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Andrew McGregor with Elin Manahan Thomas and Tom McKinney

Building a library on Gerald Finzi's solo cantata, Dies natalis, with Elin Manahan Thomas, plus Tom McKinney rounds up recent releases.

with Andrew McGregor.

9.30
Building a Library on Gerald Finzi's Dies natalis with Elin Manahan Thomas.

Begun in the mid-1920s but not premiered until 1940, Finzi's cantata for solo voice and string orchestra sets the words of 17th century English poet, Thomas Traherne. By turns ecstatic and pastoral, this most celebrated of Finzi's works is but modestly represented in the recording catalogue, and then almost exclusively by British musicians.

10.55
Tom McKinney rounds up recent releases.

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

3 hours, 12 minutes

Music Played

  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Overture à 5 in F Major, TWV 44:16: V. Fanfare

    Conductor: Carin van Heerden. Ensemble: L'Orfeo Blaserensemble.
    • Telemann: Wind Overtures, Vol. 1.
    • CPO.
    • 105.
  • Claude Debussy

    Préludes, Livre 2, L. 123: IX. Hommage à S. Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C. Grave

    Performer: Alexander Melnikov.
    • Debussy: Préludes du 2e Livre, La Mer.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 109.
  • Claude Debussy

    Le Martyre de saint Sébastien, fragments symphoniques, L. 124, I. La Cour des lys

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Pablo Heras‐Casado.
    • Debussy: La Mer, Le Martyre de saint Sébastien.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 102.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Langue, Trema, e prigionero (Nell'africane selve)

    Singer: Christopher Purves. Ensemble: Arcangelo. Conductor: Jonathan Cohen.
    • Hyperion.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    Divertimento (Arr. for Violin & Piano): IVa. Pas de deux. Adagio

    Music Arranger: Samuel Dushkin.
    • Stravinsky: Music for Violin, Vol. 2.
    • BIS.
    • 404.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    Divertimento (Arr. for Violin & Piano): IVb. Variation. Allegretto grazioso

    Music Arranger: Samuel Dushkin.
    • Stravinsky: Music for Violin, Vol. 2.
    • BIS.
    • 405.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    Divertimento (Arr. for Violin & Piano): IVc. Coda. Presto

    Music Arranger: Samuel Dushkin.
    • Stravinsky: Music for Violin, Vol. 2.
    • BIS.
    • 406.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Nocturne (King Christian II Suite)

    Orchestra: 91ȱ National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Thomas Søndergård.
    • Linn.
  • Percy Grainger

    Lincolnshire Posy: III. Rufford Park Poachers

    Orchestra: Kongelige norske marines musikkorps. Conductor: Bjarte Engeset.
    • Grainger: Complete Music for Wind Band, Vol. 3.
    • Naxos.
    • 803.
  • Percy Grainger

    Lincolnshire Posy: IV. The Brisk Young Sailor

    Orchestra: Kongelige norske marines musikkorps. Conductor: Bjarte Engeset.
    • Grainger: Complete Music for Wind Band, Vol. 3.
    • Naxos.
    • 804.
  • John Lewis

    Django

    Music Arranger: David Balakrishnan. Ensemble: Turtle Island Quartet.
    • Azica Records.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Des Knaben Wunderhorn: XI. Urlicht

    Performer: Peter Moore. Performer: James Baillieu.
    • Life Force.
    • Rubicon Classics.
    • 112.
  • Alexander Scriabin

    Piano Sonata No. 4 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 30: I. Andante

    Performer: Vadym Kholodenko.
    • Scriabin: Preludes, Etudes & Sonatas Nos. 4 & 5.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 112.
  • Alexander Scriabin

    Piano Sonata No. 4 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 30: II. Prestissimo volando

    Performer: Vadym Kholodenko.
    • Scriabin: Preludes, Etudes & Sonatas Nos. 4 & 5.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 113.
  • Claude Debussy

    La Mer, L. 109: I. De l'aube à midi sur la mer (Transcribed for four-hand piano)

    Performer: Alexander Melnikov. Performer: Olga Pashchenko. Music Arranger: Claude Debussy.
    • Debussy: Préludes du 2e Livre, La Mer.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 113.
  • Claude Debussy

    La Mer, L. 109: II. Jeux de vagues (Transcribed for four-hand piano)

    Performer: Alexander Melnikov. Performer: Olga Pashchenko. Music Arranger: Claude Debussy.
    • Debussy: Préludes du 2e Livre, La Mer.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 114.
  • Claude Debussy

    La Mer, L. 109: III. Dialogue du vent et de la mer (Transcribed for four-hand piano

    Performer: Alexander Melnikov. Performer: Olga Pashchenko. Music Arranger: Claude Debussy.
    • Debussy: Préludes du 2e Livre, La Mer.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 115.

