Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony in Building A Library with Edward Seckerson and Andrew McGregor
Edward Seckerson compares recordings of Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony in E minor and chooses his favourite, plus Natasha Loges reviews new concerto recordings with Andrew McGregor.
9.30 Building a Library
Edward Seckerson compares recordings of Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony in E minor and chooses his favourite. Today, Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony is one of the composer's most popular works. Rachmaninov composed it in Dresden, during a period of retirement from concert activities, and conducted its premiere in Saint Petersburg in January 1908, to great critical acclaim. In his 2nd symphony, Rachmaninov introduces a single motto at the beginning that appears and evolves in each of the four movements, a compositional idea that can also be seen in Tchaikovsky, who was a great early influence on him. The symphony is a large-scale work lasting an hour that begins with dark, brooding melodic lines and ends in a triumphant scherzo finale.
10.45
Natasha Loges reviews new and recent concerto recordings with Andrew McGregor.
11.20
Record of the Week
Andrew recommends an outstanding new release.
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Music Played
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Giacomo Puccini
Tosca, SC 69 Act 1: Recondita armonia
Singer: Freddie De Tommaso. Singer: Lise Davidsen. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni.- Il Tenore.
- Decca.
- 1.
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Ermenegildo Del Cinque
Sonata No. 15 for Three Cellos in C major: I. Adagio, II. Spiritoso moderato
Performer: Ludovico Minasi. Performer: Teodoro Ba霉. Performer: Cristina Vidoni. Performer: Simone Vallerotonda. Performer: Andrea Buccarella.- Ermenegildo del Cinque: Sonatas for Three Cellos.
- Arcana.
- 9.
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Jan V谩clav Hugo Vo艡铆拧ek
Symphony in D major, Op 24: III. Scherzo
Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt.- Mozart: Symphony No. 38 'Prague' & Vo艡铆拧ek: Symphony in D Major.
- Accentus Music.
- 6.
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George Frideric Handel
Non potra (from Orlando)
Singer: Giulia Semenzato. Orchestra: Kammerorchester Basel.- Angelica diabolica.
- Alpha.
- 7.
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Christoph Willibald Gluck
Don Juan (ending)
Ensemble: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall. -
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Arcangelo Corelli
Strepiti sonori: Sinfonia per le trombe, Sinfonia grande con le trombe: Vivace - Allegro - Adagio
Ensemble: Ensemble Exit. Ensemble: L'Ensemble Hemiolia. Director: Emmanuel Resche-Caserta.- Corelli & Melani: Trionfo Romano.
- Chateau de Versailles Spectacles.
- 1.
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Ralph Vaughan Williams
Dances and Folk Song Setting from Pan's Anniversary: Pan Is Our All
Singer: Jess Dandy. Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Ensemble: Britten Sinfonia. Director: William Vann.- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Pan's Anniversary and Other Works.
- Albion.
- 11.
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Felix Mendelssohn
String Quartet No 2 in A minor, Op 13: I. Adagio - Allegro vivace
Ensemble: Danish String Quartet.- Prism IV.
- ECM.
- 7.
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David Lang
The Writings No.2 If I am Silent
Ensemble: Cappella Amsterdam. -
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Antonio Vivaldi
The Four Seasons: Spring, RV269: I. Spring
Performer: Jacob Reuven. Performer: Omer Meir Wellber. Ensemble: Sinfonietta Leipzig.- Vivaldi & Piazzolla: The mandolin seasons.
- Hyperion.
- 5.
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Astor Piazzolla
Cuatro Estaciones Portenas: IV. Verano porteno
Performer: Jacob Reuven. Ensemble: Sinfonietta Leipzig. Director: Omer Meir Wellber.- Vivaldi & Piazzolla: The mandolin seasons.
- Hyperion.
- 12.
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Dora Peja膷evi膰
Piano Concerto in G minor Op.33 (3rd mvt)
Performer: Peter Donohoe. Orchestra: 麻豆约拍 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.- Dora Pejacevic: Piano Concerto & Symphony.
- Chandos.
- 1.
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Dora Peja膷evi膰
Symphony in F sharp minor, Op.41; III Scherzo
Orchestra: 麻豆约拍 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.- Dora Peja膷evi膰: Piano Concerto & Symphony.
- Chandos.
- CHSA5299.
- 7.
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Felix Mendelssohn
Piano Concerto No 1 in G minor, Op 25: II. Andante
Performer: Yuja Wang. Conductor: Kurt Masur. Orchestra: Verbier Festival Orchestra.- Yuja Wang Plays Mendelssohn.
- DG.
- 2.
