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Andrew McGregor with Flora Willson and Simon Heighes

With Andrew McGregor. Including Building a Library on Massenet's opera Manon with Flora Willson. Simon Heighes reviews new baroque releases including music by Bach and Handel.

9.30
Building a Library: Massenet's Manon with Flora Willson.

Based on the 1731 novel L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut by the Abbé Prévost, Manon is probably still Massenet's most popular opera. It was first performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in 1884, and it has never been out of the repertory since its creation. It is full of charm and vitality with a complex central character who develops from the ingenue of Act 1 to someone altogether more manipulative at the end of the drama.

10.45
Simon Heighes reviews new releases of baroque music including works by Bach, Handel and William Hayes

11.45
Andrew chooses an outstanding new release as his Disc of the Week.

3 hours, 12 minutes

Music Played

  • Giovanni Gabrieli

    Canzon Septimi Toni A 8 (Ii)

    Ensemble: Royal Academy of Music. Ensemble: Juilliard School Brass. Conductor: Reinhold Friedrich.
    • Linn Records.
  • William Sterndale Bennett

    Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor Op. 9. ii) Romanza

    Performer: Howard Shelley. Orchestra: 91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Hyperion.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata BWV127 'Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott' III) Aria: Die Seele ruht in Jesu Händen

    Singer: Hannah Morrison. Singer: Matthias Vieweg. Ensemble: Ricercar Consort. Conductor: Philippe Pierlot.
    • JS Bach: Consolatio.
    • Mirare.
    • 22.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata BWV127 'Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott' IV) Recitativo: Wenn einstens die Posaunen schallen

    Singer: Hannah Morrison. Singer: Matthias Vieweg. Ensemble: Ricercar Consort. Conductor: Philippe Pierlot.
    • JS Bach: Consolatio.
    • Mirare.
    • 23.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 47 i. Allegro moderato

    Performer: Ivry Gitlis. Orchestra: Wiener Symphoniker. Conductor: Jascha Horenstein.
    • Pristine Audio.
  • Edward Elgar

    Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: 3rd Mvt. - Adagio

    Performer: Jacqueline du Pré. Orchestra: 91Èȱ¬ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Malcolm Sargent.
    • Sargent conducts Elgar.
    • Pristine Audio.
    • 3.
  • Edward Elgar

    Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: 4th Mvt. - Allegro

    Performer: Jacqueline du Pré. Orchestra: 91Èȱ¬ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Malcolm Sargent.
    • Sargent conducts Elgar.
    • Pristine Audio.
    • 4.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    B Minor Mass ii. Gloria

    Singer: Katherine Watson. Singer: Tim Mead. Singer: Reinoud Van Mechelen. Singer: André Morsch. Orchestra: Les Arts Florissants. Conductor: William Christie.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

Record Review

9.00am

Ìý

GABRIELI FOR BRASS: VENETIAN EXTRAVAGANZA

GIOVANNI BATTISTA BUONAMENTE:

Sonata a 6

GIROLAMO FRESCOBALDI:

Canzon a due canti No. 3

GIOVANNI GABRIELI

Canzona per sonare a quattro - ‘La Spiritata'

Canzon III a 6

Canzon VIII

Canzon V

Canzon duodecimi toni, a 10 (No. 1)

Canzon noni toni a 12, C 183

Canzon septimi toni a 8

Sonata No.19 à 15

Sonata No. 18 à 14

Sonata XXI con tre violini

Sonata XX a 22

Sonata octavi toni a 12

Sonata pian e forte a 8

CESARIO GUSSAGO:

Canzona a 4 "La Bottaga"

PIETRO LAPPI:

Canzon Undecima ‘La Serafina’ a 4

TIBURTIO MASSAINO: Canzon XXXIII

LODOVICO DA VIADANA:

Sinfonia "La bergamasca"

Royal Academy of Music and Juilliard School Brass, Reinhold Friedrich

Linn CKD581 (CD)

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

THE ROMANTIC PIANO CONCERTO 74 - SIR WILLIAM STERNDALE BENNETT

SIR WILLIAM STERNDALE BENNETT:

Piano Concerto No.1 In D Minor, Op. 1

Piano Concerto No.2 In E Flat, Op. 4

Piano Concerto No.3 In C Minor, Op. 9

Howard Shelley (piano & conductor), 91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Hyperion CDA68178 (CD)

Ìý

JS BACH: CONSOLATIO

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH:

Cantata BWV22 'Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe'

Cantata BWV75 'Die Elenden sollen essen'

Cantata BWV127 'Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott'

Hannah Morrison (soprano), Carlos Mena (counter-tenor), Hans-Jorg Mammel (tenor) Matthias Vieweg (bass), Ricercar Consort/Philippe Pierlot

Mirare MIR 332 (CD)

Ìý

9.30am – Building a Library – Flora Willson on Massenet’s Manon

Ìý

Ìý

Composer:ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Massenet

Ìý

Piece: ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Manon

Ìý

Reviewer:ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Flora Willson

Ìý

Ìý

Recommended Recording:

Ìý

Angela Gheorghiu (Manon); Roberto Alagna (Chevalier des Grieux)

Orchestre Symphonique de la Monnaie; Antonio Pappano (conductor)

Warner Classics 4563892 (3 CDs)

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Other Recommended Recordings:

Ìý

Below are other recordings that Flora also liked, although we can’t guarantee availability.

