Record Review Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Building a Library: Carmina Burana Jun 13, 2021

Show notes

Conductor and choral expert Jeremy Summerly chooses his favourite recordings of Carl Orff's iconic cantata, Carmina Burana. Carl Orff composed his cantata in 1936, based on 24 poems from the medieval collection Carmina Burana. The poems cover a wide range of subjects, which are just as topical today as they were in the 13th century: the fickleness of fortune and wealth, the ephemeral nature of life, the joy of the return of spring, and the pleasures and perils of drinking, gluttony, gambling, and lust. Orff said to his publisher "Everything I have written to date, and which you have, unfortunately, printed, can be destroyed. With Carmina Burana, my collected works begin." It became the most famous piece of music composed in Germany at the time. Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Sibelius Violin Concerto Jun 06, 2021

Show notes

Academic and Sibelius enthusiast Dr Leah Broad chooses her favourite recordings of Sibelius' Violin Concerto. Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Bach's Motets May 31, 2021

Show notes

Baroque music specialist Dr Simon Heighes chooses his favourite version of Bach's Motets. These technically challenging works contain some of Bach's very best music and can be thrilling in performance by a top-notch group of singers. They're also the only of Bach's vocal works that stayed in the repertoire without interruption between his death in 1750 and the 19th-century Bach Revival. Recordings reviewed include performances by The Sixteen and Voces8 & The Senesino Players. Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 May 24, 2021

Show notes

Pianist and composer Yshani Perinpanayagam chooses her favourite recording of Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2. We hear at the keyboard, amongst others, Alexander Melnikov, Cristina Ortiz and the composer himself. Presented by Andrew McGregor.

CPE Bach Cello Concerto in A May 17, 2021

Show notes

Broadcaster and baroque flautist Hannah French selects her favourite recording of CPE Bach's Cello Concerto in A Major. Cellists featured include Alison McGillivray, Steve Isserlis and Truls Mørk. Conductors range from Andrew Manze and Jonathan Cohen to Gustav Leonhardt and Susanne von Gutzeit. Andrew McGregor presents.

Smetana - Má Vlast May 11, 2021

Show notes

Writer Anna Picard chooses from her favourite recordings of Bedřich Smetana's set of six symphonic Czech tone poems, Má Vlast. Performances range from 1939 to 2016, and include no less than six versions by the Czech Philharmonic. Andrew McGregor presents.

Haydn: Symphony No. 92 (Oxford) May 03, 2021

Show notes

Writer and lecturer Richard Wigmore chooses his favourite recording of Haydn's Oxford Symphony, No. 92 in G Major.

Performances featured include: the Hanover Band, conducted by Ron Goodman; the London Symphony Orchestra with Colin Davis; and Thomas Fey conducting the Heidelberger Sinfoniker.

This is an edited version of the regular Building a Library slot where guest experts review available recordings of a work from the classical music repertoire and give a recommendation. Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Stravinsky: Violin Concerto in D Apr 26, 2021

Show notes

Nigel Simeone picks his favourite recording of Stravinsky's Violin Concerto in D

Schumann: Piano Quintet in E flat major, Op 44 Apr 18, 2021

Show notes

Katy Hamilton picks her favourite recording of R Schumann's Piano Quintet in E flat major

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 5 in E minor, Op 64 Apr 05, 2021

Show notes

William Mival picks his favourite recording of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 5 in E minor