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Richard Strauss's Second Horn Concerto in Building a Library with Sarah Willis and Andrew McGregor

Sarah Willis chooses her favourite recording of Richard Strauss's Second Horn Concerto, and Jeremy Sams emerges from this year's avalanche of Christmas albums mostly unscathed.

with Andrew McGregor

9.30 Building a Library
Sarah Willis chooses her favourite recording of Richard Strauss's Second Horn Concerto.

For Romantic Austro-German composers, the horn was an instrument freighted with associations of forest, folklore and heroism. But no composer knew the horn and its possibilities like Richard Strauss: throughout a career beginning in the late 19th century and spanning eight decades, Strauss's orchestral and operatic scores are littered with hundreds of wonderful horn moments, exploiting every aspect of the instrument's range and character. In 1942, 60 years after he had written his first horn concerto (for his father Franz, Europe's foremost horn virtuoso), Strauss dedicated his second 'to the memory my father'. It's a nostalgic work and, like the first concerto, fiendishly difficult to play. But it sums up Strauss's long and affectionate relationship with the horn: the heroic and rhapsodic first movement, followed by a radiant, long-breathed Andante which is capped by a rollicking finale.

10.45
So you don't have to, Jeremy Sams has been listening to this year's crop of Christmas albums and recommends some stocking fillers for friends and family.

11.20
Record of the Week
Andrew recommends an outstanding new release.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Last on

Sat 5 Dec 2020 09:00
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

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Copland's Clarinet Concerto with Mark Simpson and Andrew McGregor

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Franck's Three Organ Chorales in Building a Library with Anna Lapwood and Andrew McGregor

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Music Played

  • Luigi Boccherini

    String Quintet No. 60 in C Major, G. 324 (4th & 5th mvts)

    Music Arranger: Julian Azkoul. Ensemble: United Strings of Europe. Director: Julian Azkoul.
    • In Motion.
    • BIS.
    • 304.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Recondita armonia (Tosca, SC 69)

    Singer: Dmytro Popov. Orchestra: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Conductor: Mikhail Simonyan.
    • Hymns of Love.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 101.

  • William Walton

    Piano Quartet in D Minor (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Matthew Jones. Performer: Sarah-Jane Bradley. Performer: Tim Lowe. Performer: Annabel Thwaite.
    • Walton: Chamber Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 102.

  • Caroline Shaw

    and the swallow

    Conductor: Paul Hillier. Choir: Ars Nova Copenhagen.
    • ...and....
    • Naxos.
    • 101.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 (3rd mvt)

    Composer: Johannes Brahms. Performer: Joseph Moog. Performer: Joseph Moog. Orchestra: Deutsche Radio Philharmonie. Orchestra: Deutsche Radio Philharmonie. Conductor: Nicholas Milton. Conductor: Nicholas Milton.
    • Onyx Classics.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 (3rd mvt)

    Composer: Johannes Brahms. Performer: Joseph Moog. Performer: Joseph Moog. Orchestra: Deutsche Radio Philharmonie. Orchestra: Deutsche Radio Philharmonie. Conductor: Nicholas Milton. Conductor: Nicholas Milton.
    • Onyx Classics.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Dear Adonis, Beauty's Treasure (aria from Venus and Adonis, HWV 85)

    Singer: Dorothee Mields. Orchestra: Die Freitagsakademie.
    • Deutsche HM.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Piano Quintet No. 1 in A minor, Op. 30 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Ironwood.
    • ABC Classics.

  • Steve Reich

    Vermont Counterpoint

    Performer: Anne Parisot. Performer: Delphine Roche.
    • Steve Reich: Eight Lines, City Life & Other Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 301.

  • David Shenton

    Variations on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (After F. Chopin's Etudes)

    Performer: Joanne Polk.
    • Variations on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (After F. Chopin's Etudes).
    • Steinway and Sons.
    • 101.

  • Judith Bingham

    Hark, the Glad Sound

    Performer: Glen Dempsey. Choir: Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge. Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha.
    • Advent Live, Vol. 2.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 1201.

  • Hannah Kendall

    Nativity

    Choir: The Choirs of St Catharine's College, Cambridge. Director: Edward Wickham.
    • Resonus Classics.

  • Traditional Irish

    The Wexford Carol

    Music Arranger: Desmond Earley. Choir: UCD Choral Scholars. Orchestra: Irish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Desmond Earley.
    • Be All Merry.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 701.

  • Karim Al-Zand

    The Mistletoe

    Singer: Dietrich Henschel. Ensemble: Ensemble UnitedBerlin. Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski.
    • Farao.

  • Gustav Holst

    Terry Terlow

    Composer: Trad.. Performer: Charlotte Evans. Performer: Alison Moncrieff-Kelly. Choir: Godwine Choir. Director: Alex Davan Wetton. Conductor: DeFex.
    • EM Records.

  • Trad.

    Maria durch ein Dornwald ging

    Singer: Jonas Kaufmann. Choir: St. Florianer Sängerknaben. Orchestra: Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg. Conductor: Jochen Rieder.
    • Sony.

