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Schumann's Myrthen in Building a Library with Elin Manahan-Thomas and Andrew McGregor

Elin Manahan-Thomas's pick of the ultimate recording of Schumann's song cycle Myrthen, plus Allyson Devenish's new release selection.

Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music

9.30 am
Pianist, arranger and composer Allyson Devenish chooses her pick of new releases, as well as the track which she has regularly "On Repeat".

10.30 am
Building a Library
Elin Manahan-Thomas's chooses her favourite recording of Schumann's song-cycle Myrthen.

The 26 songs that Schumann published under the title Myrthen (Myrtles) were all composed in 1840, the year in which great songs flowed out of him in a great flood of inspiration. He gave a beautifully bound edition of the Myrthen songs to his bride Clara on the eve of their wedding that year. This cycle contains some of Schumann's most popular songs such as Der Nussbaum and Die Lotosblume. And some of the greatest Lieder singers from Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau to Christian Gerhaher have recorded their interpretations of many of these great songs.

11.20 am
Record of the Week
Andrew's pick of the best of the best this week

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492 (Excerpts): Non più andrai

    Lyricist: Lorenzo Da Ponte. Singer: Adam Plachetka. Orchestra: Czech Ensemble Baroque. Conductor: Roman Válek.
    • Molieri.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 101.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No. 6 in D major 'Le Matin', I. Adagio - Allegro

    Ensemble: Florilegium. Conductor: Ashley Solomon.
    • Haydn: Symphonies 6, 7, 8 'Le matin' 'Le midi' 'Le soir'.
    • Channel.
    • 1.
  • Georg Frideric Handel

    Theodora, HWV 68, Pt 1, Scene 4: Air. "As with Rosy Steps the Morn" (Irene)

    Singer: Joyce DiDonato. Ensemble: Il Pomo d’Oro. Conductor: Maxim Emelyanychev.
    • Handel: Theodora.
    • Erato.
    • 20.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    Divertimento, Symphonic Suite from 'The Fairy's Kiss': IV. Pas de deux

    Orchestra: Â鶹ԼÅÄ Philharmonic. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Igor Stravinsky: Symphony in C & Symphony in Three Movements.
    • Chandos.
    • 9.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    XIII: On The Holy Mountain

    Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes.
    • Poetic Tone Pictures.
    • Sony.
    • 13.
  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Sonata No 4 in A minor, D537: II. Allegretto quasi Andantino

    Performer: Paul Lewis.
    • Schubert: Piano Sonatas D. 537, 568 & 664.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 9.
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Piano Trio in D major, Op 1: I. Allegro non troppo, con espressione

    Ensemble: Feininger Trio.
    • Brahms, Korngold: Piano Trios.
    • Avi Music.
    • 5.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    The Isle of the Dead - Symphonic Poem, Op 29

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3, Vocalise & The Isle of the Dead.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 25

    Performer: Glenn Gould.
    • Bach - Goldberg Variations.
    • Naxos.
    • 33.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Moscow Cheryomushki Suite (Waltz)

    Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Decca.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Concerto No 2 in B flat major, Op 83: IV. Allegretto grazioso - Un poco piu presto

    Performer: Nelson Freire. Orchestra: Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Horst Stein.
    • Memories: The Unreleased Recordings.
    • Decca.
    • 17.
  • Johann Joseph Vilsmayr

    Artificiosus Concentus pro Camera a Violin Solo

    Performer: Rachel Podger.
    • Tutta sola.
    • Channel.
    • 3.
  • Robert Schumann

    Symphony No 2 in C major, Op 61, re-orchestrated by G. Mahler: II. Scherzo. Allegro vivace

    Orchestrator: Gustav Mahler. Orchestra: Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • Schumann: Symphony Nos. 1 & 2 (Re-orchestrated by Mahler).
    • Naxos.
    • 6.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The Lark Ascending

    Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor. Performer: Hyeyoon Park.
    • The Lark Ascending.
    • Decca.
    • 1.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    Messa di Gloria: Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris - Quoniam tu solus Sanctus - Cum Sancto Spiritu

    Performer: Alessandro Carbonare. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano. Singer: Michael Spyres. Singer: Carlo Lepore. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Choir: Chorus of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia.
    • Messa di Gloria.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 9.

