Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Building an essential library of great recordings with Andrew McGregor and guests

Andrew McGregor and regular contributors to the programme Marina Frolova-Walker, Katy Hamilton and Simon Heighes discuss how to build an essential library of great recordings.

Andrew McGregor is joined by regular contributors to the programme Marina Frolova-Walker, Katy Hamilton and Simon Heighes to discuss and illustrate some of the great recordings with which to start an essential library of classical music. If you want to dip a toe into the world of recorded music, our regular presenter together with three intrepid reviewers suggest some places to start - including a few personal enthusiasms as well as some classics - covering the full range from solo piano to opera; from medieval to modern; from Bach to Beethoven; from Hildegard of Bingen to Amy Beach.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto for 4 Harpsichords and Strings after RV 580 in A Minor BWV 1065

    Orchestra: Concerto Italiano. Conductor: Rinaldo Alessandrini.
    • Vivaldi & Bach: 12 Concertos, Op. 3 ‘l’estro Armonico’.
    • Naive.
    • OP7367.
    • 6.
  • Georges Bizet

    Carmen (Act 3 Entr'acte and Les tringles des sistres tintaient)

    Conductor: Herbert von Karajan. Singer: Mirella Freni. Singer: Leontyne Price. Singer: Monique Linval. Singer: Franco Corelli. Singer: Geneviève Macaux. Singer: Frank Schooten. Singer: Robert Merrill. Singer: Jean-Christophe Benoît. Singer: Maurice Besançon. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Choir: Vienna State Opera Choir. Choir: Vienna State Opera Choir.
    • RCA.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Violin Sonata no.1 in G major Op.78 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Josef Suk. Performer: Julius Katchen.
    • Decca.
  • Thomas Tallis

    Spem in alium - Sing and glorify

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • CORO.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata no.23 in F minor Op. 57 'Appassionata' (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Sviatoslav Richter.
    • Supraphon.
  • Benjamin Britten

    From the gutter (Peter Grimes Op.33)

    Singer: Marion Studholme. Choir: Royal Opera House Chorus. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Benjamin Britten.
    • Decca.
  • Sergey Taneyev

    Symphony no.4 In C Minor Op.12 (4th mvt)

    Performer: AndreÄ­ Korsakov. Orchestra: USSR State Academic Symphony Orchestra. Choir: Academic Choir of the USSR All-Union Radio. Conductor: Evgeny Fyodorovich Svetlanov.
    • MELODIYA.
  • Hildegard von Bingen

    Columba aspexit

    Singer: Emma Kirkby. Choir: Gothic Voices. Conductor: Christopher Page.
    • Hyperion.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sonata in D major K.448 for 2 pianos (1st mvt)

    Performer: Sir András Schiff. Performer: Peter Serkin.
    • ECM.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Mass in B minor (Confiteo and Et expecto)

    Ensemble: Taverner Consort. Conductor: Andrew Parrott.
    • Erato.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no.9 in D minor Op.125 'Choral' (3rd mvt)

    Singer: Ľuba Orgonášová. Singer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Singer: Anthony Rolfe Johnson. Singer: Gilles Cachemaille. Orchestra: Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique. Choir: Monteverdi Choir. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • DG ARCHIV.
  • Olivier Messiaen

    Sortie [Le vent de l'esprit] )Messe de la Pentecote)

    Performer: Olivier Latry.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Amy Beach

    Piano Quintet in F sharp minor Op.67 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Henry Purcell

    Dido and Aeneas Z.626 (Act 2 Scene 1)

    Ensemble: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • Decca.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Violin Concerto no.2 in G Minor Op.63 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Itzhak Perlman. Orchestra: Â鶹ԼÅÄ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gennady Nikolayevich Rozhdestvensky.
    • Warner Classics.
  • Emmanuel Chabrier

    Ode a la musique

    Singer: Janine Micheau. Choir: Chorale Elisabeth Brasseur. Orchestra: Paris Conservatoire Orchestra. Conductor: Jean Fournet.
    • ELOQUENCE.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphony No 2 in E Minor, Op 27 (1999 - Remaster): I. Largo - Allegro moderato

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Rachmaninov: Symphony No 2.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 5099908528957.
    • 1.

