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Vaughan Williams's Fourth Symphony in Building a Library with Mark Lowther and Andrew McGregor

The ultimate recommendation for Vaughan Williams's intensely dramatic Fourth Symphony, plus recent opera releases reviewed by Flora Willson.

The ultimate recommendation for Vaughan Williams's intensely dramatic Fourth Symphony, plus recent opera releases reviewed by Flora Willson.

Presented by Andrew McGregor

9.30am
Mark Lowther joins Andrew to discuss a huge range of recorded performances of the Fourth Symphony of Ralph Vaughan Williams, who was born 150 years ago this autumn. First performed in 1935, its austerity and directness seem to presage the looming horror of World War II.

10.40am
Flora Willson has been listening to recent opera releases, including Weber's Der Freischutz and works by Viktor Ullmann and Erich Korngold.

11.15am
Record of the Week
Andrew's pick of the best new release of the last seven days.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Trad.

    She's Like The Swallow

    Performer: William Vann. Music Arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams. Singer: Roderick Williams.
    • Ralph Vaughan Williams: Folk Songs Volume 4.
    • Albion Records.
    • 13.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Rhapsodie d'Auvergne, Op. 73, R. 201

    Performer: Alexandre Kantorow. Ensemble: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Jean‐Jacques Kantorow.
    • Saint-Saëns: Works for Piano & Orchestra.
    • BIS.
    • 501.
  • Johann Adolph Scheibe

    Sonata No 2 in B Minor, IV. Vivace

    Performer: Johannes Pramsohler. Performer: Philippe Grisvard.
    • A Cembalo certato e Violino solo.
    • Audax.
    • 4.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Prelude, Fugue & Riffs for Solo Clarinet and Jazz Ensemble

    Performer: Chris Richards. Ensemble: Katia Labèque. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle. Ensemble: Marielle Labèque. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • NAZARENO!.
    • LSO Live.
    • 1.
  • Manuel Ponce

    Estrellita

    Performer: Anne Akiko Meyers. Performer: Fabio Bidini.
    • Shining Light.
    • Avie.
    • 4.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Quintet in F minor, Op 34: III. Scherzo

    Performer: Boris Giltburg. Ensemble: Pavel Haas Quartet.
    • Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor Op.34 & String Quintet in G major Op.111.
    • Supraphon.
    • 3.
  • Othmar Schoeck

    Elegie, Op 36: 23. Dichterlos & 24. Der Einsame

    Singer: Christian Gerhaher. Orchestra: Kammerochester Basel. Conductor: Heinz Holliger.
    • Schoeck: Elegie, Op. 36.
    • Sony.
    • 23.
  • Richard Birchall

    Clarinet Concerto: III. Impossible Construction

    Performer: Michael Collins. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Robin O’Neill.
    • Mozart & Birchall: Clarinet Concertos.
    • BIS.
    • 303.
  • Viktor Ullmann

    Der Kaiser von Atlantis (opening)

    Orchestra: Munich Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Patrick Hahn.
    • BR Klassik.
  • Richard Wagner

    Tristan und Isolde (Act One excerpt)

    Singer: Nina Stemme. Singer: Peter Seiffert. Orchestra: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper. Conductor: Franz Welser‐Möst.
    • Orfeo.
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Die Tote Stadt: Mariettes Lied

    Singer: Camilla Nylund. Orchestra: Finnish National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Mikko Franck.
    • Opus Arte.
  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Der Freischütz (Overture)

    Ensemble: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: René Jacobs.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Der Freischutz (Act One excerpt)

    Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: René Jacobs.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Moments Musicaux, Op 16: Nos 1 - 4

    Performer: Steven Osborne.
    • Rachmaninov: Piano Sonata No 1 & Moments musicaux.
    • Hyperion.
    • 8.

