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Building a Library: Brahms: String Sextet No 1 in B flat

With Andrew McGregor. Includes Building a Library: Brahms: String Sextet No 1 in B flat, Op 18; New DVD releases of operas by Handel, Bellini, Giordano and Dvorak; Disc of the Week.

with Andrew McGregor

0930
Building a Library: Katy Hamilton recommends a recorded version of Brahms's String Sextet No.1 in B flat major, Op. 18, composed in 1860. It is scored for two violins, two violas, and two cellos.This was quite an unusual combination of instruments at the time Brahms wrote the piece. The sextet was used as soundtrack by French director Louis Malle in the movie "The Lovers".

1030
Sarah Lenton reviews new DVD releases of operas by Handel, Bellini, Giordano and Dvorak.

1145
Andrew chooses an outstanding new release as his Disc of the Week.

3 hours, 12 minutes

Music Played

  • Johannes Brahms

    Sonata (F.A.E.) For Violin And Piano [with Schumann And Dietrich]

    Performer: Itzhak Perlman. Performer: Martha Argerich.
    • Warner Classics : 0190295937898.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 7.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Quartet No. 3 In B Flat Major Op.67 For Strings

    Ensemble: Kuss String Quartet.
    • ONYX : 4166.
    • ONYX.
    • 4.
  • Arnold Schoenberg

    Quartet No. 2 Op.10 For Strings With Soprano

    Ensemble: Kuss String Quartet. Singer: Mojca Erdmann.
    • ONYX : 4166.
    • ONYX.
    • 5.
  • George Frederick Boyle

    Piano Concerto In D Minor

    Performer: Piers Lane. Performer: Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Johannes Fritzsch.
    • HYPERION : CDA68135.
    • HYPERION.
    • 7.
  • Reynaldo Hahn

    'Un jour de plus...Alors, adieu donc, mon amour!', from "Mozart" - Operetta In 3 Acts

    Performer: Marianne Crebassa. Performer: Mozarteumorchester. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.
    • Erato 0190295927622.
    • Erato.
    • 15.
  • Josquin des Prez

    Missa Di Dadi [N'Aray-Je Jamais Mieulx] (Gloria)

    Choir: Tallis Scholars. Conductor: Peter Phillips.
    • Gimell : CDGIM 048.
    • Gimell.
    • 4.
  • Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

    Missa Papae Marcelli For 6-7 Voices, i. Kyrie

    Choir: Cappella Musicale Pontificia Sistina. Conductor: Massimo Palombella.
    • DGG : 479 6131.
    • DGG.
    • 1.
  • Francesco Durante

    Requiem Mass in Cminor, iii. Sequentia

    Choir: The Sixteen. Choir: Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford. Ensemble: Oxford Baroque. Conductor: Stephen Darlington.
    • CORO.
  • Edmund Rubbra

    9 Tenebrae Motets Op.72 For Chorus

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Coro : COR16144.
    • Coro.
    • 9.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The Cloud Capp'd Towers (Three Shakespeare Songs)

    Choir: Tenebrae. Performer: Nigel Short.
    • Signum Classics : SIGCD904.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 7.
  • Herbert Murrill

    The Souls of the Righteous

    Choir: Choir of the King’s Consort. Conductor: Robert King.
    • VIVAT.
  • Philip Glass

    Einstein On The Beach - Opera

    Performer: Kate Moran. Performer: Helga Davis. Conductor: Michael Riesman. Ensemble: Philip Glass Ensemble.
    • Opus Arte : OA BD7173 D.
    • Opus Arte.
    • 1.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Alcina - Opera In 3 Acts

    Performer: Katerina Bradic. Performer: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Andrea Marcon.
    • Erato : 019029597436 7.
    • Erato.
    • 1.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Alcina - Opera In 3 Acts

    Performer: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Singer: Philippe Jaroussky. Conductor: Andrea Marcon.
    • Erato : 019029597436 7.
    • Erato.
    • 1.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Norma - Opera Seria In 2 Acts

