Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Andrew McGregor with Kate Molleson and Kirsten Gibson

With Andrew McGregor. Including Building a Library: Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time; New releases of music by Dowland and his contemporaries; Disc of the Week.

with Andrew McGregor.

0930
Building a Library on Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time. Kate Molleson in conversation with Andrew guides us through this unique work of chamber music which deals with different aspects of time.

Messiaen was captured by the German army in 1940. As a prisoner of war he managed to obtain some paper and a small pencil from a sympathetic guard. The quartet was premiered at the camp, outdoors and in the rain in 1941. The musicians had beaten-up old instruments and an audience of fellow prisoners and guards. Messiaen said: "Never was I listened to with such rapt attention and comprehension." Messiaen was inspired by a text from the the Book of Revelation: "And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire."

1030
Kirsten Gibson reviews a collection of new releases of music by the Tudor composer John Dowland and his contemporaries, and including a modern reinterpretation of Dowland's music by David Gorton. This set of discs underlines the constant presence of Dowland's famous 'Lachrimae' in one guise or another - it speaks both to its popularity in Dowland's lifetime and its enduring popularity and fascination with modern composers, musicians and audiences. It clearly captured the imagination of 17-century musicians across Europe in myriad ways and continues to act as a catalyst for further musical creativity right up to the present day. These recordings also show the recurring theme of musical borrowing amongst 16th-century musicians.

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

3 hours, 12 minutes

Music Played

  • John Dowland

    Book of Songs, Book 3: Time Stands Still (arr. F. Chylek for harpsichord)

    Composer: Friederike Chylek.
    • Time Stands Still.
    • Oehms Classics.
    • 01.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Soldier'S Tale For Narrator, Actors And Ensemble, ix. Royal March

    Narrator: Harriet Walter. Narrator: Harrison Birtwistle. Narrator: Sir George Benjamin. Ensemble: Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble. Conductor: Oliver Knussen.
    • Linn Records : CKD 552.
    • Linn Records.
    • 13.
  • Adolf Strauss

    Ich Weiss Bestimmt, Ich Werd Dich Wiedersehen For Voice And Piano

    Performer: James Baillieu. Singer: Benjamin Appl.
    • Sony : 88985393032.
    • Sony.
    • 14.
  • Tigran Mansurian

    Requiem, v. Lacrimosa

    Choir: RIAS Chamber Choir. Orchestra: M眉nchener Kammerorchester. Conductor: Alexander Liebreich.
    • ECM.
  • Franz Liszt

    05 A Faust Symphony, iv. Chorus mysticus

    Singer: Steve Davislim. Choir: Sine Nomine Chorus. Orchestra: Chorus Viennensis. Conductor: Martin Haselb枚ck.
    • Alpha : 475.
    • Alpha.
    • 3.
  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    32 Overture (Suite) In D Major Twv.55:D1 (Tafelmusik 2 Air IV)

    Performer: Maurice Andr茅. Performer: Ad Mater. Ensemble: Concerto Amsterdam. Conductor: Frans Br眉ggen.
    • Warner Classics : 0190295860134.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 14.
  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    33 Rejouissance (Overture in A minor TWV 55:a2)

    Performer: Frans Br眉ggen. Ensemble: Concentus Musicus Wien. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • Warner Classics : 0190295860134.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 13.
  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    35 Concerto In E Major Twv.53:E1, iii. Siciliano

    Performer: Emmanuel Pahud. Performer: Albrecht Mayer. Performer: Wolfram Christ. Performer: Berliner Barock Solisten. Performer: Rainer Kussmaul.
    • Warner Classics : 0190295860134.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 18.
  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    36 Quadro (Paris Quartet) No. 6 In B Minor Twv.43:e4 v. Distrait

    Performer: Wilbert Hazelzet. Ensemble: Sonnerie.
    • Warner Classics : 0190295860134.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 16.
  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    37 Der Tag Des Gerichts - Part 2: Opening

    Choir: Monteverdi鈥怌hor Hamburg. Ensemble: Concentus Musicus Wien. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • Warner Classics : 0190295860134.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 11.
  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    38 Pimpinone [the Mismatched Marriage] - IntermezzoIII: Wilde Hummel! B枚se Engel

    Singer: Uta Spreckelsen. Singer: Siegmund Nimsgern. Ensemble: Florilegium Ensemble. Conductor: Hans-Ludwig Hirsch.
    • Warner Classics : 0190295860134.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 20-21.
  • Franz Schubert

    49 Quartet In G Major D.887 For Strings

    Ensemble: Tetzlaff Quartett.
    • Ondine : ODE1293-2.
    • Ondine.
    • 2-4.

