Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Building a Library: Beethoven: String Quartet No 12

With Andrew McGregor. Including Building a Library: Beethoven: String Quartet No 12; Recent vocal releases, including Cesarini, Mozart and Mendelssohn; Disc of the Week.

with Andrew McGregor.

0930
Building a Library on the first of Beethoven's late, great string quartets, Op.127 in E flat major. Stephen Johnson compares recordings of the first of the five extraordinary string quartets which were to be Beethoven's last works, and which stand alone in terms of sheer scale, length, and complexity. Stephen has been listening to recordings spanning eight decades to find the best recording for your library.

1030
Renowned soprano Elin Manahan Thomas chats to Andrew about her favourite discs from a selection of recent vocal releases including Cesarini from St茅phanie Varnerin, Mozart from Regula M眉hlemann and Mendelssohn from the Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble

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

3 hours, 12 minutes

Music Played

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Concerto in C minor Op.35 for piano, trumpet and string orchestra

    Performer: Boris Giltburg. Performer: Rhys Owens. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Naxos : 8573666.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.
  • Morfydd Llwyn Owen

    Gweddi y Pechadur

    Performer: Brian Ellsbury. Singer: Elin Manahan Thomas.
    • T欧 Cerdd : TCR014.
    • T欧 Cerdd.
    • 16.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Symphony No. 4 In E Minor Op.98, iii. Allegro giocoso

    Orchestra: North German Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Hengelbrock.
    • Sony : 88985405082.
    • Sony.
    • 3.
  • Manuel de Falla

    Ritual Fire Dance (El Amor Brujo)

    Music Arranger: Olivier Latry. Performer: Olivier Latry.
    • Organ Transcriptions.
    • Erato.
    • 2.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony No. 6 In B Minor Op.74 (Pathetique), i. Adagio - allegro non troppo

    Performer: Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Christian Lindberg.
    • BIS : BIS-2178.
    • BIS.
    • 5.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    (Symphony No. 6 In B Minor Op.74 (Pathetique), i. Adagio - allegro non troppo

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Onyx Classics : ONYX 4162.
    • Onyx Classics.
    • 4.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    (Symphony No. 6 In B Minor Op.74 (Pathetique), iv. Finale (Adagio lamentoso) (Andante lamentoso)

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Onyx Classics : ONYX 4162.
    • Onyx Classics.
    • 7.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    La Clemenza Di Tito - "S'altro che lacrime"

    Singer: Regula Muhlemann. Orchestra: Basel Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli.
    • SONY : 88985337582.
    • SONY.
    • 5.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail - "Durch Zartlichkeit und Schmeicheln"

    Singer: Regula Muhlemann. Orchestra: Basel Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli.
    • SONY : 88985337582.
    • SONY.
    • 6.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Exsultate, Jubilate - Motet K.165, iv. Alleluja

    Singer: Regula Muhlemann. Orchestra: Basel Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli.
    • SONY : 88985337582.
    • SONY.
    • 12.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Elias Op.70 - I. Chor 'Hilf, Herr!'

    Singer: Genia K眉hmeier. Singer: Ann Hallenberg. Singer: Lothar Odinius. Singer: Michael Nagy. Choir: Balthasar鈥怤eumann鈥怌hor. Ensemble: Balthasar鈥怤eumann鈥怑nsemble. Conductor: Thomas Hengelbrock.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi : 88985362562.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 3.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Elias Op.70 - IV. Aria, 'So ihr mich von ganzem Herzen'

    Singer: Genia K眉hmeier. Singer: Ann Hallenberg. Singer: Lothar Odinius. Singer: Michael Nagy. Choir: Balthasar鈥怤eumann鈥怌hor. Ensemble: Balthasar鈥怤eumann鈥怑nsemble. Conductor: Thomas Hengelbrock.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi : 88985362562.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 7.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Elias Op.70 - XII. Chorus 'Baal, erhore uns'

    Singer: Genia K眉hmeier. Singer: Ann Hallenberg. Singer: Lothar Odinius. Singer: Michael Nagy. Choir: Balthasar鈥怤eumann鈥怌hor. Ensemble: Balthasar鈥怤eumann鈥怑nsemble. Conductor: Thomas Hengelbrock.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi : 88985362562.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 17.
  • La Grande Chapelle & Albert Recasens

