Beethoven's Symphony No 9 in Building a Library with Tom Service and Andrew McGregor
Tom Service chooses his favourite recording of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Iain Burnside reviews new releases, including music by Mascagni, Mahler and Bach.
Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.
09.30 am
Iain Burnside reviews new releases including music by Mascagni, Mahler and Bach, and in On Repeat he shares a track with Andrew and explains his current preoccupation with it.
10.30 am
Building a Library
Tom Service chooses his favourite recording of Beethoven's Symphony No 9.
Beethoven's final complete symphony is one of the summits of classical music. The famous final movement features four vocal soloists and a chorus in a setting of the "Ode to Joy" by Friedrich Schiller. Many of the world's greatest conductors and orchestras have tackled this musical Everest including Furtwangler, Toscanini and Karajan alongside conductors of later generations like Mackerras and Harnoncourt and it still inspires new recordings from today's performers.
11.15 am
Record of the Week
An exceptional new release.
Send us your On Repeat recommendations at recordreview@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @鶹ԼRadio3
Last on
Music Played
-
Johann Christoph Bach
O Freudenzeit, o Wundernacht
Ensemble: Clematis Ensemble.- O Jesulein... A German Baroque Christmas Oratorio.
- Ricercar.
- 20.
-
John Rutter
Candlelight Carol
Performer: Simon Hogan. Choir: Girl Choristers of Merton College, Oxford. Conductor: Benjamin Nicholas.- In the Stillness: A Merton Christmas.
- Delphian.
- 23.
-
William Walton
String Quartet in A Minor: Iv. Allegro molto
Ensemble: Albion Quartet.- Walton: String Quartet in A Minor – Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 3 in F Majo.
- Signum Classics.
- 104.
-
Michel Legrand
Concertino (From "Summer of '42")
Performer: Alexandre Tharaud. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.- Cinema.
- Warner Classics.
- 1.
-
Bohuslav Martinů
Cello Sonata No. 2, H. 286: III. Allegro commodo
Performer: Johannes Moser. Performer: Andrei Korobeinikov.- Martinů: Cello Sonatas.
- PENTATONE.
- 103.
-
Dmitry Shostakovich
Symphony No 10 in E minor, Op. 93: I. Moderato (Live)
Orchestra: Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Jaap van Zweden.- Shostakovich; Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 10.
- Naxos.
- 3.
-
Pietro Mascagni
Cavalleria Rusticana (excerpts)
Performer: Piero Pretti. Performer: Anita Rachvelishvili. Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Riccardo Muti.- Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana (Live).
- CSO Resound.
-
Johann Sebastian Bach
Goldberg Variations: Variations VI - VIII
Performer: Fazil Say.- JS Bach: Goldberg Variations.
- Warner Classics.
- 7.
-
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto in G minor, RV 104 'La notte' (excerpts)
Performer: Bojan Čičić. Ensemble: Illyria Consort.- La Notte’: Concertos and Pastorales for Christmas Night.
- Delphian.
- 2.
-
Richard Rodney Bennett
Real Men Don't Eat Quiche
- Lush Life.
- Ode Records.
- 14.
-
Gioachino Rossini
La Boutique fantasque/GALOP - Arr. Respighi
Music Arranger: Ottorino Respighi. Conductor: Richard Bonynge. Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra.- Rossini-Respighi: La Boutique fantasque / Britten: Soirées musicales; Matinées m.
- Decca Music Group Ltd..
- 8.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No 28 in A Major, Op 101: I. Etwas lebhaf tund mit der innigsten Empfindung. Allegretto ma non troppo
Performer: Maurizio Pollini.- Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Opp. 101 & 106.
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
- 1.
-
Claudio Monteverdi
Selva morale e spirituale
Conductor: Andrea Marcon. Orchestra: La Cetra Barockorchester Basel. Choir: La Cetra Vocalensemble Basel.- Claudio Monteverdi: Vespro di Natale / Christmas Vespers.
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
- 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.
9.00am
O Jesulein... A German Baroque Christmas Oratorio – music by Spiegel, Hammerschmidt, JC Bach, etc.
Clematis
Ricercar RIC444
In the Stillness: A Merton Christmas – music by Wallen, Rutter, Beamish, etc.
The Girl Choristers and Lower Voices of Merton College, Oxford
Benjamin Nicholas
Simon Hogan (organ)
Delphian DCD34262
Walton: String Quartet in A Minor – Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 3 in F Major
Albion Quartet
Signum SIGCD727
Cinema – music by Legrand, Morricone, Hurwitz, etc.
Alexandre Tharaud (piano)
Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Antonio Pappano
Warner Classics 5419718461 (2 CDs)
Martinu: Cello Sonatas
Johannes Moser (cello)
Andrei Korobeinikov (piano)
Pentatone PTC5187007
09.30am – Iain Burnside: New Releases
Shostakovich; Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 10
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Jaap van Zweden
Naxos 8.574372
Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana (Live)
Piero Pretti (Turiddu)
Anita Rachvelishvili (Santuzza)
Ronnita Miller (Lucia)
Luca Salsi (Alfio)
Sasha Cooke (Lola)
Alessandra Visconti (A woman)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Riccardo Muti
CSO Resound CSOR9012201
JS Bach: Goldberg Variations
Fazil Say (piano)
Warner Classics 5419723396
‘La Notte’: Concertos and Pastorales for Christmas Night
Bojan Cicic
The Illyria Consort
Delphian DCD34278
Iain Burnside: On Repeat
Lush Life – songs by Gershwin, Kern, Underwood, etc.
Richard Rodney Bennett
Ode Records CDODE1292
10:10 am
Listener On Repeat
Rossini - Respighi: La Boutique Fantasque
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Richard Bonynge
Decca 4101392
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Opp. 101 & 106
Maurizio Pollini (piano)
DG 4863014
Claudio Monteverdi: Vespro Di Natale / Christmas Vespers
La Cetra Barockorchester Basel
La Cetra Vocalensemble Basel
Andrea Marcon
DG 4862977 (2 CDs)
10.30am – Building a Library: Tom Service on Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 in D minor
Recommended recording:
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko
Berliner Philharmoniker BPHR200351 (5 CDs + 1 Blu-ray Audio + 1 Blu-ray Video)
Other recommendation:
Sara Gouzy (soprano)
Salome Fischer (alto)
Mingjie Lei (tenor)
Manuel Walser (baritone)
Le Concert des Nations
La Capella Reial de Catalunya
Jordi Savall
Alia Vox AVSA9946 (3 Hybrid SACDs)
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano)
Elisabeth Höngen (mezzo-soprano)
Hans Hopf (tenor)
Otto Edelmann (bass-baritone)
Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele
Wilhelm Furtwängler
Warner Classics 5569012 (1951 Bayreuth recording)
Tilla Briem (soprano)
Elisabeth Hongen (contralto)
Peter Anders (tenor)
Rudolf Watzke (bass)
Bruno Kittel Choir
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Wilhelm Furtwängler
Music & Arts MACD1276 (1942 Berlin recording)
11.15am – Record of the Week
Engelbert Humperdinck: Der Blaue Vogel (The Blue Bird)
Juri Tetzlaff (narrator)
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin
Steffen Tast
Capriccio C5506 (2 CDs)
Broadcast
- Christmas Eve 2022 09:00鶹Լ Radio 3
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