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.

Ìý

9.00am

Ìý

Molieri (Mozart and Salieri Arias)

Adam Plachetka (bass-baritone)

Czech Ensemble Baroque

Roman Válek

PentatoneÌý PTC5187022

Ìý

Ìý

Haydn: Symphonies 6, 7, 8 'Le matin' 'Le midi' 'Le soir'

Florilegium

Ashley Solomon

Channel Classics ÌýCCS44722

Ìý

Ìý

Handel: Theodora

Lisette Oropesa (Theodora; soprano)

Joyce DiDonato (Irene; mezzo-soprano)

Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian (Didymus; countertenor)

Michael Spyres (Septimius; tenor)

John Chest (Valens; baritone)

Il Pomo d'Oro

Maxim Emelyanychev

EratoÌý 5419717791 (3 CDs)

Ìý

Igor Stravinsky: Symphony in C & Symphony in Three Movements

Â鶹ԼÅÄ Philharmonic

Sir Andrew Davis

ChandosÌý CHSA5315 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Ìý

09.30am – Allyson Devenish: New Releases

Ìý

Dvořák: Poetic Tone Pictures, Op.85

Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

SonyÌý 19439912092

Ìý

Ìý

Schubert: Piano Sonatas D. 537, 568 & 664

Paul Lewis (piano)

Harmonia Mundi ÌýHMM902690

Ìý

Ìý

Brahms, Korngold: Piano Trios

Feininger Trio

Avi MusicÌý AVI8553513

Ìý

Ìý

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3, Vocalise & The Isle of the Dead

Sinfonia of London

John Wilson

Chandos ÌýCHSA5297 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Allyson Devenish: On Repeat

Ìý

Bach - Goldberg Variations (1955)

Glenn Gould (piano)

Naxos Ìý8.111247

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

10:10 am

Ìý

Listener On Repeat

Ìý

Shostakovich - The Dance Album

Philadelphia Orchestra

Riccardo Chailly

DeccaÌý 4525972

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Nelson Freire - Memories: The Unreleased Recordings – music by Beethoven, Richard Strauss, Brahms, etc.

Nelson Freire (piano)

DeccaÌý 4853136 (2 CDs)

Ìý

Ìý

Tutta sola – music by JS Bach, Vilsmayr, Tartini, etc.

Rachel Podger (violin)

Channel Classics ÌýCCSSA44422 (Hybrid SACD)

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Ìý

10.30am – Building a Library: Elin Manahan-Thomas on Schumann’s Myrthen

Ìý

Recommended recording:

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Camilla Tilling (soprano)

Christian Gerhaher (baritone)

Gerold Huber (piano)

SonyÌý 19075945362ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Other recommendation:

Ìý

Dorothea Röschmann (soprano)

Ian Bostridge (tenor)

Graham Johnson (piano)

HyperionÌý CDS44441-50

(download only)

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

11:15 am

Ìý

Schumann: Symphony Nos. 1 & 2 (Re-orchestrated by Mahler)

ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra

Marin Alsop

Naxos 8.574429

Ìý

Ìý

Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending

Hyeyoon Park (violin)

Benjamin Grosvenor (piano)

DeccaÌý (download or streaming)

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

11.25am – Record of the Week

Ìý

Rossini: Messa di Gloria

Eleonora Buratto (soprano)

Teresa Iervolino (contralto)

Lawrence Brownlee (tenor)

Michael Spyres (tenor)

Carlo Lepore (bass)

Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

Antonio Pappano

Warner ClassicsÌý 5419723452

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Broadcast

  • Sat 29 Oct 2022 09:00

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