Smetana's The Bartered Bride in Building a Library with Nigel Simeone and Andrew McGregor
Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Smetana's The Bartered Bride and conductor Robert Hollingworth shares some remarkable new releases
Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.
9.30 am
Conductor Robert Hollingworth shares some remarkable new releases which have caught his ear and shares his 'On Repeat' track – a recording which he is currently listening to again and again.
10.30 am
Building a Library: Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Smetana's opera Bartered Bride.
Smetana's infectious and tuneful comic opera follows the course of true love in the face of ambitious parents and a cunning marriage broker. The score is jumping with energetic Czech dance rhythms with polkas and furiants and one of the most sparkling overtures. Nigel Simeone explores the recordings which include performances from the great conductors and singers of the past.
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
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Franz Schubert
Im Frühling, D 882
Music Arranger: Xandi van Dijk. Ensemble: Signum Quartett.- Lebensmuth.
- Pentatone.
- 108.
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Carl Maria von Weber
Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E flat major Op.74 iii) Alla polacca
Performer: Roeland Hendrikx. Orchestra: Rheinische Philharmonie. Conductor: Michel Tilkin.- EVIL PENGUIN.
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Robert Schumann
Waldszenen, Op.82, No. 7 Vogel als Prophet
Performer: Zlata Chochieva.- Naïve.
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Gaspare Spontini
La vestale: Hymne du matin. Fille du ciel, éternelle Vesta
Singer: Marina Rebeka. Singer: Aude Extrémo. Choir: Vlaams Radiokoor. Orchestra: Les Talens Lyriques. Conductor: Christophe Rousset.- Bru Zane.
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Dmitry Shostakovich
Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54 iii) Presto
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda.- LSO Live.
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Claudio Monteverdi
Orfeo: Qual onor di te fia degno
Singer: Marc Mauillon. Ensemble: La Capella Reial de Catalunya. Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.- Château de Versailles Spectacles.
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Claudio Monteverdi
Orfeo: O dolcissimi lumi
Singer: Luciana Mancini. Singer: Marc Mauillon. Ensemble: La Capella Reial de Catalunya. Singer: Yannis François. Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.- Château de Versailles Spectacles.
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Thomas Weelkes
Christ Rising Again
Choir: Choir of Chichester Cathedral. Ensemble: Rose Consort of Viols. Conductor: Charles Harrison. -
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Franz Schubert
String Trio in B-Flat Major, D.471: ii) Andante sostenuto
Composer: Brian Newbould. Ensemble: Sakuntala Trio.- Resonus Classics.
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György Ligeti
Études for piano, book 1: No. 1, Désordre
Performer: Han Chen.- Naxos.
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György Ligeti
Études for piano, book 2: No. 10, Der Zauberlehrling
Performer: Han Chen.- Naxos.
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Michael Flanders and Donald Swann
The Slow Train
Ensemble: Michael Flanders and Donald Swann.- EMI.
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Edward Elgar
Cello Concerto in E minor, Op 85 (4th mvt)
Performer: Jacqueline du Pré. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: John Barbirolli.- EMI.
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Kerensa Briggs
Requiem i) Introit
Performer: Richard Gowers. Singer: Anita Monserrat. Choir: Choir of King’s College, London. Conductor: Joseph Fort.- Delphian.
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Kerensa Briggs
Requiem ii) Kyrie
Performer: Richard Gowers. Singer: Anita Monserrat. Choir: Choir of King’s College, London. Conductor: Joseph Fort.- Delphian.
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César Franck
Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 14 i) Molto moderato quasi lento
Performer: Catherine Montier. Performer: Christophe Gaugué. Ensemble: Trio Wanderer.- Harmonia Mundi.
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Erno Dohnanyi
Variations on a Nursery Tune, Op. 25
Performer: Isata Kanneh‐Mason. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Domingo Hindoyan. -
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Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in D minor Kk.141 arr. for 2 guitars
Music Arranger: Sérgio Abreu. Ensemble: Eden-Stell Guitar Duo.- Deux-Elles.
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Francesco Maria Veracini
Concerto for eight instruments in D major (3rd mvt)
Performer: Chouchane Siranossian. Orchestra: Venice Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Andrea Marcon.- Alpha.
Record Review
9.00am
Schubert - Lebensmuth
Signum Quartet
Pentatone PTC 518 7042
https://www.pentatonemusic.com/product/schubert-lebensmuth/
Carl Maria von Weber – The Clarinet As Prima Donna
Roeland Hendrixx (clarinet)
Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie
Michel Tilkin (conductor)
Evil Penguin EPRC0053
https://www.eprclassic.eu/items/Weber.-The-Clarinet-as-Prima-Donna
Im Freien. Music by Schumann, Ravel, Liszt etc.