Record Review

9.00am


Telemann: Wind Overtures Vol. 1

L'Orfeo Bläserensemble

Carin van Heerden

CPO 5550852



Debussy: Préludes & La Mer

Alexander Melnikov & Olga Pashchenko (Érard piano c. 1885)

Harmonia Mundi HMM902302

Debussy: La Mer & Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien

Philharmonia Orchestra

Pablo Heras-Casado

Harmonia Mundi HMM902310

Handel's Finest Arias for Base Voice, Vol. 2

Christopher Purves (baritone)

Arcangelo

Jonathan Cohen

Hyperion CDA68152

Stravinsky: Music for Violin Volume 2

Ilya Gringolts (violin)

Peter Laul (piano)

Sinfónica de Galicia

Dima Slobodeniouk

BIS BIS2275 Hybrid SACD

9.30am – Building a Library – Elin Manahan Thomas on Finzi’s Dies Natalis

Composer: Gerald Finzi

Piece: Dies Natalis

Reviewer: Elin Manahan Thomas

Recommended Recording:

James Gilchrist (tenor), Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/David Hill

Naxos 8.570417

Other Recommended Recordings:

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

Wilfred Brown (tenor), English Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Finzi

EMI 724366558823



10.20am – New Releases

Sibelius: Finlandia, En Saga, The Swan of Tuonela, The Oceanides, Valse Triste, King Christian II Suite

91ȱ National Orchestra of Wales

Thomas Søndergård

Linn CKD566



Grainger: Wind Band Music, Vol. 3

Hans Knut Sveen (organ)

Royal Norwegian Navy Band

Bjarte Engeset

Naxos 8.573681

Bird’s Eye View

Turtle Island Quartet

Azica Records ACD 71318

Life Force

Peter Moore (trombone)

James Baillieu (piano)

Rubicon RCD1028

Scriabin: Preludes, Etudes & Sonatas Nos. 4 & 5

Vadym Kholodenko (piano)

Harmonia Mundi HMM902255

10.50am New Releases: Tom McKinney on 20th- and 21st-century operas

Poulenc: Le Voix Humaine & Bartók: Duke Bluebeard's Castle

Barbara Hannigan (Elle)

Ekaterina Gubanova (Judit)

John Relyea (Bluebeard)

Paris Opera Orchestra

Esa-Pekka Salonen

Krzysztof Warlikowski

Arthaus Musik 109364 (DVD and Blu-ray)

Hamlet

Allan Clayton (Hamlet)

Sarah Connolly (Gertrude)

Barbara Hannigan (Ophelia)

Rod Gilfry (Claudius)

Kim Begley (Polonius)

John Tomlinson (Ghost/Grave-Digger/Player-King)

Jacques Imbrailo (Horatio)

David Butt Philip (Laertes)

The Glyndebourne Chorus

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Vladimir Jurowski

Opus Arte OA1254D (DVD and Blu-ray)

Doctor Atomic

Gerald Finley (Robert Oppenheimer)

Julia Bullock (Kitty Oppenheimer)

Brindley Sherratt (Edward Teller)

Samuel Sakker (James Nolan), Nolan)

Andrew Staples (Robert Wilson)

Jennifer Johnston (Pasqualita)

91ȱ Singers

91ȱ Symphony Orchestra

John Adams
Nonesuch 7559793107


Mason Bates: The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs

Sante Fe Opera

Michael Christie

Pentatone PTC5186690 2 Hybrid SACDs

11.45am – Disc of the Week: Debussy - La Mer (transcribed for piano, four hands)
Alexander Melnikov & Olga Pashchenko (Érard piano c. 1885)

Harmonia Mundi HMM902302



Broadcast

  • Sat 30 Jun 2018 09:00

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