Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Andrew McGregor with William Mival

A round-up of the best 2018 new classical releases, and in Building a Library William Mival picks a favourite recording of Richard Strauss's orchestral showpiece Till Eulenspiegel.

Throughout today's programme Andrew McGregor is joined by Record Review regulars Katy Hamilton, Jeremy Sams, Harriet Smith to hear them round up and play their top recordings of 2018.

09.30
Building a Library: William Mival picks a personal favourite from among the recordings of Richard Strauss's Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche (Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks).

In an exhilarating tour de force of orchestral writing and musical form, Strauss's 1895 symphonic poem depicts the exploits of the 14th century Till Eulenspiegel. Rascally, foolish and mischievous, courageous and scornful, Till rampages through medieval German society, leaving destruction and outrage in his wake as he confronts and exposes pomposity and hypocrisy. By identifying himself through musical brilliance as an anarchic devil-may-care hero, Strauss was at least in part giving the finger to the musical establishment after the critical dubbing of his recently premiered first opera Guntram. Late in life, Strauss said of Till 'I just wanted to give the people in the concert hall a good laugh for once.' Or was that, too, just another prank...?

3 hours, 13 minutes

Last on

Sat 15 Dec 2018 09:00
麻豆约拍 Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Andrew McGregor with Iain Burnside and Flora Willson

Next

22/12/2018

See all episodes from Record Review

Music Played

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto No. 3 'Autumn' Op.8 No.2: III. Allegro

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.
    • Channel Classics.

  • John Christopher Smith

    'It comes! It comes! It must be death!'

    Singer: Ruby Hughes. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Laurence Cummings.
    • Chandos.

  • John Adams

    Doctor Atomic: Act 1. 'Am I in your light?'

    Singer: Julia Bullock. Orchestra: 麻豆约拍 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: John Adams.
    • Nonesuch.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Piano Concerto No.4 in G minor, Op.40: I. Allegro vivace (Alla breve)

    Performer: Daniil Trifonov. Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick N茅zet鈥怱茅guin.
    • DG.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Piano Trio in C Major, Hob. XV:21: II. Molto andante

    Ensemble: Trio Wanderer.
    • Haydn: Piano Trios, HOB. XV:14, 18, 21, 26 & 31.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 8.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Piano Trio in E-Flat Minor, Hob. XV:27: II. Allegro [Jacob's Dream]

    Ensemble: Trio Wanderer.
    • Haydn: Piano Trios, HOB. XV:14, 18, 21, 26 & 31.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 14.

  • William Cornysh

    Ave Maria mater Dei

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Coro.

  • Philip Cooke

    Ave Maria, mater Dei

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers. Singer: Emilia Morton. Singer: Julie Cooper.
    • Coro.

  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 65: II. Scherzo

    Performer: D茅nes V谩rjon. Performer: Steven Isserlis.
    • Hyperion.

  • Franz Schubert

    Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, D821: I. Allegro moderato

    Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: D茅nes V谩rjon.
    • Hyperion.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Acis and Galatea: Act I. 'Oh, the pleasure of the plains!

    Ensemble: Early Opera Company. Conductor: Christian Curnyn.
    • Chandos.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Acis and Galatea: Act II. 'Wretched Lovers! Fate Has Past'

    Singer: Neal Davies. Ensemble: Early Opera Company. Conductor: Christian Curnyn.
    • Chandos.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude and Fughetta in G major, BWV902: Prelude

    Performer: V铆kingur 脫lafsson.
    • DG.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Chorale Prelude, BWV734 'Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein'

    Performer: V铆kingur 脫lafsson.
    • DG.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    'Widerstehe doch der S眉nde, BWV54 (transcribed 脫lafsson)

    Performer: V铆kingur 脫lafsson.
    • DG.

  • Ruth Gipps

    Symphony No.2 in B major, Op. 30: IX. Tempo di Marcia; X. Adagio

    Conductor: Rumon Gamba. Orchestra: 麻豆约拍 National Orchestra of Wales.
    • Chandos.

  • Ruth Gipps

    Symphony No.4, Op.61: I.Moderato - Allegro molto

    Orchestra: 麻豆约拍 National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Chandos.

