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Smetana's The Bartered Bride in Building a Library with Nigel Simeone and Andrew McGregor

Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Smetana's The Bartered Bride and conductor Robert Hollingworth shares some remarkable new releases

Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.

9.30 am
Conductor Robert Hollingworth shares some remarkable new releases which have caught his ear and shares his 'On Repeat' track – a recording which he is currently listening to again and again.

10.30 am
Building a Library: Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Smetana's opera Bartered Bride.

Smetana's infectious and tuneful comic opera follows the course of true love in the face of ambitious parents and a cunning marriage broker. The score is jumping with energetic Czech dance rhythms with polkas and furiants and one of the most sparkling overtures. Nigel Simeone explores the recordings which include performances from the great conductors and singers of the past.

11.20 am
Record of the Week: Andrew’s top pick.
Send us your On Repeat recommendations at recordreview@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @91ȱRadio3

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    Im Frühling, D 882

    Music Arranger: Xandi van Dijk. Ensemble: Signum Quartett.
    • Lebensmuth.
    • Pentatone.
    • 108.
  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E flat major Op.74 iii) Alla polacca

    Performer: Roeland Hendrikx. Orchestra: Rheinische Philharmonie. Conductor: Michel Tilkin.
    • EVIL PENGUIN.
  • Robert Schumann

    Waldszenen, Op.82, No. 7 Vogel als Prophet

    Performer: Zlata Chochieva.
    • ï.
  • Gaspare Spontini

    La vestale: Hymne du matin. Fille du ciel, éternelle Vesta

    Singer: Marina Rebeka. Singer: Aude Extrémo. Choir: Vlaams Radiokoor. Orchestra: Les Talens Lyriques. Conductor: Christophe Rousset.
    • Bru Zane.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54 iii) Presto

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda.
    • LSO Live.
  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Orfeo: Qual onor di te fia degno

    Singer: Marc Mauillon. Ensemble: La Capella Reial de Catalunya. Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.
    • Château de Versailles Spectacles.
  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Orfeo: O dolcissimi lumi

    Singer: Luciana Mancini. Singer: Marc Mauillon. Ensemble: La Capella Reial de Catalunya. Singer: Yannis François. Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.
    • Château de Versailles Spectacles.
  • Thomas Weelkes

    Christ Rising Again

    Choir: Choir of Chichester Cathedral. Ensemble: Rose Consort of Viols. Conductor: Charles Harrison.
  • Franz Schubert

    String Trio in B-Flat Major, D.471: ii) Andante sostenuto

    Composer: Brian Newbould. Ensemble: Sakuntala Trio.
    • Resonus Classics.
  • György Ligeti

    Études for piano, book 1: No. 1, Désordre

    Performer: Han Chen.
    • Naxos.
  • György Ligeti

    Études for piano, book 2: No. 10, Der Zauberlehrling

    Performer: Han Chen.
    • Naxos.
  • Michael Flanders and Donald Swann

    The Slow Train

    Ensemble: Michael Flanders and Donald Swann.
    • EMI.
  • Edward Elgar

    Cello Concerto in E minor, Op 85 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Jacqueline du Pré. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: John Barbirolli.
    • EMI.
  • Kerensa Briggs

    Requiem i) Introit

    Performer: Richard Gowers. Singer: Anita Monserrat. Choir: Choir of King’s College, London. Conductor: Joseph Fort.
    • Delphian.
  • Kerensa Briggs

    Requiem ii) Kyrie

    Performer: Richard Gowers. Singer: Anita Monserrat. Choir: Choir of King’s College, London. Conductor: Joseph Fort.
    • Delphian.
  • César Franck

    Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 14 i) Molto moderato quasi lento

    Performer: Catherine Montier. Performer: Christophe Gaugué. Ensemble: Trio Wanderer.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Erno Dohnanyi

    Variations on a Nursery Tune, Op. 25

    Performer: Isata Kanneh‐Mason. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Domingo Hindoyan.
  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Sonata in D minor Kk.141 arr. for 2 guitars

    Music Arranger: Sérgio Abreu. Ensemble: Eden-Stell Guitar Duo.
    • Deux-Elles.
  • Francesco Maria Veracini

    Concerto for eight instruments in D major (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Chouchane Siranossian. Orchestra: Venice Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Andrea Marcon.
    • Alpha.

Record Review

9.00am


Schubert - Lebensmuth

Signum Quartet

Pentatone PTC 518 7042

Carl Maria von Weber – The Clarinet As Prima Donna

Roeland Hendrixx (clarinet)

Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie

Michel Tilkin (conductor)

Evil Penguin EPRC0053

Im Freien. Music by Schumann, Ravel, Liszt etc.

