Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Building a Library: Britten: Les Illuminations

With Andrew McGregor. Including Building a Library: Britten: Les Illuminations; Recent releases including including Judith Weir, Lachenmann and Harry Partch; Disc of the Week.

with Andrew McGregor

0930
Erica Jeal compares available versions of Britten's Les Illuminations and makes a personal recommendation.

Throughout his career, Britten's instinct was unerring when it came to choosing texts suitable to set to music. The 25-year-old Britten's selection of Rimbaud's poetry in Les Illuminations is a dazzling demonstration both of that and his equally sure touch for idiomatic vocal and instrumental writing. But although it quickly became the province of Peter Pears in particular and tenors in general, Les Illuminations was dedicated to and premiered by Sophie Wyss, marking the final flourish of Britten's love affair with the soprano voice. So who will 'have the key to this savage parade' - soprano or tenor?

1045
Gillian Moore listens to a wide-ranging selection of recent releases of 20th- and early 21st-century music including Judith Weir, Helmut Lachenmann, Harry Partch and Harrison Birtwistle.

1145
Andrew chooses an outstanding recording for his Disc of the Week.

3 hours, 12 minutes

Last on

Sat 27 Jun 2015 09:00
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Building a Library: Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg;

Next

Building a Library: Rodgers and Hammerstein: Carousel

See all episodes from CD Review

Clip

Music Played

  • Arnold Schoenberg

    Gurrelieder For Soloists, Chorus And Orchestra

    Orchestra: COLOGNE Gurzenich Orchestra. Conductor: Markus Stenz.
    • Hyperion: CDA68081/2.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.

  • Cécile Chaminade

    Piano Sonata in C minor, Op 21 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Johann Blanchard.
    • Dabringhaus und Grimm MDG 904 1871-6.
    • Dabringhaus und Grimm.
    • 3.

  • Cécile Chaminade

    Souvenir d'enfance

    Performer: Johann Blanchard.
    • Dabringhaus und Grimm.

  • Christopher Simpson

    Pavin (20 Ayres No.4)

    Ensemble: Chelys Consort of Viols.
    • BIS.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Quartet No. 1 In E Flat Major Op.12 For Strings (ii Canzonetta)

    Ensemble: Escher String Quartet.
    • BIS-1960.
    • BIS.
    • 2.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Trio No. 1 In D Minor Op.49 For Piano And Strings (i. Opening)

    Performer: Trio Dali.
    • Zig-Zag Territoires ZZT 364.
    • Zig-Zag Territoires.
    • 1.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Trio No. 1 In D Minor Op.49 For Piano And Strings (i. Opening)

    Ensemble: Sitkovetsky Trio.
    • BIS: 2109 SACD.
    • BIS.
    • 5.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Piano Trio No 1 in D minor, Op 49 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Sitkovetsky Trio.
    • BIS: 2109 SACD.
    • BIS.
    • 6.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Trio No. 1 In D Minor Op.49 For Piano And Strings (ii. Andante)

    Performer: Trio Dali.
    • Zig-Zag Territoires ZZT 364.
    • Zig-Zag Territoires.
    • 2.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Piano Trio No 2 in C minor, Op 66 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Sitkovetsky Trio.
    • BIS: 2109 SACD.
    • BIS.
    • 1.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Trio No. 2 In C Minor Op.66 For Piano And Strings (iii. Scherzo)

    Performer: Trio Dali.
    • Zig-Zag Territoires ZZT 364.
    • Zig-Zag Territoires.
    • 8.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Sonata No. 2 In D Major Op.58 For Cello And Piano (iii. Adagio)

    Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Hyperion: CDA68079.
    • Hyperion.
    • 9.

  • Arnold Schoenberg

    Gurrelieder For Soloists, Chorus And Orchestra

    Singer: Claudia Mahnke. Singer: Barbara Haveman. Orchestra: COLOGNE Gurzenich Orchestra. Conductor: Markus Stenz. Singer: Brandon Jovanovich.
    • Hyperion: CDA68081/2.
    • Hyperion.
    • 8.

9.00am

Mozart: Opera Arias and Overtures

MOZART: Le nozze di Figaro, K492: Overture; Deh vieni, non tardar (from Le nozze di Figaro); Idomeneo, K366: Overture; Quando avran fine omai ... Padre, germani, addio! (from Idomeneo); Don Giovanni, K527: Overture; Batti, batti, o bel Masetto (from Don Giovanni); Vedrai, carino (from Don Giovanni); La clemenza di Tito, K621: Overture; S'altro che lacrime (from La clemenza di Tito); La finta giardiniera, K196: Overture; Appena mi vedon (from La finta giardiniera); Cosi fan tutte, K588: Overture; Ei parte...Per pieta (from Cosi fan tutte)

Elizabeth Watts (soprano), Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Christian Baldini

LINN CKD460 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Cecile Chaminade Piano Works

CHAMINADE: Sonate op.21; Etudes symphonique op.28; Etudes de concert op.35; Etude melodique op.118; Etude pthetique op.124; Etude romantique op.132; Etude humristique op.138; Etude scolastique op.139; Souvenir d’enfance

Johann Blanchard (piano)

MDG 904 1871-6 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Christopher Simpson: Ayres & Graces

SIMPSON, C: 20 Ayres for Two Trebles and Two Basses; Four Divisions for two viols and b.c.