  • Felix Bernard

    Winter Wonderland

    Singer: Jonas Kaufmann. Ensemble: Cologne Studio Big Band. Director: Wieland Reissmann.
    • Sony.

  • Mel Tormé

    The Christmas Song

    Composer: Robert Wells. Performer: Daniel Hope. Orchestra: Zürcher Kammerorchester.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Bohuslav Martinů

    Violin Concerto No. 1, H. 226

    Performer: Frank Peter Zimmermann. Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jakub Hrůša.
    • Martinů: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 - Bartók: Sonata for Solo Violin.
    • BIS.
    • 4-6.

Record Review

9.00am

Ìý

In Motion: Schubert, Hindson, Boccherini, Corrales, Farr

Amalia Hall (violin)

United Strings of Europe

Julian Azkou (director)

Franck Fontcouberte (conductor)

BIS BIS2529 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Hymns of Love: Puccini, Gounod, Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Ponchielli etc.

Dmytro Popov (tenor)

Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

Mikhail Simonyan (conductor)

Orchid Classics ORC100148

Ìý

William Walton: Piano Quartet, Violin Sonata & Toccata

Matthew Jones (violin)

Sarah-Jane Bradley (viola)

Tim Lowe (cello)

Annabel Thwaite (piano)

Naxos 8573892

Ìý

…a²Ô»å…

Arvo Pärt · Julia Wolfe · Caroline Shaw · Anon-Italy

Ars Nova Copenhagen

Paul Hillier (director)

Naxos 8574281

Ìý

Brahms: Piano Concerto No.1 & Four Pieces for Piano Op. 119

Joseph Moog (piano)

Deutsche Radio Philharmonie

Nicholas Milton (conductor)

Onyx ONYX4214

Ìý

9.30am – Building a Library – Sarah Willis on Richard Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, AV132

Ìý

Composer: Richard Strauss

Reviewer: Sarah Willis

Recommended Recording:

Norbert Hauptmann (horn)

Berliner Philharmoniker

Herbert von Karajan

Deutsche Grammophon ÌýE4577252

Recommended Historical Recording(s):

Ìý

Dennis Brain (horn)

Philharmonia Orchestra

Wolfgang Sawallisch (conductor)

Warner Classics 2060102 (4 CDs)

Ìý

Ìý

10.15am – New Releases

Ìý

Handel's Tea Time

Dorothee Mields (soprano)

Die Freitagsakademie

Deutsche HM 19439792732

Ìý

Farrenc & Saint-Saens: Quintets For Piano and Strings

Ironwood

ABC Classics ABC4819887

Ìý

Reich: Eight Lines, City Life and other works

Steve Reich (sampler)

Anne Parisot (flute)

Delphine Roche (flute)

Andrea Nagy (clarinet)

Jörg Schweinbenz (piano)

Holst-Sinfonietta

Klaus Simon (conductor/piano)

Naxos 8559682

Ìý

Schubert: The Symphonies

Chamber Orchestra of Europe

Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor)

ica classics ICAC 5160 (4 CDs)

Ìý

10.45am – New Releases – Jeremy Sams on new Christmas releases

Ìý

Variations on 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town' (After F. Chopin's Etudes)

Joanne Polk (piano)

Steinway & Sons Steinway30167 (download only)

Ìý

Advent Live, Vol. 2

Choir of St John's College, Cambridge

Andrew Nethsingha (conductor)

Signum SIGCD661

Ìý

Alpha & O: Music for Advent & Christmas

The Choirs of St Catharine's College, Cambridge

Edward Wickham (conductor)

Resonus Classics RES10268

Ìý

Be All Merry

The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin

Irish Chamber Orchestra

Desmond Earley (conductor)

Signum SIGCD643

Ìý

Xmas – Contemporary

Dietrich Henschel (baritone)

Simone Rubino (percussion)

ensemble unitedberlin

Vladimir Jurowski (conductor)

Farao B108106

Ìý

Alpha and Omega: Gustav Holst Christmas Music

Godwine Choir

John Wright (organ)

Alex Davan Wetton, Edward Hughes (conductors)

EM Records EMRCD062

Ìý

Jonas Kaufmann - It's Christmas!

Jonas Kaufmann (tenor)

Till Brönner (trumpet)

Florian Pedarnig (harp)

Bachchor Salzburg

St. Florianer Sängerknaben

Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg

Jochen Rieder (conductor)

Cologne Studio Big Band

Wieland Reissmann (conductor)

Sony 19439786762 (2 CDs)

Ìý

Christmas with Hope

Daniel Hope (violin, director)

Zürcher Kammerorchester

Deutsche Grammophon 00028948398973 (download only)

Ìý

11.15am – Record of the Week

Ìý

Martinů: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 - Bartók: Sonata for Solo Violin

Frank Peter Zimmermann (violin)

Bamberger Symphoniker

Jakub Hruša (conductor)

BIS BIS2457 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Broadcast

  • Sat 5 Dec 2020 09:00
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

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