Zlata Chochieva (piano)
Naïve V7959
Gaspare Spontini: La Vestale
Marina Rebeka (soprano - Julia)
Stanislas de Barbeyrac (tenor - Licinius)
Tassis Christoyannis (baritone - Cinna)
Aude Extrémo (mezzo-soprano - La Grande Vestale)
Flemish Radio Choir
Les Talens Lyriques
Christophe Rousset (conductor)
Bru Zane BZ1051 (2Ds)
https://bru-zane.com/en/pubblicazione/la-vestale/
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 6 & 15
London Symphony Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)
LSO Live LSO0878 (Hybrid SACD)
https://lsolive.lso.co.uk/products/shostakovich-symphonies-nos-6-15
09.30am – Robert Hollingworth: New Releases
Monteverdi: L’Orfeo
Marc Mauillon (tenor – Orfeo)
Luciana Mancini (mezzo soprano - Euridice & La Musica)
Sara Mingardo (contralto – Messaggiera)
Marianne Beate Kielland (mezzo soprano - Speranza & Proserpina)
La Capella Reial de Catalunya
Le Concert des Nations
Jordi Savall (director)
Château de Versailles CVS080 (2CDs)
https://tickets.chateauversailles-spectacles.fr/uk/merchandising/56247/cvs080-2cd-l-orfeo
What Joy so True. Anthems, Canticles and Consort music by Thomas Weelkes
Choir of Chichester Cathedral
The Rose Consort of Viols
Timothy Ravalde (chamber organ)
Thomas Howell (organ solos)
Charles Harrison (director)
https://www.regent-records.co.uk/product/what-joy-so-true/
Franz Schubert: The Complete String Trios and Purcell Fantasias
Sakuntala Trio
Resonus Classics RES10320
https://www.resonusclassics.com/products/schubert-purcell-string-trios
Ligeti: Etudes and Capriccios
Han Chen (piano)
Naxos 8.574397
https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=8.574397
Robert Hollingworth: On Repeat
At The Drop Of Another Hat
Michael Flanders and Donald Swann
Parlophone CDP 7974662
Listener On Repeat
Jacqueline du Pré. Elgar Cello Concerto.
Jacqueline du Pré (cello)
London Symphony Orchestra
John Barbirolli (conductor)
Warner Classics 5555272
10.10am – New Releases
Kerensa Briggs: Requiem
Anita Monserrat (mezzo-soprano)
The Choir of King’s College London
Richard Gowers (organ)
Joseph Fort (conductor)
Delphian DCD 34298
https://www.delphianrecords.com/products/kerensa-briggs-requiem
Cesar Franck: Piano Quintet, Trio no.1, Violin Sonata. Vierne: Piano Quintet
Trio Wanderer
Catherine Montier (violin)
Christophe Gaugué (viola)
Harmonia Mundi HMM 902318.19 (2CDs)
10.30am – Building a Library: Nigel Simeone on Smetana’s The Bartered Bride
Recommended recording:
Drahomíra Tikalová (soprano)
Ivo Žídek (tenor)
Eduard Haken (bass)
Prague National Theatre Chorus and Orchestra
Zdeněk Chalabala (conductor)
Supraphon SU 0040-2 (2CD and Digital Download)
https://www.supraphon.com/album/969-smetana-the-bartered-bride-opera-in-3-acts
Also recommended:
Gabriela Beňačková (soprano)
Peter Dvorský (tenor)
Richard Novák (bass)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Zdeněk Košler (conductor)
Supraphon SU 3707-2 (2CDs and Digital Download)
https://www.supraphon.com/album/3-smetana-the-bartered-bride-opera-in-3-acts
Historic choice (1952,mono):
Milada Musilová (soprano)
Ivo Žídek (tenor)
Karel Kalaš (bass)
Prague National Theatre Chorus and Orchestra
Jaroslav Vogel (conductor)
Supraphon SU 3980-2 (2CDs and Digital Download)
https://www.supraphon.com/album/45-smetana-the-bartered-bride-opera-in-3-acts
English version:
Susan Gritton (soprano)
Paul Charles Clarke (tenor)
Peter Rose (bass)
Royal Opera Chorus
Philharmonia Orchestra
Charles Mackerras
Chandos CHAN 3128(2) (2CDs)
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%203128
German version:
Pilar Lorengar (soprano)
Fritz Wunderlich (tenor)
Gottlob Frick (bass)
RIAS Chamber Choir
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
Rudolph Kempe (conductor)
EMI/Warner 381872-2
11.15am – New Releases
Childhood Tales. Music by Mozart, Dohnanyi, Schumann, Debussy.
Isata Kanneh-Mason (piano)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Domingo Hindoyan (conductor)
Decca 485 4180
https://www.deccaclassics.com/en/artists/isata-kanneh-mason
Scarlatti Sonatas.
Eden Stell Guitar Duo
Deux-Elles DXL1196
11.25am – Record of the Week
Duello d'Archi A Venezia. Music by Veracini, Locatelli, Tartini, Vivaldi.
Chouchane Siranossian (violin)
Venice Baroque Orchestra
Andrea Marcon (conductor)
Alpha 935
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