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Britten's War Requiem in Building a Library with Elin Manahan Thomas and Andrew McGregor

Soprano Elin Manahan Thomas's recommendation for the ultimate recording of War Requiem, plus the best of the week's new classical releases.

Soprano Elin Manahan Thomas's recommendation for the ultimate recording of War Requiem, plus the best of the week's new classical releases

Presented by Andrew McGregor

9.30am
A round-up of new releases from the last week, the pick of writer Roger Parker

10.30am
Building a Library
Written to consecrate the newly-rebuilt Coventry Cathedral in 1962, Benjamin Britten's War Requiem was an immediate hit with both critics and audiences. His masterstroke was to interpolate settings of Wilfred Owen's searing First World War poems with the traditional Latin mass for the dead. Elin Manahan Thomas shares with Andrew her ultimate recording to buy, download or stream
Recommended version: Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano), Peter Pears (tenor), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone); Simon Preston (organ); London Symphony Orchestra, Melos Ensemble, London Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Highgate School Choir & The Bach Choir, Benjamin Britten
Decca 4757511 (2CDs, with rehearsal excerpts); 4143832 (download)

11.15am
Record of the Week
Andrew's pick of the best of the best from the last seven days

2 hours, 47 minutes

Last on

Sat 30 Mar 2024 09:00
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Puccini's Madame Butterfly in Building a Library with Nigel Simeone and Andrew McGregor

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Music Played

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Suite No. 1 for 2 Pianos op. 5: iv) Easter

    Performer: Sergei Babayan. Performer: Daniil Trifonov.
    • DG.

  • Edward Elgar

    Chanson de nuit et chanson de matin, Op. 15: No. 2, Chanson de matin

    Music Arranger: William Henry Reed. Orchestra: Menuhin School Senior Orchestra. Conductor: Maxim Rysanov.
    • Around the World in 80 Minutes.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 101.

  • Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

    Stabat Mater

    Singer: Shira Patchornik. Singer: Maarten Engeltjes. Orchestra: PRJCT Amsterdam.
    • Pentatone.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Violin Concerto in G minor, BWV1056 iii) Presto

    Performer: Leonidas Kavakos. Ensemble: The Apollo Ensemble.
    • Sony.

  • TomΓ‘s Luis de Victoria

    Caligaverunt oculi mei a fletu meo (Tenebrae Responsories - Matins Responsories for good Friday: Nocturn iii)

    Ensemble: I Fagiolini. Conductor: Robert Hollingworth.
    • Victoria: Tenebrae Responsories.
    • CORO.
    • 12.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No. 11 in F Major- K. 413 iii) Tempo di menuetto

    Performer: Ben Kim. Orchestra: Concertgebouw Kamerorkest.
    • Challenge Classics.

  • Stanislaw Moniuszko

    Verbum nobile

    Ensemble: Europa Galante. Conductor: Fabio Biondi.
    • NIFCCD.

  • Francesco Paolo Supriano

    Toccata quinta per violoncello con la diminuzion

    Ensemble: Les Basses RΓ©unies.
    • Alpha.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    An Chloe

    Performer: Mathieu Pordoy. Singer: Sabine Devieilhe.
    • Erato.

  • Jacques Bittner

    Suite no.6 (excs)

    Performer: AndrΓ© Henrich.
    • Alolus.

  • Daniel FranΓ§ois Esprit Auber

    Le Lac des fées: Fée immortelle

    Singer: Michael Spyres. Orchestra: Halle. Conductor: Carlo Rizzi.
    • Opera Rara.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Variations on a theme of Corelli

    Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy.
    • Decca.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no.4 in B flat major Op.60 (4th mvt)

    Music Arranger: Shai Wosner. Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Performer: Leonidas Kavakos. Performer: Emanuel Ax.
    • Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 4 and Op. 97 "Archduke".
    • Sony Classical.
    • 4.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphony No. 2 in E minor op. 27 iii) Adagio

    Performer: Sergei Babayan. Performer: Daniil Trifonov. Music Arranger: Daniil Trifonov.
    • DG.

  • Nikolaus Matthes

    Markuspassion

    Orchestra: Choir and Orchestra (ad hoc).
    • Resonando.

  • Richard Wagner

    Good Friday Music; Transformation (Parsifal Act III)

    Singer: Jonas Kaufmann. Singer: Georg Zeppenfeld. Orchestra: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper. Conductor: Philippe Jordan.
    • Wagner: Parsifal.
    • Sony Classical.

Broadcast

  • Sat 30 Mar 2024 09:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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