Ìý

Victoria De Los Angeles (Manon); Henri Legay (Chevalier des Grieux)
Orchestre du Théâtre national de l’Opéra-Comique; Pierre Monteux (conductor)

TESTAMENT SBT3203Ìý(3 CDs).Ìý Also on Naxos 8111268-70 and EMI 7635492.

Ìý

Germaine Feraldy (Manon); Joseph Rogatchewsky (Chevalier des Grieux)

Orchestre de l’Opéra-Comique de Paris; Elie Cohen (conductor)

Classical Collector FDC22001.Ìý Also on Naxos 8110203-04.

Ìý

Anna Netrebko (Manon); Rolando Villazón (Chevalier des Grieux)

Staatsopernchor and Staatskapelle Berlin, Daniel Barenboim (conductor)

DG 0734431 (2 DVDs)

Ìý

10.20am New Releases:

Ìý

HORENSTEIN CONTUCTS SIBELIUS

JEAN SIBELIUS:

Symphony No. 2

Violin Concerto

Ivry Gitlis (violin), Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Radio National de France, Jascha Horenstein

Pristine Audio PASC 516 (CD)

Ìý

SARGENT CONDUCTS ELGAR:

EDWARD ELGAR:

Cello Concerto

The Dream of Gerontius

Jacqueline du Pré (cello), Richard Lewis (tenor), Marjorie Thomas (mezzo), John Cameron (baritone), Huddersfield Choral Society, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, 91Èȱ¬ Symphony Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent

Pristine Audio PASC 525 (CD)

Ìý

Pristine Audio releases can be found at

Ìý

1050 New Releases: Simon Heighes on baroque vocal

Ìý

HANDEL'S LAST PRIMA DONNA: GIULIA FRASI IN LONDON

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL:

Susanna, HWV 66: Crystal Streams in Murmurs Flowing

VINCENZO CIAMPI:

L'Adriano: O Dio! Mancar mi sento

Il trionfo di Camilla: Là per l'ombrosa sponda

THOMAS ARNE:

Artaxerxes: Why Is Death for Ever Late

JOHN CHRISTOPHER SMITH:

Paradise Lost: Oh! Do Not, Adam, Exercise on Me Thy Hatred

Paradise Lost: It Comes! It Comes! It Must Be Death!

Rebecca: But See, the Night with Silent Pace Steals On

Rebecca: O Balmy Sleep!

THOMAS ARNE:

Alfred: Gracious Heav'n, O Hear Me! (Revised Version, 1753)

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL:

Theodora, HWV 68:

Symphony

O Thou Bright Sun!

With Darkness Deep as Is My Woe

Symphony of Soft Musick

But Why Art Thou Disquieted, My Soul?

Oh That I on Wings Could Rise

PHILIP HAYES:

Telemachus: Soon Arrives Thy Fatal Hour

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL:

The Choice of Hercules, HWV 69: There the Brisk Sparkling Nectar Drain

Jephtha, HWV 70: Ye Sacred Priests

Jephtha, HWV 70: Farewell, Ye Limpid Springs

Solomon, HWV 67: Will the Sun Forget to Streak

Ruby Hughes (soprano) Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Laurence Cummings

Chandos CHSA0403 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

CEREMONIAL OXFORD, MUSIC FOR THE GEORGIAN UNIVERSITY BY WILLIAM HAYES

WILLIAM HAYES:

The Passions

O worship the Lord

Psalm 23: Lo! My Shepherd's hand divine

Lord, how long wilt thou be angry

Organ Concerto in G major

Save, Lord, and hear us

Voluntary in G Major

Lord, thou has been our refuge

Psalm 120 - To God I cry'd with anguish stung

O be joyful I God, all ye lands

The Fall of JerichoÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

The Hundredth Psalm

The Choir of Keble College, Instruments of Time & Truth, Edward Higginbottom (organ), Rory Moules (organ), Matthew Martin (organ and director),

CRD CRD3534 (CD)

Ìý

BACH, J S: MASS IN B MINOR, BWV232

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH:

Mass In B Minor, BWV 232

Katherine Watson (soprano), Helen Charlston (mezzo-soprano), Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Gwilym Bowen (tenor), Neal Davies (bass), Trinity College Choir Cambridge, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Stephen Layton

Hyperion CDA68181/2 (2 CDs)

Ìý

11.45am – Disc of the Week

BACH, J S: MASS IN B MINOR, BWV232

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH:

Mass In B Minor, BWV 232

Katherine Watson (soprano), Tim Mead (countertenor), Reinoud Van Mechelen (tenor), André Morsch (bass), Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

Harmonia Mundi HAF 8905293.94 (2 CDs)

Broadcast

  • Sat 17 Mar 2018 09:00

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