Schubert's Symphony No 5 in Building a Library with Sarah Devonald and Andrew McGregor
In Building a Library, Sarah Devonald chooses her favourite recording of Schubert's Symphony No 5 in B flat, and Katy Hamilton shares a clutch of exciting new classical releases.
Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.
9.30 am
Katy Hamilton comes into the studio with a clutch of exciting new releases and shares her 'On Repeat' track – a recording which she is currently listening to again and again.
10.30 am
Building a Library: Sarah Devonald chooses her favourite recording of Schubert Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D. 485.
When he wrote his fifth symphony at the age of 19, Schubert was working unhappily as an assistant teacher in his father's school. But he was nevertheless on a compositional roll with songs, chamber music and four other symphonies to his name, all of which were performed by amateur and professional musicians made up from family and friends.
This genial, small-scale group gave the 1816 premiere of the symphony in the home of Otto Hatwig, violinist in Vienna's Burgtheater orchestra. And the jolly music seems to echo that cheerful ensemble, Schubert picking up from the classical models of 25 years earlier, seemingly oblivious to Beethoven's decade-plus of ground-breaking musical developments that were soon to become so influential.
11.20 am
Record of the Week: Andrew’s top pick.
Send us your On Repeat recommendations at recordreview@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @BBCRadio3
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Edward Elgar
La Capricieuse Op. 17
Performer: Daniel Lozakovich. Performer: Stanislav Soloviev.- Elgar: La Capricieuse Op. 17.
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
- 1.
-
![]()
Fortunato Chelleri
Astri Aversi (Amalasunta)
Singer: Adèle Charvet. Ensemble: Le Consort.- ALPHA.
-
![]()
Johann Gottlieb Janitsch
Quartet in D major Mvt III. Allegro assai
Performer: Johannes Pramsohler. Ensemble: Ensemble Diderot.- Audax.
-
![]()
Guillaume Connesson
Divertimento (Dynamique)
Music Arranger: Vlatko Nushev. Performer: Simon Trpceski. Performer: Gjorgi Dimchevski. Performer: Sorin Spacinovici. Performer: Alexander Somov. Performer: Hidan Mamudov. Performer: Vlatko Nushev.- LINN.
-
![]()
Richard Strauss
4 Last Songs: September
Performer: Helmut Winkel. Music Arranger: Franz Zimol. Choir: KammerChor Saarbrücken. Conductor: Georg Grün.- Rondeau.
-
![]()
Emánuel Moór
Sonata for cello and piano in C Minor, op. 22, Op. 22: III. Allegro ma non tropp
Performer: David Stromberg. Performer: Florian Uhlig.- Sonatas for Cello and Duplex Piano.
- Oehms Classics.
- 3.
-
![]()
Louis Moreau Gottschalk
Gottschalk's Melody
Performer: Philip Martin.- Gottschalk - Piano Music Volume 3.
- Hyperion.
- 3.
-
![]()
Antonín Dvořák
Slavonic Dances, Op. 72: No. 2 in E Minor
Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Václav Talich.- Naxos.
-
![]()
Edward Elgar
Sea Pictures, Op. 37 IV. Where Corals Lie
Singer: Dame Sarah Connolly. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Oliver Zeffman.- PLATOON.
-
![]()
Grace Williams
Sea Sketches I. High Wind
Singer: Dame Sarah Connolly. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Oliver Zeffman.- PLATOON.
-
![]()
John Dowland
Lachrimae Mvt I. Lachrimae antiquae
Ensemble: Musicall Humors.- ALPHA.
-
![]()
John Dowland
Lachrimae Mvt II. The King of Denmark's Galliard
Ensemble: Musicall Humors.- ALPHA.
-
![]()
George Frideric Handel
"As with Rosy Steps the Morn" from Theodora
Singer: Joyce DiDonato. Orchestra: Il Pomo d’Oro. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.- Handel: Theodora, HWV 68.
- Warner Classics.
- 20.
-
![]()
Felix Mendelssohn
Song without Words, Op. 62 No. 2 in B flat major
Performer: Peter Donohoe.- Mendelssohn: Songs without words, Vol. 2.
- Chandos.
- 119.
-
![]()
Thomas Adès
Dante, Pt. 1 "Inferno" Mvt I - VI.
Choir: Los Angeles Master Chorale. Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.- Nonesuch.
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.
