Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Mahler's Symphony No 6 in Building a Library with Edward Seckerson and Andrew McGregor

In Building a Library, Edward Seckerson chooses his favourite recording of Mahler's Symphony No 6 in A minor, plus a round-up of some of the best new classical releases.

Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.

9.30 am
Kate Kennedy shares some new releases that have caught her attention with Andrew and reveals her 'On Repeat' choice and explains her current preoccupation with it.

10.30 am
Building a Library
Edward Seckerson chooses his favourite recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 6 in A minor.

More often than not, Mahler's symphonies end positively, whether in triumph, exaltation, joyful exuberance, quiet bliss, or resignation and acceptance. But the Sixth is unique in its tragic, minor-key conclusion and this Symphony as a whole is among his darkest music. Intriguingly, he wrote it during one of the happiest periods of his life, the summers of 1903 and 1904. Mahler was convinced that, in his music, he had the ability to foresee and even predict events and, painful though it might be, as an artist he could not avoid doing so. And in 1907, when he looked back on the Sixth Symphony's finale with its 'three hammer blows of fate' he could point to the death of his daughter Maria, the diagnosis of the severe heart disease which would kill him, and the bitter end of his decade as director of the Vienna Opera. Closer to our own times, some have suggested that, as well as tragic autobiography, Mahler was predicting the tragedies of a whole century.

11.20 am
Record of the Week
An exceptional new release.

Send us your On Repeat recommendations at recordreview@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @Â鶹ԼÅÄRadio3

2 hours, 47 minutes

Last on

Sat 7 Jan 2023 09:00
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Rachmaninov's 24 Preludes in Building a Library with Lucy Parham and Hannah French

Next

Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No 2 in G minor in Building a Library with Ben Gernon and Andrew McGregor

See all episodes from Record Review

Music Played

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 3 in G Major, Hob I:3: I. Allegro

    Conductor: Johannes Klumpp. Orchestra: Heidelberger Sinfoniker.
    • Haydn: Complete Symphonies, Vol. 27.
    • haenssler CLASSIC.
    • 101.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Keyboard Suite, HWV 430 in E major 'The Harmonious Blacksmith': Air - Double 1 - Double 2 - Double 3 - Double 4 - Double 5

    Performer: Ton Koopman.
    • Handel: Five Great Suites For Harpsichord (London, 1720).
    • Challenge Classics.
    • 19.

  • Malcolm Arnold

    Divertimento No 2: Fanfare - Nocturne - Chaconne

    • Malcolm Arnold: Clarinet Concerto No. 1 and other works.
    • Chandos.
    • 5.

  • Maurice Ravel

    String Quartet in F major: Assez vif, tres rythme

    Ensemble: Takács Quartet.
    • Hough, Dutilleux & Ravel: String Quartets.
    • Hyperion.
    • 5.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Cello Sonata No 1 In E Minor, Op 38: I. Allegro non troppo

    Performer: Leonard Elschenbroich. Performer: Alexei Grynyuk.
    • Brahms: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2, Four Serious Songs.
    • Onyx.
    • 1.

  • Steve Reich

    WTC / 911: III. WTC

    Ensemble: Kuss Quartet.
    • Krise/Crisis.
    • Rubicon.
    • 8.

  • Franz Schubert

    Erlkonig, D328

    Singer: Matthias Goerne. Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
    • Schubert Revisited.
    • DG.
    • 07.

  • James McMillan

    Ye Sacred Muses (2)

    Ensemble: The King’s Singers. Ensemble: Fretwork.
    • Tom And Will.
    • Signum.
    • 10.

  • Pál Hermann

    Cello Concerto: I. Allegro cantabile

    Orchestra: Lviv International Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Theodore Kuchar.
    • Hermann: Complete Surviving Music, Vol. 1.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 101.

  • Josquin des Prez

    Nymphes des bois/Requiem aeternam (La deploration de Johannes Ockeghem)

    Ensemble: The Gesualdo Six. Conductor: Owain Park.
    • HYPERION.

  • Chiel Meijering

    Rock That Trombone

    Performer: Jörgen van Rijen. Ensemble: Alma Quartet.
    • Mirrored in Time.
    • BIS.
    • 115.

  • Galina Grigorjeva

    Prayer for Cello & Male-Voice Choir

    Performer: Theodor Sink. Choir: National Male Choir of Estonia. Singer: Margus Vellmann. Singer: Grigori Rutškin.
    • Galina Grigorjeva: Music for Male-Voice Choir.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 109.

