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Building a Library: a guide to the best recordings of the greatest classical music. Each week an expert and enthusiast brings along a wide range of recordings of a well-known piece. They explore the music and the different ways of performing it, ending with a recommendation for your library

UK Only

Updated: weekly
Episodes available: indefinitely

Episodes to download

  •

    Janacek's Jenufa

    Mon 23 May 2022

    Nigel Simeone gives Hannah French his ultimate recommendation for Janacek's opera Jenufa.

  • Vaughan Williams' 4th Symphony

    Mon 16 May 2022

    Mark Lowther gives his ultimate recommendation for Vaughan Williams's Fourth Symphony.

  • Beethoven's String Quartet in F, Op. 18 No. 1

    Mon 9 May 2022

    Laura Tunbridge chooses her favourite recording of Beethoven's String Quartet Op 18 No 1.

  • Chopin's Piano Sonata No 3 in B Minor

    Mon 2 May 2022

    Allyson Devenish compares recordings of Chopin's Piano Sonata No 3 in B minor.

  • Zemlinsky's Lyric Symphony

    Mon 25 Apr 2022

    Erik Levi find his favourite recording of Alexander von Zemlinsky's Lyric Symphony.

  • Handel's Messiah

    Mon 18 Apr 2022

    Jeremy Summerly compares recordings of Handel's Messiah and chooses his favourite.

  • Mahler's 9th Symphony

    Mon 11 Apr 2022

    Gillian Moore compares recordings of Mahler's Ninth Symphony and chooses her favourite.

  • Mozart's The Marriage Of Figaro

    Mon 4 Apr 2022

    Nicholas Kenyon joins Andrew with a personal recommendation for Mozart's greatest opera.

  • Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major

    Mon 28 Mar 2022

    Joanna MacGregor's personal library recommendation for Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto.

  • Bruckner's Symphony No.9 in D minor

    Mon 21 Mar 2022

    William Mival recommends his favourite recordings of Bruckner's Symphony No.9 in D minor.

  • Schubert's String Quintet in C major

    Mon 14 Mar 2022

    Natasha Loges picks a favourite recording of Schubert's String Quintet in C major.

  • Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings

    Mon 7 Mar 2022

    Sarah Willis picks a favourite Britten Serenade for tenor, horn and strings recording.

  • Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV1043

    Tue 1 Mar 2022

    Joseph McHardy selects recordings of Bach's Double Concerto with Andrew McGregor.

  • Scriabin's Piano Music

    Mon 21 Feb 2022

    David Owen Norris surveys the solo piano music of Alexander Scriabin.

  • Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe

    Sun 13 Feb 2022

    Jeremy Sams recommends his favourite recording of Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe.

  • Haydn's Symphony No 49, 'La Passione'

    Sat 5 Feb 2022

    Simon Heighes recommends his favourite recording of Haydn's Symphony No 49

  • Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Sonata

    Sun 30 Jan 2022

    Pianist Lucy Parham picks the greatest recording of Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Sonata.

  • BartΓ³k's Concerto for Orchestra

    Sat 22 Jan 2022

    Emily MacGregor recommends her favourite recording of BartΓ³k's Concerto for Orchestra.

  • Amy Beach

    Sun 16 Jan 2022

    Katy Hamilton surveys the recordings of Amy Beach and chooses her favourite.

  • Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony

    Sat 8 Jan 2022

    Marina Frolova-Walker recommends a version of Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony.

  • Mozart's Piano Concerto No 20 in D minor, K466

    New Year's Day 2022

    Tom Service picks through recordings of Mozart's Piano Concerto No 20 in D minor, K466.

  • Beethoven's Cello Sonata No 3, Op 69

    Sat 18 Dec 2021

    Iain Burnside picks through recordings of Beethoven's Cello Sonata No 3 in A, Op 69.

  • Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony

    Mon 13 Dec 2021

    Edward Seckerson recommends a version of Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony.

  • Brahms's String Quintet No 1

    Wed 8 Dec 2021

    Natasha Loges compares recordings of Brahms's String Quintet No 1 in F major, Op 88.

  • Heinrich SchΓΌtz

    Mon 6 Dec 2021

    Kirsten Gibson surveys music by 17th-century German composer Heinrich SchΓΌtz.

  • Mozart's Divertimento in E flat, K563

    Mon 22 Nov 2021

    Roger Parker chooses the must have recording of Mozart's Divertimento for string trio.

  • Richard Strauss' An Alpine Symphony

    Mon 15 Nov 2021

    Mark Simpson chooses his favourite recording of Richard Strauss's epic An Alpine Symphony

  • Zelenka Survey

    Mon 8 Nov 2021

    Hannah French surveys the recordings of Jan Dismas Zelenka and chooses her favourite.

  • Elgar's Violin Concerto

    Sun 31 Oct 2021

    David Owen Norris chooses his favourite recording of Elgar's Violin Concerto.

  • Mendelssohn's Octet

    Sun 24 Oct 2021

    Katy Hamilton compares recordings of Felix Mendelssohn's Octet.

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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.

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