Record Review

9.00am 鈥� Best of 2018 with Harriet Smith, Katy Hamilton & Jeremy Sams 鈥� Part 1

Vivaldi: Four Seasons; Il riposo per il Santissimo Natale; L鈥檃moroso & Il grosso mogul
Rachel Podger (violin)
Brecon Baroque (ensemble)
With:
Johannes Pramsohler (violin)
Sabine Stoffer (violin)
Jane Rogers (viola)
Alison McGillivray (violoncello)
Jan Spencer (violone)
Daniele Caminiti (theorbo)
Marcin Swiatkiewicz (harpsichord / Chamber organ)
Channel Classics CCS SA 40318 (Hybrid SACD)

鈥楬andel鈥檚 Last Prima Donna / Giulia Frasi in London鈥� 鈥� operatic arias for soprano by Handel, Ciampi, Arne, John C. Smith & Hayes
Ruby Hughes (soprano)
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Laurence Cummings (conductor)
CHANDOS Chaconne CHSA0403 (Hybrid SACD)


John Adams: Doctor Atomic
Gerald Finley (Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer)
Brindley Sherratt (Edward Teller)
Andrew Staples (Robert Wilson)
Julia Bullock (Kitty Oppenheimer)
Jennifer Johnston (Pasqualita)
Aubrey Allicock (General Leslie Groves)
Marcus Farnsworth (Frank Hubbard)
Samuel Sakker (Captain James Nolan)
麻豆约拍 Singers
麻豆约拍 Symphony Orchestra
John Adams (conductor)
Nonesuch 7559793107 (2 CDs)

鈥楧estination Rachmaninov, Departure鈥� 鈥� Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto Nos. 2 & 4 + JS Bach: Partita for Violin Solo No.3 in E Major arr. Piano by Rachmaninov
Daniil Trifonov (piano)
Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick N茅zet-S茅guin (conductor)
DG 4835335

听

9.30am 鈥� Building a Library 鈥� William Mival on R. Strauss鈥檚 Till Eulenspiegel鈥檚 lustige Streiche

Composer: Richard Strauss
Reviewer: William Mival

Recommended Recording:

Staatskapelle Dresden
Rudolf Kempe (conductor)
Warner Classics 5747562 (download)
Warner Classics 4317802 (9 CD听 Box Set)

Other Recommended Recording:

Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra
David Zinman
Arte Nova 74321870712

Budapest Festival Orchestra
Ivan Fischer
Hungaroton HCD12899

Cleveland Orchestra
George Szell
Sony Classical SBK48272

10.20am 鈥� Best of 2018 with Harriet Smith, Katy Hamilton & Jeremy Sams 鈥� Part 2

Haydn: Piano Trios Hob.XV:21 in A flat major, XV:18 in A major, XV:21 in C major, XV:26 in F sharp major, XV:31 in E flat minor
Trio Wanderer
Harmonia Mundi HMM902321

鈥楽tar of Heavem 鈥� The Eton Choirbook Legacy鈥�: Choral music by Cooke, Cornysh, Galvani, Hough, Lambe, MacMillan, Phibbs & Wylkynson
The Sixteen
Harry Christophers (conductor)
Coro COR16166

Chopin: Cello Sonata & Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata
Steven Isserlis (cello)
D茅nes V谩rjon (piano)
Hyperion CDA68227


Handel: Acis and Galatea
Lucy Crowe (Galatea)
Allan Clayton (Acis)
Benjamin Hulett (Damon)
Neal Davies (Polyphemus)
Jeremy Budd (Coridon)
Rowan Pierce (Chorus)
Early Opera Company
Christian Curnyn (conductor)
Chandos CHSA 0404 (2 hybrid SACDs)


Solo piano works and transcriptions by JS Bach
V铆kingur 脫lafsson (piano)
DG 4835022


Ruth Gipps: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4, Song for Orchestra & Knight in Armour
麻豆约拍 National Orchestra of Wales
Rumon Gamba (conductor)
Chandos CHAN20078

Broadcast

  • Sat 15 Dec 2018 09:00
    麻豆约拍 Radio 3

Composers A to Z

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

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.