9am

Stravinsky: The Soldier's Tale
STRAVINSKY: L'Histoire du Soldat; Fanfare for a New Theatre
Harrison Birtwistle (The Soldier), George Benjamin (The Devil), Dame Harriet Walter (narrator), Royal Academy of Music, Oliver Knussen (conductor)
LINN CKD552 (CD)

Benjamin Appl: Heimat
BRAHMS: Wiegenlied Op. 49 No. 4 (Lullaby); Mondnacht, WoO 21; Mein Madel hat einen Rosenmund (No. 25 from Deutsche Volkslieder, WoO 33)
BRITTEN: Greensleeves
GRIEG: Til Norge (To Norway) Op. 58 No. 2; Seks Sange Op. 48 No. 6 'Ein Traum'
IRELAND: If there were Dreams to Sell
POULENC: Hyde Park
REGER: Des Kindes Gebet Op. 76 No. 22
SCHUBERT: Seligkeit D433 (Holty); Der Einsame, D800; Nachtstuck, D672
(Mayrhofer); Drang in die Ferne, D770; Der Wanderer an den Mond D870 (Seidl); Das Heimweh, D456 (Winkler); Der Wanderer, D489
STRAUSS, A: Ich weiss bestimmt, ich werd Dich wiedersehn
STRAUSS, R: Allerseelen Op. 10 No. 8
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Silent Noon
WARLOCK: My Own Country; The Bachelor
WOLF, H: Verschwiegene Liebe (No. 3 from Eichendorff-Lieder)
Benjamin Appl (baritone), James Baillieu (piano)
SONY 88985393032 (CD)

MANSURIAN: Requiem, for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus and string orchestra
Anja Petersen (soprano), Andrew Redmond (bass), RIAS Chamber Choir Berlin, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Alexander Liebreich (conductor)
ECM 4814101 (CD)

LISZT: A Faust Symphony, S108
Steve Davislim (tenor), Orchester Wiener Akademie, Chorus Sine Nomine, Martin Haselbock (conductor)
ALPHA ALPHA475 (CD)

9.30am 鈥 Building a Library

Composer: Olivier Messiaen
Piece: Quartet for the End of Time
Reviewer: Kate Molleson

Building a Library: Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time

Recommended recording:

Marie-Madeleine Petit (piano)/ Hugette Fernandez (violin)/ Jacques Neilz (cello)/ Guy Deplus (clarinet)
WARNER CLASSICS 2564621622 (18CD)
From the Messiaen Edition - An 18 CD set聽 offering a comprehensive overview of Messiaen鈥檚 work in recordings made between 1963-2000
For more information:

Other recommended recordings:
Below is a shortlist of other recordings which Kate Molleson also liked, although we can鈥檛 guarantee the availability of these discs.

Pascal Moragues & Trio Wanderer: Vincent Coq (piano)/ Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabedian (violin)/ Raphael Pidoux (cello)/ Pascal Moragues (clarinet)
Harmonia Mundi HMC 901987

Olli Mustonen (piano)/ Joshua Bell (violin)/ Steven Isserlis (cello)/ Michael Collins (clarinet)
Decca 452 899-2

10.30am 鈥 Warner Classics Telemann Collection

Telemann - The Collection
WARNER CLASSICS 9029586013 (13CD)

10.50am 鈥 Kirsten Gibson on Dowland the Elizabethans

DOWLAND: Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares
Elizabeth Kenny (lute), Phantasm
LINN CKD527 (Hybrid SACD)

David Gorton: Variations On Dowland
DOWLAND: Forlorn Hope Fancy (Fantasie No. 2)
GORTON, D: Flow my tears fall from your springs; Lachrymae Variations; Forlorn Hope; Pavana Lachrymae
MORLEY: Pavan and Galliard
Stefan Ostersjo (guitar), Longbow, Peter Sheppard Skaerved
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0396 (CD)

English Virginal Music from the Golden Age
BYRD: La Volta; My Lady Nevell's Ground
DOWLAND: Time stands still; Pavana Lachrymae (set by William Byrd)
FARNABY, G: Pawles Wharfe
JOHNSON, R: Alman, CXLVI
PURCELL: Suite No. 2 in G minor, Z 661; Air; A New Irish Tune Z646; March in C major, Z 648; Riggadoon, Z653; Suite No. 4 in A minor, Z 663; A New Ground in E minor, Z. T682; Hornpipe
TOMKINS: Ground, MB 5/39
Friederike Chylek (harpsichord)
OEHMS OC1864 (CD)

Music from The Globe's Landmark Productions
BYRD: The Battell
CHARDAVOINE: Une jeune fillette
DOWLAND: Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares; Can she excuse my wrongs? (First Booke of Songes, 1597); Frog Galliard; Mrs Winter's Jump
GERVAISE: Bransle de Champaigne; Pavane di Angletere; Deux Branles Simples; Fin de Galliard
GREEBE: Paduana - Galliard
HOLBORNE: Spring Dance; Wanton; The Funerals; Paradizo
KAMPEN: Come away, Death
MORLEY: Lavolto
PLAYFORD: Half Hannikin/All in a Garden Green/Sellenger's Round
PRAETORIUS, M: Galliard
WEELKES: Tantara Cries
The Musicians of Shakespeare's Globe, Claire van Kampen
GLOBE MUSIC GM002 (CD)

11.45am 鈥 Disc of the Week

Tetzlaff Quartet play Schubert & Haydn
HAYDN: String Quartet Op. 20 No. 3 in G minor
SCHUBERT: String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D887
Tetzlaff Quartet
ONDINE ODE12932 (CD)

Broadcast

  • Sat 18 Mar 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.