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Beethoven Symphony No. 4 in Building a Library with Richard Wigmore & Andrew McGregor

Richard Wigmore selects his favourite version of Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 and Kirsten Gibson shares her choice of the latest classical releases.

Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.

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Kirsten Gibson shares her choice of the latest classical releases

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Building a Library

Richard Wigmore selects his favourite version of Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 in Bâ™­ major, Op. 60.

By 1806 Beethoven was on a roll. He'd got the Razumovsky Quartets and the Violin Concerto under his belt and this symphony is confident and bouncing with life. It's sometimes seen as being overshadowed by the mighty symphonies Beethoven wrote on either side of it. Robert Schumann dismissively called the Fourth Symphony "a slender Greek maiden between two Norse giants". But Hector Berlioz was nearer the mark when he said that the slow movement was the work of the Archangel Michael, and not that of a human.

Recommended version
Kammerakademie Potsdam
Antonello Manacorda (conductor)
Sony 19658849982

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Record of the Week: Andrew’s top pick.

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1 hour, 59 minutes

Last on

Sat 12 Oct 2024 14:00
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

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Brahms Symphony No. 1 in Building a Library with Katy Hamilton & Andrew McGregor

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Music Played

  • Robert Schumann

    Adagio & Allegro Op.70 (Allegro)

    Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Dasol Kim.
    • Schumann Viola.
    • Onyx Classics.
    • 11.

  • Orazio Benevoli

    Missa Benevola (Agnus Dei)

    Choir: I Fagiolini. Ensemble: The City Musick. Conductor: Robert Hollingworth.
    • Orazio Benevoli: Missa Benevola.
    • CORO.
    • 9.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.49 in F minor H.1.49 'La Passione' (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Tafelmusik. Director: Rachel Podger.
    • Tafelmusik.

  • Franz Schubert

    Gefror'ne Tränen & Erstarrung (Winterreise)

    Performer: Rachel Fenlon.
    • Orchid Classics.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Fantasie-Impromptu Op.66 in C sharp minor

    Performer: Lestari Scholtes.
    • Challenge Records.

  • William Walton

    Viola Concerto in A minor (1st mvt)

    Performer: Diyang Mei. Orchestra: Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern. Conductor: Brett Dean.
    • SWR.

  • Rita Strohl

    Marche Funèbre d'un Scarabée (Symphonie de la Forét)

    Orchestra: Orchestre national d'ÃŽle-de-France. Conductor: Case Scaglione.
    • La Boite a Pepites.

  • Dieterich Buxtehude

    Membra Jesu Nostri Cantata (Ad cor)

    Ensemble: Gli Angeli Genève. Ensemble: Ensemble Contrechamps. Conductor: Stephan MacLeod.
    • Aparte.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Recorder Sonata in D minor HWV.367a (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Max Volbers. Performer: Alexander von Heißen.
    • Berlin Classics.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Concerto no.2 in B flat major Op.83 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Igor Levit. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Christian Thielemann.
    • Brahms: Piano Concertos & Solo Piano Opp. 116 - 119.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 4.

Broadcast

  • Sat 12 Oct 2024 14:00
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

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