    Dulcisimo Dueno

    • LAUDA : LAU016.
    • LAUDA.
    • 6.
  • La Grande Chapelle & Albert Recasens

    Ah, Senor Embozado

    • LAUDA : LAU016.
    • LAUDA.
    • 10.
  • La Grande Chapelle & Albert Recasens

    Dulce Clarin Sonoro

    • LAUDA : LAU016.
    • LAUDA.
    • 11.
  • Capella Fede & Peter Leech

    Ave Maria

    • Toccata Classics : TOCC 0300.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 7.
  • Capella Fede & Peter Leech

    Laudate pueri Dominum

    • Toccata Classics : TOCC 0300.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 9.
  • Capella Fede & Peter Leech

    Alletamento Terzo - iii. Allegro

    • Toccata Classics : TOCC 0300.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 13.
  • Stephanie Varnerin & L'Astree - Giorgio Tabacco

    Filli, No'L Niego, Io Dissi; Aria 'E di Tantalo i sospiri'

    • Aparte : AP136.
    • Aparte.
    • 6.
  • Stephanie Varnerin & L'Astree - Giorgio Tabacco

    Gia Gl'Augelli Canori (L'Arianna); Aria 'Austri terribili'

    • Aparte : AP136.
    • Aparte.
    • 12.
  • Stephanie Varnerin & L'Astree - Giorgio Tabacco

    Fetonte, E Non Ti Basta; Aria 'Suole il padre, con saggio consiglio'

    • Aparte : AP136.
    • Aparte.
    • 16.
  • Stephanie Varnerin & L'Astree - Giorgio Tabacco

    Oh Della'Adria Reina; Aria 'Fuggite amanti'

    • Aparte : AP136.
    • Aparte.
    • 38.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Concerto No. 1 In A Minor Op.77 For Violin And Orchestra

    Performer: Frank Peter Zimmermann. Orchestra: NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. Conductor: Alan Gilbert.
    • BIS : BIS-2247.
    • BIS.
    • 1-4.

9am

Shostakovich: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor for piano, trumpet & strings Op. 35; Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major Op. 102; String Quartet No. 2 in A major Op. 68, iii. Waltz (arr. B Giltburg); String Quartet No. 8 in C minor Op. 110 (arr. B Giltburg)
Boris Giltburg (piano), Rhys Owens (trumpet), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko (conductor)
NAXOS 8573666 (CD)

Morfydd Owen: Portrait of a Lost Icon
OWEN: Spring; Mother鈥檚 Lullaby; The Lamb; Rhapsody in C sharp minor; Tristesse; Maida Vale; Tal y Llyn; Little Eric; Glantaf; To Our Lady of Sorrows; Prelude in E minor; Four Flower Songs; Gweddi y Pechadur; Branwen; Sonata for Piano in E minor; Chorale (from Piano Quintet); The Land of Hush-a-bye
Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano), Brian Ellsbury (piano)
Ty Cerdd TCR 014

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg: The First Recording (Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4)
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 3 in F major Op. 90; Symphony No. 4 in E minor Op. 98
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Thomas Hengelbrock (conductor)
SONY 88985405082 (CD)

Voyages - Organ transcriptions
BACH, J S: Cantata BWV29 'Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir': Sinfonia (trans. Dupre)
CHOPIN: Prelude Op. 28, No. 4 (trans. Liszt)
DEBUSSY: Preludes - Book 1: No. 10, La cathedrale engloutie (trans. Roques)
FALLA: Ritual Fire Dance (from El amor brujo) (trans. Latry)
FAURE: Sicilienne from Pelleas et Melisande (trans. Robilliard)
KHACHATURIAN: Sabre Dance from Gayane (trans. Kiviniemi)
LISZT: Legende S.175 No. 2, St. Francis of Paola walking on the waves (trans Reger)
MENDELSSOHN: Variations serieuses in D minor Op. 54 (trans. Smits)
RIMSKY KORSAKOV: Flight of the Bumble Bee (trans. Saint-Martin)
SAINT-SAENS: Danse macabre Op. 40 (trans. Lemare)
WAGNER: Tristan und Isolde: Prelude & Liebestod (trans. Lemare)
Olivier Latry 鈥楻ieger organ of the Paris Philharmonie鈥
ERATO 9029588850 (CD)