  • Gaetano Donizetti

    Caterina Cornaro, A 63 (Excerpts): Guerra... Su, corriamo concordi

    Lyricist: Giacomo Sacchèro. Choir: Coro Donizetti Opera. Orchestra: Gli Originali. Conductor: Riccardo Frizza. Singer: Javier Camarena.
    • Signor Gaetano.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 116.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Coronation Mass, K. 317: VI. Agnus Dei

    Choir: Bavarian Radio Symphony Choir. Singer: Sophie Harmsen. Singer: Steve Davislim. Singer: Krešimir Stražanac. Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: Howard Arman. Singer: Katharina Konradi.
    • Mozart: Krönungsmesse, K. 317 & Other Choral Works (Live).
    • BR-Klassik.
    • 108.

  • Bohuslav Martinů

    Piano Trio No 1, H 193 "5 Pièces brèves"

    Ensemble: 葵トリオ.
    • Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1 "5 Pièces brèves" - Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3.
    • haenssler CLASSIC.

  • Billy Taylor

    I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free

    Performer: Christian Reif. Music Arranger: Jeremy Siskind. Singer: Julia Bullock.
    • Walking In The Dark.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 5.

  • Samuel Barber

    Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24

    Singer: Julia Bullock. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Christian Reif.
    • Walking In The Dark.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 6.

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

Haydn: Complete Symphonies, Vol. 27

Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra

Johannes Klumpp

Hänssler ÌýHC22077

Ìý

Ìý

Handel: Five Great Suites For Harpsichord (London, 1720)

Ton Koopman (harpsichord)

Challenge Classics ÌýCC72923

Ìý

Ìý

Malcolm Arnold: Clarinet Concerto No. 1 and other works

Michael Collins (clarinet)

Â鶹ԼÅÄ Philharmonic

Rumon Gamba

Chandos ÌýCHAN20152

Ìý

Ìý

Hough, Dutilleux & Ravel: String Quartets

Takács Quartet

Hyperion ÌýCDA68400

Ìý

Ìý

09.30am – Kate Kennedy: New Releases

Brahms: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2, Four Serious Songs

Leonard Elschenbroich (cello)

Alexei Grynyuk (piano)

Onyx ÌýONYX4226

Ìý

Ìý

Krise/Crisis – music by Haydn, Shostakovich, Reich, etc.

Kuss Quartet

RubiconÌý RCD1102

Ìý

Ìý

Schubert Revisited

Matthias Goerne (baritone)

Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen

DGÌý 4839758

Ìý

Ìý

Tom & Will - Weelkes and Byrd: 400 Years

King's Singers

Fretwork

SignumÌý SIGCD731

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Kate Kennedy: On Repeat

Ìý

Pál Hermann: Complete Surviving Music, Vol. 1

Clive Greensmith (cello)

Kateryna Poteriaieva (violin)

Alina Shevchenko (piano)

Roman Marchenko (piano)

Sofia Soloviy (soprano)

Lviv International Symphony Orchestra

Theodore Kuchar

Toccata Classics ÌýTOCC0443

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

10:10 am

Ìý

Listener On Repeat

Ìý

Josquin's legacy – music by Josquin, Willaert, Lhéretier, etc.

The Gesualdo Six

Owain Park

HyperionÌý CDA68379

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Mirrored in Time – music by Bartók, Schumann, Meijering, etc.

Jörgen van Rijen (trombone)

Alma Quartet

BISÌý BIS2616 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Ìý

Galina Grigorjeva: Music For Male-Voice Choir

Theodor Sink (cello)

Estonian National Male Choir

Mikk Uleoja

Toccata ClassicsÌý TOCC0679

Ìý

Ìý

Signor Gaetano – music by Donizetti

Javier Camarena (tenor)

Gli Originali

Riccardo Frizza

PentatoneÌý PTC5186886

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

10.30am – Building a Library: Edward Seckerson on Mahler’s Symphony No 6 in A minor

Ìý

Recommended recording:

Ìý

Klaus Tennstedt

London Philharmonic Orchestra

LPOÌý LPO0038 (2 CDs)

Ìý

Ìý

Other recommendation:

Ìý

Wiener Philharmoniker

Leonard Bernstein

DGÌý E4276972 (2 CDs)

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

11:15am

Ìý

Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1 '5 Pièces brèves' - Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3

Aoi Trio

HänsslerÌý HC22029

Ìý

Ìý

Mozart: Coronation Mass - Vesperae solennes de Dominica

Katharina Konradi (soprano)

Sophie Harmsen (mezzo-soprano)

Steve Davislim (tenor)

Krešimir Stražanac (bass)

Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin

Howard Arman

BR KlassikÌý 900530

Ìý

Ìý

11.25am – Record of the Week

Ìý

Walking in the Dark – music by Billy Taylor, Barber, Denny, etc.

Julia Bullock (soprano)

Philharmonia Orchestra

Christian Reif (piano and conductor)

NonesuchÌý 7559790817

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Broadcast

  • Sat 7 Jan 2023 09:00
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

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.