Spirits – violin encores by Brahms, Debussy, Elgar, Falla, Gluck, Kreisler.
Daniel Lozakovich (violin)
Stanislav Soloviev (piano)
Deutsche Grammophon 4862492 (EP, Digital Download)
https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/spirits-daniel-lozakovich-12864
Teatro Sant'Angelo: Vivaldi, Chelleri, Ristori - – arias from 18th Century Venice
Adèle Charvet (mezzo-soprano)
Le Consort
Alpha ALPHA938
https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/vivaldi-chelleri-ristori-teatro-santangelo
Sonate a Quattro: Goldberg, Fasch, Handel, Janitsch, Telemann
Ensemble Diderot
Johannes Pramsohler (violin)
Audax ADX11201
https://www.audax-records.fr/adx11201
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 12 and 15
BBC Philharmonic
John Storgårds
Chandos CHSA5334 (Hybrid SACD)
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%205334
Friendship – Brahms, Sahoc, Connesson
Simon Trpčeski (piano)
Gjorgi Dimchevski (violin)
Sorin Spasinovici (viola)
Alexander Somov (cello)
Hidan Mamudov (clarinet)
Vlatko Nushev (percussion)
Linn CKD726
https://www.linnrecords.com/recording-friendship
09.30am – Katy Hamilton: New Releases
Richard Strauss: 4 Letzte Lieder
Kammerchor Saarbrücken
Helmut Winkel (violin)
Georg Grün (conductor)
Rondeau ROP6241
https://www.rondeau.de/New-Releases/Richard-Strauss-Letzte-Lieder::534.html
Steve Reich: Music For 18 Musicians
Colin Currie (percussion/director)
Colin Currie Group
Synergy Vocals
Colin Currie Records CCR0006 (Hybrid SACD)
https://shop.colincurrie.com/collections/catalogue/products/steve-reich-music-for-18-musicians
Sonatas for Cello and Duplex Piano - Moór, Dohnányi, Richard Strauss
David Stromberg (cello)
Florian Uhlig (piano)
Oehms OC497
Missy Mazzoli: Dark with Excessive Bright
Peter Herresthal (violin)
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Arctic Philharmonic
James Gaffigan (Conductor)
Tim Weiss (Conductor)
BIS BIS2572 (Hybrid SACD)
https://bis.se/performers/herresthal-peter/missy-mazzoli-dark-with-excessive-bright
Katy Hamilton: On Repeat
Gottschalk - Piano Music Volume 3
Philip Martin (piano)
Hyperion CDA66915
Listener On Repeat
Václav Talich conducts Dvorak's Slavonic Dances
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Václav Talich (conductor)
Naxos 8111331
https://naxosdirect.co.uk/items/dvorak-slavonic-dances-143648
10.10am – New Releases
Live at the Cutty Sark (Music X Museums) – Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Grace Williams
Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Oliver Zeffman (conductor)
Platoon PLAT17563 (Digital Download)
Dowland: Lachrimæ
Musicall Humors
Alpha ALPHA944
https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/john-dowland-complete-lachrimae
10.30am – Building a Library: Sarah Devonald on Schubert’s Symphony no. 5 in Bb
Recommended recording:
Franz Schubert – Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6
The Chamber Orchestra Of Europe
Claudio Abbado (conductor)
Deutsche Grammophon 423 6541
https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/schubert-symphonien-no-5-6-abbado-6495
Also recommended:
Schubert: Unfinished
Concentus Musicus Wien
Stefan Gottfried (conductor)
Aparté AP247
Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 3, 4 & 5
Svenska Kammarorkestern
Thomas Dausgaard (conductor)
BIS BIS1786 (Hybrid SACD)
https://bis.se/label/bis/schubert-symphonies-3-4-5
11:15 am
Handel: Theodora
Lisette Oropesa (Theodora)
Joyce DiDonato (Irene)
Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian (Didymus)
Michael Spyres (Septimius)
John Chest (Valens)
Il Pomo d'Oro
Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor)
Erato 5419717791 (3 CDs)
https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/handel-theodora
Felix Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words, Vol. 2
Peter Donohoe (piano)
Chandos CHAN20267
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2020267
11.25am – Record of the Week
Thomas Adès: Dante
Los Angeles Master Chorale
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel (conductor)
Nonesuch 7559790616 (2 CDs)
https://www.nonesuch.com/albums/dante
Broadcast
- Sat 22 Apr 2023 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.