    Singer: Sondra Radvanovsky. Singer: Raymond Aceto. Conductor: Renato Palumbo. Orchestra: Liceu Opera Symphony Orchestra. Choir: Liceu Opera Chorus.
    • MAJOR : 737208.
    • MAJOR.
    • 1.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Norma - Opera Seria In 2 Acts

    Singer: Sondra Radvanovsky. Singer: Gregory Kunde. Singer: Raymond Aceto. Conductor: Renato Palumbo. Orchestra: Liceu Opera Symphony Orchestra. Choir: Liceu Opera Chorus.
    • MAJOR : 737208.
    • MAJOR.
    • 1.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    Rusalka - Lyric Fairy Tale In 3 Acts B.203, Op.114

    Singer: Kristine Opolais. Conductor: Tomas Hanus. Orchestra: Bavarian State Orchestra.
    • MAJOR : 750808.
    • MAJOR.
    • 1.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    Rusalka - Lyric Fairy Tale In 3 Acts B.203, Op.114

    Singer: Klaus Florian Vogt. Singer: Kristine Opolais. Conductor: Tomas Hanus. Orchestra: Bavarian State Orchestra.
    • MAJOR : 750808.
    • MAJOR.
    • 1.
  • Umberto Giordano

    Andrea Chenier - Opera In 4 Acts

    Performer: Sir Antonio Pappano. Singer: Zeljko Lucic. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
    • Warner Classics : 0190295937966.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.
  • Umberto Giordano

    Andrea Chenier - Opera In 4 Acts

    Performer: Sir Antonio Pappano. Singer: Jonas Kaufmann. Singer: Eva-Maria Westbroek. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
    • Warner Classics : 0190295937966.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Die Kunst Der Fuge Bwv.1080

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.
    • Channel Classics : CCS SA 38316.
    • Channel Classics.
    • 5.

9am

Bach & Schumann
BACH, J S: Sonata for Violin & Harpsichord No. 4 in C minor, BWV1017
BRAHMS: Sonatensatz (Scherzo from the F.A.E. sonata), WoO 2
SCHUMANN: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor Op. 105; Fantasiestucke Op. 73
Martha Argerich (piano), Itzhak Perlman (violin)
WARNER CLASSICS 9029593789 (CD)

Kuss Quartet, play Brahms & Schoenberg
BRAHMS: String Quartet No. 3 in B flat major Op. 67; Wie Melodien zieht es mir Op. 105 No. 1; Sommerabend Op. 85 No. 1; Mondenschein Op. 85 No. 2 (songs arr. Igor Loboda)
SCHOENBERG: String Quartet No. 2 in F sharp minor Op. 10
Mojca Erdmann (soprano), Kuss Quartet
ONYX ONYX4166 (CD)

The Romantic Piano Concerto 69 - Hill & Boyle
BOYLE, G F: Piano Concerto in D minor
HILL, ALFRED: Piano Concerto in A major; Piano Sonata in A major
Piers Lane (piano), Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Johannes Fritzsch
HYPERION CDA68135 (CD)

Oh, Boy!
CHABRIER: O petite etoile (from L’etoile)
GLUCK: Amour, viens rendre a mon ame (from Orphee et Eurydice, after Bertini)
GOUNOD: Versez vos chagrins dans mon ame (from Faust); Depuis hier je cherche en vain mon maitre...Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle (from Romeo et Juliette)
HAHN, R: Un jour de plus...Alors, adieu donc, mon amour! (from Mozart)
MASSENET: Allez, laissez-moi seul...Coeur sans amour, printemps sans roses (from Cendrillon)
MEYERBEER: Nobles seigneurs, salut! (from Les Huguenots)
MOZART: Pupille amate (from Lucio Silla); Voi che sapete (from Le nozze di Figaro); Dunque Sperar Poss'io...Il Tenero Momento (from Lucio Silla); Va pure ad altri in braccio (from La finta giardiniera); Non so piu cosa son, cosa faccio (from Le nozze di Figaro); Parto, parto, ma tu ben mio (from La Clemenza di Tito)
OFFENBACH: Vois sous l'archet fremissant (from Les Contes d'Hoffmann); Voyez dans la nuit brune (from Fantasio)
THOMAS, AMBROISE: Non, ne la suivons pas...Sommeil, ami des dieux (from Psyche)
Marianne Crebassa (mezzo-soprano), Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Marc Minkowski (conductor)
ERATO 9029592762 (CD)

9.30am – Building a Library

Katy Hamilton compares recordings of Brahms’ String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 18 and recommends a version.  