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.<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

9.00am

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Folk Songs Volume 4

Mary Bevan (soprano)

Nicky Spence (tenor)

Roderick Williams (baritone)

William Vann (piano)

Albion Records ALBCD045

Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Alexandre Kantorow (piano)

Tapiola Sinfonietta

Jean-Jacques Kantorow

BIS BIS2400 (Hybrid SACD)

A Cembalo Certato E Violino Solo – music by JS Bach, Telemann, Scheibe, etc.

Phillipe Grisvard (harpsichord)

Johannes Pramsohler (violin)

Audax ADX13783 (3 CDs)

NAZARENO! Bernstein, Stravinsky, Golijov

Katia & Marielle Labèque (pianos)

Chris Richards (clarinet)

Gonzalo Grau (Latin percussion)

Raphaël Séguinier (Latin percussion)

London Symphony Orchestra

Sir Simon Rattle

LSO Live LSO0836 (Hybrid SACD)

9.30am - Building A Library: Mark Lowther on Vaughan Williams’ Fourth Symphony

Recommended Recording:

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Bernard Haitink

Warner Classics 9847592

Other Recommendations:

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Andrew Manze

Onyx ONYX4161

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Ryan Wigglesworth

LPO LPO0082

鶹Լ Symphony Orchestra

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Naxos 8.111048

10.15am – new releases

Shining Night – music by Corelli, Ponce, Piazzolla, etc.

Anne Akiko Meyers (violin)

Fabio Bidini (piano)

Jason Vieaux (guitar)

Avie AV2455

Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor Op.34 & String Quintet in G major Op.111

Pavel Haas Quartet

Boris Giltburg (piano)

Pavel Nikl (viola)

Supraphon SU43062

Schoeck: Elegie, Op. 36

Christian Gerhaher (baritone)

Kammerorchester Basel

Heinz Holliger

Sony 19439963302

Mozart & Birchall: Clarinet Concertos

Michael Collins (basset clarinet)

Philharmonia Orchestra

Wigmore Soloists

Robin O'Neill

BIS BIS2647 (Hybrid SACD)

10.40am – New Releases: Flora Willson on new opera releases

Ullmann: Der Kaiser von Atlantis, Op. 49b

Juliana Zara (Bubikopf, a soldier; soprano)

Christel Loetzsch (the drummer; mezzo-soprano)

Johannes Chum (harlequin / a soldier; tenor )

Adrian Eröd (Kaiser Overall; baritone)

Lars Woldt (The Loudspeaker; bass)

Tareq Nazmi (Death; bass)

Munich Radio Orchestra

Patrick Hahn

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde

Peter Seiffert (Tristan; tenor)

Nina Stemme (Isolde; soprano)

Janina Baechle (Brangäne; mezzo-soprano)

Stephen Milling (König Marke; bass)

Jochen Schmeckenbecher (Kurwenal; baritone)

Wiener Staatsoper

Franz Welser-Möst

Orfeo C210123 (3 CDs)

Korngold: Die Tote Stadt

Klaus Florian Vogt (Paul; tenor)

Camilla Nylund (Marietta; soprano)

Markus Eiche (Frank/Fritz; baritone)

Sari Nordqvist (Brigitta; mezzo-soprano)

Kaisa Ranta (Juliette; soprano)

Finnish National Opera

Mikko Franck

Opus Arte OACD9050D (2 CDs)

Weber: Der Freischütz

Maximilian Schmitt (Max; tenor)

Polina Pasztircsák (Agathe; soprano)

Kateryna Kasper (Ännchen; soprano)

Dimitry Ivashchenko (Kaspar; bass)

Yannick Debus (Kilian; baritone)

Matthias Winckhler (Kuno; bass)

Christian Immler (Hermit; bass)

Max Urlacher (Samiel; spoken role)

Freiburger Barockorchester

Zürcher Sing-Akademie

René Jacobs

Harmonia Mundi HMM90270001 (2 CDs)

11.20am – Record of the Week

Rachmaninov: Piano Sonata No 1 & Moments musicaux

Steven Osborne (piano)

Hyperion CDA68365

Broadcast

  • Sat 14 May 2022 09:00

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