullock. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Christian Reif.
    • Walking In The Dark.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 6.

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

 

Haydn: Complete Symphonies, Vol. 27

Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra

Johannes Klumpp

Hänssler  HC22077

https://haensslerprofil.de/shop/sinfon-musik/haydn-vol-27-sinfonien-33310814/

 

 

Handel: Five Great Suites For Harpsichord (London, 1720)

Ton Koopman (harpsichord)

Challenge Classics  CC72923

https://challengerecords.com/products/16631647639333/five-great-suites-for-harpsichord-london-1720

 

 

Malcolm Arnold: Clarinet Concerto No. 1 and other works

Michael Collins (clarinet)

BBC Philharmonic

Rumon Gamba

Chandos  CHAN20152

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2020152

 

 

Hough, Dutilleux & Ravel: String Quartets

Takács Quartet

Hyperion  CDA68400

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68400

 

 

09.30am – Kate Kennedy: New Releases

Brahms: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2, Four Serious Songs

Leonard Elschenbroich (cello)

Alexei Grynyuk (piano)

Onyx  ONYX4226

https://onyxclassics.com/release/leonard-elschenbroich-brahms-cello-sonatas/

 

 

Krise/Crisis – music by Haydn, Shostakovich, Reich, etc.

Kuss Quartet

Rubicon  RCD1102

https://rubiconclassics.com/release/kuss-quartet-krise-crisis/

 

 

Schubert Revisited

Matthias Goerne (baritone)

Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen

DG  4839758

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/schubert-revisited-goerne-12859

 

 

Tom & Will - Weelkes and Byrd: 400 Years

King's Singers

Fretwork

Signum  SIGCD731

https://signumrecords.com/product/tom-will-weelkes-byrd-400-years/SIGCD731/

 

 

 

Kate Kennedy: On Repeat

 

Pál Hermann: Complete Surviving Music, Vol. 1

Clive Greensmith (cello)

Kateryna Poteriaieva (violin)

Alina Shevchenko (piano)

Roman Marchenko (piano)

Sofia Soloviy (soprano)

Lviv International Symphony Orchestra

Theodore Kuchar

Toccata Classics  TOCC0443

https://toccataclassics.com/product/pal-hermann-complete-surviving-music-volume-one/

 

 

 

 

10:10 am

 

Listener On Repeat

 

Josquin's legacy – music by Josquin, Willaert, Lhéretier, etc.

The Gesualdo Six

Owain Park

Hyperion  CDA68379

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68379

 

 

 

 

Mirrored in Time – music by Bartók, Schumann, Meijering, etc.

Jörgen van Rijen (trombone)

Alma Quartet

BIS  BIS2616 (Hybrid SACD)

https://bis.se/performers/rijen-jorgen-van/mirrored-in-time-trombone-and-string-quartet

 

 

Galina Grigorjeva: Music For Male-Voice Choir

Theodor Sink (cello)

Estonian National Male Choir

Mikk Uleoja

Toccata Classics  TOCC0679

https://toccataclassics.com/product/galina-grigorjeva-music-for-male-voice-choir/

 

 

Signor Gaetano – music by Donizetti

Javier Camarena (tenor)

Gli Originali

Riccardo Frizza

Pentatone  PTC5186886

https://www.pentatonemusic.com/product/signor-gaetano/

 

 

 

10.30am – Building a Library: Edward Seckerson on Mahler’s Symphony No 6 in A minor

 

Recommended recording:

 

Klaus Tennstedt

London Philharmonic Orchestra

LPO  LPO0038 (2 CDs)

 

 

Other recommendation:

 

Wiener Philharmoniker

Leonard Bernstein

DG  E4276972 (2 CDs)

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/mahler-symphonie-no-6-bernstein-4484

 

 

 

 

 

11:15am

 

Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1 '5 Pièces brèves' - Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3

Aoi Trio

Hänssler  HC22029

https://haensslerprofil.de/shop/kammermusik-instrumental/piano-trios-martinu-1-dvorak-3/

 

 

Mozart: Coronation Mass - Vesperae solennes de Dominica

Katharina Konradi (soprano)

Sophie Harmsen (mezzo-soprano)

Steve Davislim (tenor)

Krešimir Stražanac (bass)

Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin

Howard Arman

BR Klassik  900530

 

 

11.25am – Record of the Week

 

Walking in the Dark – music by Billy Taylor, Barber, Denny, etc.

Julia Bullock (soprano)

Philharmonia Orchestra

Christian Reif (piano and conductor)

Nonesuch  7559790817

https://www.nonesuch.com/albums/walking-in-the-dark

 

 

 

 

Broadcast

  • Sat 7 Jan 2023 09:00
    BBC Radio 3

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