Building a Library: Brahms' String Sextet No 1 in B flat

Top recommendation:
Brahms: String Sextet Op. 18
BRAHMS: String Quartet No. 3 in B flat major Op. 67; String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major Op. 18
Hartmut Rohde (viola), Michael Sanderling (violoncello), Leipziger Streichquartett
MDG MDG3070969 (CD)

Other recordings:
Below is a shortlist of other recordings which Katy Hamilton also liked, although we can’t guarantee the availability of these discs.

Brahms: String Sextets Nos. 1 & 2 Op. 18 & 36
BRAHMS: String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major Op. 18; String Sextet No. 2 in G major Op. 36
Petr Holman (viola), Vladimir Fortin (cello), Quatuor Prazak
PRAGA DSD250297 (Hybrid SACD)

Brahms: String Sextets 1 & 2
BRAHMS: String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major Op. 18; String Sextet No. 2 in G major Op. 36
Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble
CHANDOS CHAN9151 (CD)

Brahms - Complete String Quartets, Quintets & Sextets
BRAHMS: String Quartet No. 1 in C minor Op. 51 No. 1; String Quintet No. 1 in F major Op. 88; String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major Op. 18; Piano Quintet in F minor Op. 34; Clarinet Quintet in B minor Op. 115; Clarinet Trio in A minor Op. 114; String Quartet No. 2 in A minor Op. 51 No. 2; String Quartet No. 3 in B flat major Op. 67; String Quintet No. 2 in G major Op. 111; String Sextet No. 2 in G major Op. 36
Cecil Aronowitz (viola), William Pleeth (cello), Christoph Eschenbach (piano), Karl Leister (clarinet), Amadeus Quartet
DG 4743582 (5CD)

10.20am

Josquin: Missa Di Dadi
DESPRES: Missa di dadi; Missa Une mousse de Biscaye
The Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips (conductor)
GIMELL CDGIM048 (CD)

Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli & Motets
PALESTRINA: Missa Papae Marcelli; Tu Es Pastor Ovium; O bone Jesu; Confitemi Domino; Ad te Levavi Oculos Meos; Benedixisti Domine; Veritas Mea Et Misericordia Mea; Jubilate Deo; Confirma Hoc Deus; Ave Maria
Sistine Chapel Choir, Massimo Palombella
DG 4796131 (CD)

Durante: Requiem
DURANTE, F: Requiem Mass in C minor; Organ Concerto in B flat major
Alexandra Kidgell (soprano), Katy Hill (soprano), William Purefoy (countertenor), Mark Dobell (tenor), Ben Davies (bass), Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, Clive Driskill-Smith (organ), Oxford Baroque, Stephen Darlington (conductor)
CORO COR16147 (CD)

Edmund Rubbra: Choral Works
RUBBRA: Tenebrae Motets Op. 72: First, Second & Third Nocturns; Missa Cantuariensis Op. 59; Three Motets Op. 76; Five Motets for unaccompanied choir Op. 37
The Sixteen, Harry Christophers (conductor)
CORO COR16144 (CD)

Music of the Spheres
BINGHAM, J: The Drowned Lovers
BRIDGE: In Autumn; Music, when Soft Voices Die; The Bee
CHILCOTT: The Modern Man I Sing
ELGAR: Four Part-songs Op. 53
HARVEY, J: Song of June
MURRILL: O Mistress Mine; Come Away, Death
STANFORD: The Blue Bird Op. 119 No. 3; On Time
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Three Shakespeare Songs
WALKER, E:   Soft Music Op. 48
Tenebrae, Nigel Short (conductor)
SIGNUM SIGCD904 (CD)