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 – Building An Essential Library with Simon Heighes, Marina Frolova-Walker and Katy Hamilton

Ìý

Ìý

Vivaldi & Bach: 12 Concertos, Op. 3 ‘l’estro Armonico’

Concerto Italiano

Rinaldo Alessandrini

NaïveÌý OP7367 (2 CDs)

Ìý

Ìý

Bizet: Carmen

Leontyne Price (soprano)

Franco Corelli (tenor)

Robert Merrill (baritone)

Mirella Freni (soprano)

Vienna State Opera Chorus

Chor der Wiener Staatsoper

Wiener Philharmoniker

Wiener Sängerknaben

Herbert von Karajan

SonyÌý G0100035636729

Ìý

Ìý

Brahms: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1-3

Josef Suk (violin)

Julius Katchen (piano)

DeccaÌý E4663932

Ìý

Ìý

Spem in alium - Music for Monarchs and Magnates – music by Tallis, Gibbons, Byrd, etc.

The Sixteen

Harry Christophers

CoroÌý CORO16016 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Ìý

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos 7, 12 & 23 ‘Appassionata’

Sviatoslav Richter (piano)

SupraphonÌý SU40452

Ìý

Ìý

Britten: Peter Grimes

Peter Pears (Grimes)

Claire Watson (Ellen Orford)

James Pease (Balstrode)

Jean Watson (Auntie)

Geraint Evans (Ned Keene)

Lauris Elms (Mrs Sedley)

Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Benjamin Britten

DeccaÌý 4757713 (2CDs)

Ìý

Ìý

Orchestral and Choral Works by Sergei Taneyev

Andrei Korsakov (violin)

USSR State Academic Symphony Orchestra

Academic Choir of the USSR All-Union Radio

Evgeny Svetlanov

MelodiyaÌý MELCD1002374 (2 CDs)

Ìý

Ìý

Abbess Hildegard of Bingen - A feather on the breath of God

Emma Kirkby (soprano)

Gothic Voices

Christopher Page

HyperionÌý CDA66039

Ìý

Ìý

Music for Two Pianos – music by Mozart, Reger, Busoni

Andras Schiff

Peter Serkin

ECM New SeriesÌý 4650622 (2 CDs)

Ìý

Ìý

Bach, J S: Mass in B minor, BWV232

Emma Kirkby (soprano)

Emily Van Evera (soprano)

Panito Iconomou (alto)

Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor)

David Thomas (bass)

Solisten Des Tölzer Knabenchors

Taverner Consort & Players

Andrew Parrott

Erato VeritasÌý 5619982 (2 CDs)

Ìý

Ìý

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9

Luba Orgonasova (soprano)

Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano)

Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor)

Gilles Cachemaille (bass)

Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique & The Monteverdi Choir

John Eliot Gardiner

DG ArchivÌý 4778643 (5 CDs)

Ìý

Messiaen - Complete Organ Works

Olivier Latry (Organ of Notre Dame, Paris)

DGÌý 4714802 (6 CDs)

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/messiaen-complete-organ-works-latry-10047


American Quintets – music by Beach, Barber, Price

Matthew Rose (bass)

Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective

ChandosÌý CHAN20224

Ìý

Ìý

Purcell: Dido and Aeneas

Catherine Bott (Dido)

Emma Kirkby (Belinda)

John Mark Ainsley (Aeneas)

David Thomas (Sorceress)

Chorus and Orchestra of The Academy of Ancient Music

Christopher Hogwood

DeccaÌý 4757195

Ìý

Ìý

Prokofiev: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Itzhak Perlman (violin)

Â鶹ԼÅÄ Symphony Orchestra

Gennady Rozhdestvensky

Warner Classics Ìý2564612996

Ìý

Ìý

The Art of Janine Micheau – music by Britten, Ravel, Debussy, Chabrier

Janine Micheau (soprano)

Janine Collard (mezzo-soprano)

Jean Mollien (tenor)

Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux

Chorale Élisabeth Brasseur

Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire

Paul Sacher

Jean Fournet

Eloquence ÌýELQ4824769

Ìý

Ìý

Listener Choice

Ìý

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2

London Symphony Orchestra

André Previn

Warner Classics Ìý0852892 (1973 version)

Broadcast

  • Sat 3 Dec 2022 09:00

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive Radio 3 audio archive of programmes about composers and their works.

Browse previous episodes of the Record Review Podcast

Browse previous episodes of the Record Review Podcast

All episodes since 2010, listed alphabetically by composer surname.

Why the music we love as teens stays with us for life

Cognitive neuropyschology can explain why we return to old favourites again and again.