9:30am - Building a Library

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Piece: String Quartet聽No. 12 in E鈾 major,聽op.听127
Reviewer: Stephen Johnson

Building a Library: Beethoven's String Quartet No 12, Op. 127

Recommended recording (historic / mono): Busch Quartet
Adolf Busch & The Busch Quartet: The Complete Warner Recordings
Warner 2564601931聽 (16CD)

Recommended recording (modern / stereo): Belcea Quartet
Beethoven: String Quartets Nos. 1-16
ALPHA 262 (8CD)

10:20am - New Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 4-6
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4 in F minor Op. 36; Symphony No. 5 in E minor Op. 64; Symphony No. 6 in B minor Op. 74 'Pathetique'
Arctic Philharmonic, Christian Lindberg (conductor)
BIS BIS2178 (2Hybrid SACD)

Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 3, 4 & 6
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 3 in D major Op. 29 'Polish'; Symphony No. 4 in F minor Op. 36; Symphony No. 6 in B minor Op. 74 'Pathetique'
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko (conductor)
ONYX ONYX4162 (2CD)

10.40am 鈥 Elin Manahan Thomas on new vocal recordings

Mozart Arias
MOZART: Schon lacht der holde Fruhling, KV580; Geme la tortorella (from La finta giardiniera); Da schlagt die Abschiedsstunde (from Der Schauspieldirektor); Voi avete un cor fedele, K217; S'altro che lacrime (from La clemenza di Tito); Durch Zartlichkeit und Schmeicheln (from Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail); Strider sento la procella (from Lucio Silla); Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio! K418; Exsultate, jubilate, K165
Regula Muhlemann (soprano), Kammerorchester Basel, Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli
SONY 88985337582 (CD)

MENDELSSOHN: Elias (Elijah) Op. 70
Genia Kuhmeier (soprano), Ann Hallenberg (contralto), Lothar Odinius (tenor), Michael Nagy (baritone), Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble, Balthasar-Neumann-Chor-und-Solisten, Thomas Hengelbrock (conductor)
DEUTSCHE HM 88985362562 (2CD)

Sebastian Duron: Music For Two Dynasties
DURON: Dulce armonia, a 8, responsion general a san Francisco Javier; 隆Ay, infelice de aquel agresor!; Duerme, rosa, descansa, duo; 隆Ay, como cantan,鈥!; Cupidillo volante; Dulcisimo dueno; Vaya pues rompiendo el ayre; 隆Volcanes de amor,鈥!; Corazon, que suspiras atento; 隆Ah, Senor embozado!; Dulce clarin sonoro
La Grande Chapelle, Albert Recasens
LAUDA LAU016 (CD)

Carlo Francesco Cesarini: Cantatas
CESARINI, C F: Fetonte, e non ti basta; Filli, no'l niego, io dissi (La Gelosia); Gia聽gl'augelli canori (L'Arianna); Oh dell'Adria reina; Penso di non mirarvi; V'e una bella tutta ingegno
Stephanie Varnerin (soprano), L'Astree, Giorgio Tabacco (conductor)
APARTE AP136 (CD)

The Cardinal King
BOLIS: Cinque Assoluzzione: 1; Cinque Assoluzzione: 2; Cinque Assoluzzione: 5; Jesu quaeritis Nazarenum; Laudate pueri; Miserere; Letanie della Madonna Santissima
COSTANZI: Ave Maria
JOMMELLI: Oculi omnium
TESSARINI: Allettamento da camera in G Op. 3, No. 2
ZAMBONI: Splende la fredda luna; O memorie funeste; O come sei gentile; Feritevi, ferite
Cappella Fede, Harmonia Sacra, Peter Leech
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0300 (CD)

11.45am 鈥 Disc of the Week

Shostakovich: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor Op. 99; Violin Concerto No. 2 in C sharp minor Op. 129
Frank Peter Zimmermann (violin), NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Alan Gilbert (conductor)
BIS BIS2247 (Hybrid SACD)

Broadcast

  • Sat 21 Jan 2017 09:00

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.