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Beethoven's Missa Solemnis in Building a Library with Elin Manahan Thomas and Andrew McGregor

Elin Manahan Thomas compares recordings of Beethoven's Missa solemnis and picks her favourite. Iain Burnside reviews new releases of chamber music.

with Andrew McGregor.

9.30 Building a Library

Elin Manahan Thomas compares recordings of Beethoven's Missa solemnis and chooses her favourite.

Beethoven's setting of the Solemn Mass is one of the monuments of choral music. Written between 1819 and 1823, it is widely thought of as one of Beethoven's towering achievements. It was dedicated to Archduke Rudolf of Austria, one of Beethoven's most generous patrons as well as pupil and friend. The copy given to Rudolf was inscribed with the phrase: "From the heart – may it return to the heart!"

10.45
Iain Burnside reviews recent recordings of chamber music by Haydn, Beethoven and Chopin with Andrew McGregor.

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

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Hugo Alfvén

    Aftonen (Arr. for Solo Voice & Piano)

    Performer: Peter Friis Johansson. Lyricist: Herman Sätherberg. Singer: Elin Rombo.
    • At 鶹Լ with Hugo Alfvén: Songs & Piano Pieces.
    • BIS.
    • 101.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 69 in C Major, Hob I:69: I. Allegro vivace

    Orchestra: Kammerorchester Basel. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • Haydn 2032, Vol. 12: Les jeux et les plaisirs.
    • Alpha.
    • 1.
  • Franz Schubert

    Die schone Mullerin, D795: Songs 1 - 4

    Performer: Julius Drake. Singer: Gerald Finley.
    • Schubert: Die Schone Mullerin.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Rondo for Violin and Orchestra in C, K373: Allegretto grazioso

    Performer: Zefira Valova. Orchestra: Il Pomo d’Oro.
    • Violin Concertos: Benda, Graun, Saint-Georges, Sirmen.
    • Aparte.
    • 13.
  • Ferdinand Ries

    Grand Sextuor in C major, Op 100: II. Andante

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Ries: Piano Trio & Sextets.
    • Hyperion.
    • 2.
  • Jules Massenet

    Souvenez-vous, Vierge Marie! - La Chanson de Musette

    Performer: Hervé Niquet. Singer: Véronique Gens. Orchestra: Orchestre de chambre de Paris. Singer: Cyrille Dubois.
    • Massenet: Songs with Orchestra.
    • Bru Zane.
    • 8.
  • Owain Park

    Miserere (after Allegri)

    Choir: Corvus Consort. Ensemble: Ferio Saxophone Quartet. Director: Freddie Crowley.
    • Revoiced.
    • Chandos.
    • 4.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Feldeinsamkeit, Op 86 No 2

    Performer: Antônio Meneses. Performer: Gérard Wyss.
    • Brahms: Cello Sonatas & Songs.
    • Avie.
    • 4.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Cello Sonata No. 5 in D major, Op 102 No 2: III. Allegro - Allegro fugato

    Performer: Roel Dieltiens. Performer: Andreas Staier.
    • Beethoven: Cello Sonatas, Op. 102 - Bagatelles, Opp. 119 & 126.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 16.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Cello Sonata in G minor, Op 19: IV. Allegro mosso

    Performer: Jean‐Guihen Queyras. Performer: Alexander Melnikov.
    • Chopin, Rachmaninoff: Cello Sonatas.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 8.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Piano Trio No 28 in D major, Hob XV16: II. Andantino piu tosto allegretto & III. Vivace assai

    Performer: Jérôme Hantaï. Performer: Marc Hantaï. Performer: Alix Verzier.
    • Haydn: Trios Avec Piano.
    • Mirare.
    • 7.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    String Quartet No 2 in A minor, Op 13: IV. Presto - adagio non lento

    Ensemble: Danish String Quartet.
    • Prism IV.
    • 10.
  • Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

    Aladdin, Act I, Scenes 7 - 10

    Lyricist: Benjamin Feddersen. Singer: Elisabeth Jansson. Singer: Bror Magnus Todenes. Singer: Steffen Bruun. Choir: Danish National Concert Choir. Orchestra: Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Schønwandt.
    • Aladdin.
    • Dacapo.
    • 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.