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Heitor Villa鈥怢obos
Bachianas Brasileiras No 4: II. Coral (Canto do Sertao)
Performer: Eric Kim. Orchestra: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jes煤s L贸pez Cobos.- Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras Nos. 2, 4 & 8.
- Telarc.
- 6.
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Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns
Piano Concerto No 2 in G minor, Op 22: III. Presto
Performer: Alexandre Kantorow. Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Jean鈥怞acques Kantorow.- Saint-Saens: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2.
- BIS.
- 3.
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Antonio Vivaldi
The Great Venetian Mass: Sanctus - Benedictus - Agnus Dei
Singer: Lucile Richardot. Ensemble: Les Arts Florissants. Conductor: Paul Agnew.- Vivaldi: The Great Venetian Mass.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 21.
Record Review
The link below each recording takes you directly to the label鈥檚 website. Please be aware that non-UK labels may be cheaper via a record store or an online retailer.
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9.00am
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Il Tenore 鈥� music by Puccini and Bizet
Freddie De Tommaso (tenor)
Lise Davidsen (soprano)
Natalya Romaniw (soprano)
Aigul Akhmetshina (mezzo)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Paolo Arrivabeni
Decca听 4852945
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Ermenegildo del Cinque: Sonatas for Three Cellos
Ludovico Minasi (cello, direction)
Cristina Vidoni (cello)
Teodoro Ba霉 (cello)
Simone Vallerotonda (archlute, guitar)
Andrea Buccarella (harpsichord)
Arcana 听A528
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Mozart: Symphony No. 38 'Prague' & Vo艡铆拧ek: Symphony in D Major
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Herbert Blomstedt
Accentus听 ACC30574
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Angelica diab贸lica 鈥� music by Porpora, Steffani, Handel, etc.
Giulia Semenzato (soprano)
Basel Chamber Orchestra
Alpha听 ALPHA830
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Gluck: Don Juan - Semiramis
Le Concert Des Nations
Jordi Savall
Alia Vox听 AVSA9949 (Hybrid SACD)
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9.30am - Building A Library: Edward Seckerson on Rachmaninov鈥檚 2nd Symphony
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Recommended Recording:
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St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra
Mariss Jansons
Warner Classics听 5850752
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Other recommendation:
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London Symphony Orchestra
Andr茅 Previn
Warner Classics听 0852892
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10.15am 鈥� new releases
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Corelli & Melani: Trionfo Romano
Emmanuelle de Negri (soprano)
Ensemble Exit
Ensemble Hemiolia
Emmanuel Resche-Caserta (violin, direction)
Ch芒teau de Versailles Spectacles听 CVS071
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Ralph Vaughan Williams: Pan's Anniversary and Other Works
Mary Bevan (soprano)
Sophie Bevan (soprano)
Johnny Herford (baritone)
Samuel West (narrator)
Timothy West (narrator)
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
Britten Sinfonia
William Vann
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Prism IV 鈥� music by JS Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn
Danish String Quartet
ECM听 4857306
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David Lang: The Writings
Cappella Amsterdam
Daniel Reuss
Pentatone 听PTC5187001
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10.40am 鈥� New Releases: Natasha Loges on new concerto recordings
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Vivaldi & Piazzolla: The mandolin seasons
Jacob Reuven (mandolin)
Omer Meir Wellber (accordion, harpsichord, conductor)
Sinfonietta Leipzig
Hyperion 听CDA68357
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Dora Peja膷evi膰: Piano Concerto & Symphony
Peter Donohoe (piano)
麻豆约拍 Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo
Chandos听 CHSA5299 (Hybrid SACD)
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Yuja Wang Plays Mendelssohn
Yuja Wang (piano)
Kirill Troussov (violin)
David Aaron Carpenter (viola)
Maxim Rysanov (viola)
Sol Gabetta (cello)
Leigh Mesh (double bass)
Verbier Festival Orchestra
Kurt Masur
DG听 4863002
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Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras Nos. 2, 4 & 8
Eric Kim (cello)
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Jes煤s L贸pez Cobos
Telarc听 444737
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Saint-Sa毛ns: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Alexandre Kantorow (piano)
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Jean-Jacques Kantorow
BIS听 BIS2400 (Hybrid SACD)
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11.20am 鈥� Record of the Week
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Vivaldi: The Great Venetian Mass
Sophie Karth盲user (soprano)
Lucile Richardot (mezzo-soprano)
Les Arts Florissants
Paul Agnew
Harmonia Mundi听 HAF8905358
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- Sat 25 Jun 2022 09:00麻豆约拍 Radio 3
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