Zlata Chochieva (piano)

Naïve V7959

Gaspare Spontini: La Vestale

Marina Rebeka (soprano - Julia)

Stanislas de Barbeyrac (tenor - Licinius)

Tassis Christoyannis (baritone - Cinna)

Aude Extrémo (mezzo-soprano - La Grande Vestale)

Flemish Radio Choir

Les Talens Lyriques

Christophe Rousset (conductor)

Bru Zane BZ1051 (2Ds)

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 6 & 15

London Symphony Orchestra

Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)

LSO Live LSO0878 (Hybrid SACD)

09.30am – Robert Hollingworth: New Releases

Monteverdi: L’Orfeo

Marc Mauillon (tenor – Orfeo)

Luciana Mancini (mezzo soprano - Euridice & La Musica)

Sara Mingardo (contralto – Messaggiera)

Marianne Beate Kielland (mezzo soprano - Speranza & Proserpina)

La Capella Reial de Catalunya

Le Concert des Nations

Jordi Savall (director)

Château de Versailles CVS080 (2CDs)

What Joy so True. Anthems, Canticles and Consort music by Thomas Weelkes

Choir of Chichester Cathedral

The Rose Consort of Viols

Timothy Ravalde (chamber organ)

Thomas Howell (organ solos)

Charles Harrison (director)

Franz Schubert: The Complete String Trios and Purcell Fantasias

Sakuntala Trio

Resonus Classics RES10320

Ligeti: Etudes and Capriccios

Han Chen (piano)

Naxos 8.574397


Robert Hollingworth: On Repeat

At The Drop Of Another Hat

Michael Flanders and Donald Swann

Parlophone CDP 7974662

Listener On Repeat

Jacqueline du Pré. Elgar Cello Concerto.

Jacqueline du Pré (cello)

London Symphony Orchestra

John Barbirolli (conductor)

Warner Classics 5555272

10.10am – New Releases

Kerensa Briggs: Requiem

Anita Monserrat (mezzo-soprano)

The Choir of King’s College London

Richard Gowers (organ)

Joseph Fort (conductor)

Delphian DCD 34298

Cesar Franck: Piano Quintet, Trio no.1, Violin Sonata.Vierne: Piano Quintet

Trio Wanderer

Catherine Montier (violin)

Christophe Gaugué (viola)

Harmonia Mundi HMM 902318.19 (2CDs)

10.30am – Building a Library: Nigel Simeone on Smetana’s The Bartered Bride

Recommended recording:

Drahomíra Tikalová (soprano)

Ivo Žídek (tenor)

Eduard Haken (bass)

Prague National Theatre Chorus and Orchestra

Zdeněk Chalabala (conductor)

Supraphon SU 0040-2 (2CD and Digital Download)

Also recommended:

Gabriela Beňačková (soprano)

Peter Dvorský (tenor)

Richard Novák (bass)

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Zdeněk Košler (conductor)

Supraphon SU 3707-2 (2CDs and Digital Download)

Historic choice (1952,mono):

Milada Musilová (soprano)

Ivo Žídek (tenor)

Karel Kalaš (bass)

Prague National Theatre Chorus and Orchestra

Jaroslav Vogel (conductor)

Supraphon SU 3980-2 (2CDs and Digital Download)

English version:

Susan Gritton (soprano)

Paul Charles Clarke (tenor)

Peter Rose (bass)

Royal Opera Chorus

Philharmonia Orchestra

Charles Mackerras

Chandos CHAN 3128(2) (2CDs)

German version:

Pilar Lorengar (soprano)

Fritz Wunderlich (tenor)

Gottlob Frick (bass)

RIAS Chamber Choir

Bamberg Symphony Orchestra

Rudolph Kempe (conductor)

EMI/Warner 381872-2



11.15am – New Releases

Childhood Tales.Music by Mozart, Dohnanyi, Schumann, Debussy.

Isata Kanneh-Mason (piano)

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Domingo Hindoyan (conductor)

Decca 485 4180

Scarlatti Sonatas.

Eden Stell Guitar Duo

Deux-Elles DXL1196

11.25am – Record of the Week

Duello d'Archi A Venezia. Music by Veracini, Locatelli, Tartini, Vivaldi.

Chouchane Siranossian (violin)

Venice Baroque Orchestra

Andrea Marcon (conductor)

Alpha 935


Broadcast

  • Sat 27 May 2023 09:00

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