9.00am

At 鶹Լ with Hugo Alfvén: Songs & Piano Pieces

Elin Rombo (soprano)

Peter Friis Johansson (piano)

BIS BIS2575 (Hybrid SACD)

Haydn 2032, Vol. 12: Les jeux et les plaisirs

Basel Chamber Orchestra

Giovanni Antonini

Alpha ALPHA690

Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin

Gerald Finley (baritone)

Julius Drake (piano)

Hyperion CDA68377

Violin Concertos: Benda, Graun, Saint-Georges, Sirmen & Mozart’s Rondo in C major K. 373

Il Pomo d'Oro

Zefira Valova

Aparté AP291

9.30am - Building A Library: Elin Manahan-Thomas on Beethoven’s Missa solemnis

Recommended Recording:

Gundula Janowitz (soprano)

Christa Ludwig (mezzo-soprano)

Fritz Wunderlich (tenor)

Walter Berry (bass)

Wiener Singverein

Berliner Philharmoniker

Herbert von Karajan

DG 4530162 (2 CDs)

Other recommendation:

Elisabeth Söderström (soprano)

Marga Höffgen (contralto)

Waldemar Kmentt (tenor)

Martti Talvela (bass)

New Philharmonia Chorus

New Philharmonia Orchestra

Otto Klemperer

Warner Classics 2435675462

Laura Aikin (soprano)

Bernarda Fink (alto)

Johannes Chum (tenor)

Ruben Drole (bass)

Concentus Musicus Wien

Arnold Schoenberg Chor

Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Sony 88985313592

10.15am – new releases

Ries: Piano Trio & Sextets

The Nash Ensemble

Hyperion CDA68380

Massenet: Songs with Orchestra

Chantal Santon Jeffery (soprano)

Jodie Devos (soprano)

Nicole Car (soprano)

Véronique Gens (soprano)

Cyrille Dubois (tenor)

Étienne Dupuis (baritone)

Orchestre de Chambre de Paris

Hervé Niquet

Bru Zane BZ2004

Revoiced – music by Schütz, JS Bach, Park, etc.

Corvus Consort

Ferio Saxophone Quartet

Freddie Crowley

Chandos CHAN 20260

10.40am – New Releases: Iain Burnside on new chamber music recordings

Brahms: Cello Sonatas & Songs

Antonio Meneses (cello)

Gérard Wyss (piano)

Avie AV2493

Chopin, Rachmaninoff: Cello Sonatas

Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello)

Alexander Melnikov (piano)

Harmonia Mundi HMM902643

Beethoven: Cello Sonatas, Op. 102 - Bagatelles, Opp. 119 & 126

Roel Dieltiens (cello)

Andreas Staier (fortepiano)

Harmonia Mundi HMM902429

Haydn: Trios Avec Piano

Jérôme Hantaï (pianoforte)

Marc Hantaï (flute)

Alessandro Moccia (violin)

Alix Verzier (cello)

Mirare MIR636

Prism IV – Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Mozart

Danish String Quartet

ECM 4857503

11.20am – Record of the Week

C.F.E. Horneman: Aladdin

Bror Magnus Tødenes (Aladdin; tenor)

Johan Reuter (Noureddin; baritone)

Dénise Beck (Gulnare; soprano)

Stephen Milling (The Sultan; bass)

Henning Von Schulman (The Vizier; bass)

Danish National Symphony Orchestra

Danish National Concert Choir

Michael Schønwandt

Da Capo 6.200007 (3 Hybrid SACDs)

Broadcast

  • Sat 2 Jul 2022 09:00

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