Chelys Consort of Viols, Dan Tidhar (chamber organ / harpsichord), James Akers (theorbo / baroque guitar),

BIS BIS2153 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Handel: The Musick for the Royal Fireworks

HANDEL: Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV351; Concerto a due cori in F major, HWV 334; Concerto a due cori No. 1 in B flat major HWV 332; Concerto a due cori in F major, HWV 333

Zefiro, Alfredo Bernardini (conductor)

ARCANA A386 (CD)

Ìý

9.30am Building a Library

Erica Jeal compares recordings of Britten’s Les Illuminations and makes a personal recommendation.

Top Recommendation:

ÌýBritten: Les Illuminations

BRITTEN: Les illuminations Op. 18; Prelude & Fugue for 18 strings Op. 29; Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge Op. 10; Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal, for tenor, horn and strings

Karina Gauvin (soprano), Les Violons du Roy, Jean-Marie Zeitouni

ATMA ACD22601 (CD)

10.15am Chamber music by Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 4

MENDELSSOHN: String Quartet No. 1 in E flat major Op. 12; String Quartet in E flat major Op. ‘0’; String Quartet No. 4 in E minor Op. 44 No. 2

Escher String Quartet

BIS BIS1960 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Mendelssohn & Bach: Trios

BACH, J S: Chorale Prelude BWV659 'Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland'; Chorale Prelude BWV639 'Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ'

MENDELSSOHN: Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor Op. 49; Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor Op. 66

Trio Dali

ZIGZAG ZZT364 (CD)

Ìý

Mendelssohn: Piano Trios Nos. 1 & 2

MENDELSSOHN: Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor Op. 49; Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor Op. 66

Sitkovetsky Trio

BIS BIS2109 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Mendelssohn, Grieg & Hough: Cello Sonatas

GRIEG: Cello Sonata in A minor Op. 36

HOUGH: ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Sonata for cello and piano left hand 'Les adieux'

MENDELSSOHN: Cello Sonata No. 2 in D major Op. 58

Steven Isserlis (cello), Stephen Hough (piano)

HYPERION CDA68079 (CD)

10.50am New Releases – Gillian Moore on contemporary music

Gillian Moore joins Andrew live in the studio to listen to a wide-ranging selection of recent releases of 20th- and early 21st-century music including Judith Weir, Helmut Lachenmann, Harry Partch and Harrison Birtwistle.

Ìý

Judith Weir: Storm

WEIR: All the Ends of the Earth; Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (2011); Missa del Cid; The Song Sung True; Storm

Â鶹ԼÅÄ Singers, Choristers of Temple Church, Endymion, David Hill (conductor)

SIGNUM SIGCD421 (CD)

Ìý

Lachenmann: Schreiben Double (Grido II)

LACHENMANN: Schreiben; Double (Grido II)

SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg, Lucerne Festival Acedemy Ensemble, Lucerne Festival Academy Ensemble, Sylvain Cambreling (conductor), Matthias Hermann

KAIROS KAI0013342 (CD)

Ìý

Masterworks of the 20th Century

BERIO: serenata (1957)

BOULEZ: Le Marteau sans maitre; Livre pour cordes; Sonatine for flute and piano

CRUMB, G: Vox Balaenae (Voice of the Whale); Night of the Four Moons (1969)

HAUBENSTOCK-RAMATI: Interpolation

IVES, C: Piano Sonata No. 2 Op. 19 'Concord, Mass., 1840-1860'

MADERNA: Oboe Concerto No. 1

NONO: Music for Flute and String Orchestra: Y su sangre ya viene cantando

PARTCH: Daphne of the Dunes; Castor and Pollux

SCHULLER, GUNTHER: 7 Studies on Themes of Paul Klee

STRAVINSKY: Agon ‘Ballet for Twelve Dancers’

TAKEMITSU: Requiem for string orchestra; Green; The Dorian Horizon

SONY 88875061902 (10CD budget)

Ìý

RIHM: Et Lux

Huelgas Ensemble, Minguet Quartett, Paul van Nevel (conductor)

ECM 4811585 (CD)

Ìý

Birtwistle: Angel Fighter

BIRTWISTLE: Angel Fighter; In Broken Images; Virelai (Sus une fontayne)

Andrew Watts (Angel), Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts (Jacob), Â鶹ԼÅÄ Singers, London Sinfonietta, David Atherton (conductor)

NMC NMCD211 (CD)

11. 45am Disc of the Week

SCHOENBERG: Gurrelieder

Barbara Haveman (soprano), Claudia Mahnke (mezzo), Brandon Jovanovich (tenor), Gerhard Siegel (tenor), Thomas Bauer (baritone), Johannes Martin Kranzle (speaker), Gurzenich-Orchester Koln, Domkantorei Koln, Mannerstimmen des Kolner Domchores, Vokalensemble Kolner Dom, Chor des Bach-Vereins Koln, Kartauserkantorei Koln, Markus Stenz (conductor)

HYPERION CDA68081/2 (2CD mid-price)

Ìý

Broadcast

  • Sat 27 Jun 2015 09:00
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

Record Review

CD Review has become Record Review - listen here