A Voice from Heaven
BERKELEY, L: Justorum animae
HARRIS, W: Bring us, O Lord God; Faire is the Heaven
HEWITT JONES, THOMAS: Drop, drop, slow tears
HOWELLS: Take him, earth, for cherishing; I heard a voice from Heaven
LEIGHTON: Drop, Drop Slow Tears
MACMILLAN: Bring us, O Lord
MURRILL: The souls of the righteous
PARRY: Lord, let me know mine end (No. 6 from Songs of Farewell)
STANFORD: I heard a voice from heaven; Justorum animae Op. 38 No. 1
TAVENER: Song for Athene; Take Him Earth For Cherishing
Choir of The King’s Consort, Robert King (conductor)
VIVAT VIVAT113 (CD)

10.45am – Sarah Lenton on new releases of opera DVDs

Sarah Lenton reviews new DVD releases of operas by Handel, Bellini, Giordano and Dvorak.

GLASS, P: Einstein on the Beach
Helga Davis, Kate Moran, Antoine Silverman, The Philip Glass Ensemble, Michael Riesman (conductor) (conductor), Robert Wilson (director)
OPUS ARTE OABD7173D (2 DVD) / Opus Arte OABD7173D (2Blu-ray)

HANDEL: Alcina
Patricia Petibon (Alcina), Philippe Jaroussky (Ruggiero), Anna Prohaska (Morgana), Katarina Bradic (Bradamante), Anthony Gregory (Oronte), Krzysztof Baczyk (Melisso), Elias Madler, Lionel Wunsch (Oberto), Freiburger Barockorchester, MusicAeterna (Chorus of the Perm Opera), Andrea Marcon (musical director) (conductor), Katie Mitchell (stage director)
ERATO 9029597436 (2 DVD) / ERATO 9029597435 (Blu-ray)

BELLINI: Norma
Sondra Radvanovsky (Norma), Gregory Kunde (Pollione), Ekaterina Gubanova (Adalgisa), Raymond Aceto (Oroveso), Ana Puche (Clotilde), Francisco Vas (Flavio), Symphony Orchestra, Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Renato Palumbo (conductor), Kevin Newbury (stage director)
C MAJOR 737208 (2 DVD) / C MAJOR 737304 (Blu-ray)

DVORAK: Rusalka Op. 114
Kristine Opolais (Rusalka), Klaus Florian Vogt (Prince), Nadia Krasteva (Foreign Princess), Gunther Groissbock (Goblin), Janina Baechle (Ježibaba), Ulrich Ress (Forester), Tara Erraught (Kitchen Boy), John Chest (Hunter), Evgeniya Sotnikova (1st Wood Nymph), Angela Brower (2nd Wood Nymph), Okka von der Damerau (3rd Wood Nymph), Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Tomas Hanus (conductor), Martin Kušej (director)
C MAJOR 750808 (2 DVD) / C MAJOR 750904 (Blu-ray)

GIORDANO, U: Andrea Chenier
Jonas Kaufmann (Andrea Chenier), Eva-Maria Westbroek (Maddalena de Coigny), Željko Lucic (Carlo Gerard), Denyce Graves (Bersi), Elena Zilio (Madelon), Rosalind Plowright (Contessa de Coigny), Roland Wood (Roucher), Peter Coleman-Wright (Pietro Fleville), Eddie Wade (Fouquier-Tinville), Adrian Clarke (Mathieu), Carlo Bosi (The Incredibile), Peter Hoare (Abbe), Jeremy White (Schmidt), John Cunningham (Major Domo), Yuriy Yurchuk (Dumas), Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Antonio Pappano (conductor (conductor), David McVicar (director)
WARNER CLASSICS 9029593796 ( DVD) / WARNER CLASSICS 9029593779 (Blu-ray)

11.45am - Disc of the Week

BACH, J S: The Art of Fugue, BWV1080
Rachel Podger (violin), Brecon Baroque
CHANNEL CCSSA38316 (Hybrid SACD)

Broadcast

  • Sat 29 Oct 2016 09:00

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