Record Review Podcast

Schumann's Piano Trio no.1 in D minor Op.63 Oct 29, 2024

Schumann's Piano Trio no.1 in D minor Op.63 in Building a Library with Allyson Devenish.

Handel's Theodora Oct 25, 2024

Kirsten Gibson chooses her favourite recording of Handel's dramatic oratorio Theodora.

Franz Schubert's Octet in F major D.803 Oct 22, 2024

Tasmin Little selects her favourite version of Franz Schubert's Octet in F Major D.803.

Beethoven's Symphony no.4 Oct 14, 2024

Richard Wigmore selects his favourite version of Beethoven's Symphony no.4.

Brahms' Symphony no.1 Oct 07, 2024

Katy Hamilton selects her favourite recording of Brahms' Symphony no.1 in C minor.

JS Bach's English Suites Sep 30, 2024

Lucy Parham selects her favourite piano version of JS Bach's 6 English Suites BWV.806-811

Richard Strauss's Don Quixote Sep 23, 2024

Nigel Simeone selects his favourite version of Richard Strauss's Don Quixote.

Shostakovich's Symphony no.5 in D minor Jul 15, 2024

Edward Seckerson chooses his favourite recording of Shostakovich's Symphony no.5.

Korngold's Violin Concerto Jul 08, 2024

William Mival chooses his favourite recording of Korngold's Violin Concerto.

Chopin's Ballades Jul 01, 2024

Kenneth Hamilton chooses his favourite recording of Chopin's four Ballades.

Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra Jun 15, 2024

Jonathan Cross chooses his favourite recording of Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra

Mozart's Piano Concerto No 23 in A major Jun 10, 2024

Lucy Parham chooses her favourite version of Mozart's Piano Concerto No 23 in A major

Elgar's Symphony no.1 Jun 04, 2024

Mark Lowther's personal choice of recording of Elgar's Symphony no.1.

JS Bach's Keyboard Partitas BWV 825-830 May 27, 2024

Joanna MacGregor's ultimate recording of JS Bach's Keyboard Partitas BWV 825-830

Debussy's Jeux May 20, 2024

Flora Willson's ultimate recommendation for Debussy's ballet Jeux.

Stravinsky's The Firebird May 13, 2024

Kate Molleson chooses her favourite recording of Stravinsky's The Firebird

Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand May 07, 2024

Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite recording of Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand.

Monteverdi's Vespers Apr 29, 2024

Jeremy Summerly chooses his favourite version of Monteverdi's Vespers.

Mahler's Kindertotenlieder Apr 26, 2024

Iain Burnside chooses his favourite recording of Mahler's Kindertotenlieder.

Brahms' 3rd Symphony Apr 15, 2024

Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite version of Brahms' 3rd Symphony.

Vaughan Williams's Symphony no.1 'A Sea Symphony'. Apr 08, 2024

David Owen Norris chooses his favourite version of Vaughan Williams's Sea Symphony.

Britten's War Requiem Apr 02, 2024

Elin Manahan Thomas's recommendation for the ultimate recording of Britten's War Requiem.

Puccini's Madame Butterfly Mar 26, 2024

Nigel Simeone's ultimate recommendation for Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly.

Handel's Concerti Grossi, Op. 6 Mar 18, 2024

Joseph McHardy chooses his favourite recording of Handel's Concerti Grossi, Op. 6.

Schubert's Symphony no.9 Mar 12, 2024

Katy Hamilton's ultimate recommendation for Schubert's Symphony no.9.

Haydn's Symphony No 100 Mar 04, 2024

Simon Heighes chooses his favourite recording of Haydn's Symphony No 100 in G Major ‘Military’

Ravel's Mother Goose Feb 26, 2024

Ben Gernon chooses his favourite recording of the complete ballet of Ravel's Mother Goose

Saint-Saëns's Symphony No 3 in C minor, Op 78 'Organ Symphony' Feb 19, 2024

Anna Lapwood chooses her favourite recording of Saint-Saëns's Organ Symphony

Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale Feb 12, 2024

Gillian Moore chooses her favourite version of Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale

Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 26 "Les Adieux" Feb 05, 2024

Lucy Parham chooses her favourite version of Beethoven's Piano Sonata, 'Les Adieux'

Mozart's String Quintet No.3 Jan 29, 2024

Roger Parker chooses his favourite recording of Mozart's String Quintet No.3 in C

Schumann's Cello Concerto Jan 22, 2024

Laura Tunbridge chooses her favourite recording of Schumann's Cello Concerto

Bach's Orchestral Suites Jan 17, 2024

Nicholas Kenyon chooses his favourite recording of Bach's four Orchestral Suites

Haydn's The Creation Jan 08, 2024

Jeremy Summerly chooses his favourite recording of Haydn's The Creation.

Schubert’s Winterreise Jan 02, 2024

Pianist Allyson Devenish picks the ultimate version of Schubert’s song cycle Winterreise.

Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty Jan 02, 2024

Sarah Lenton chooses her favourite version of Tchaikovsky's ballet The Sleeping Beauty.

Stravinsky's The Fairy's Kiss with Jeremy Sams Dec 18, 2023

Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite recording of Stravinsky's ballet The Fairy's Kiss

Bruckner's Symphony No 8 in C minor Dec 11, 2023

Tom Service chooses his favourite recording of Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 in C minor

Bartók's The Miraculous Mandarin Dec 04, 2023

Kate Molleson chooses her favourite recording of Béla Bartók's The Miraculous Mandarin

Ravel’s Le tombeau de Couperin Nov 27, 2023

Flora Willson chooses her favourite recording of the piano version of Ravel’s Le tombeau de Couperin

Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 Nov 20, 2023

William Mival chooses his favourite recording of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto

Dvořák's Symphony No 9 in E minor Nov 13, 2023

Katy Hamilton chooses her favourite recording of Dvořák's 'New World' Symphony

JS Bach's Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 Nov 06, 2023

Simon Heighes chooses his favourite recording of JS Bach's Violin Concerto in A minor.

Schubert’s Four Impromptus, D935 Nov 06, 2023

Pianist Iain Burnside chooses the ultimate recording of Schubert’s Impromptus, D935

Brahms's Clarinet Trio in A minor Oct 23, 2023

Natasha Loges chooses her favourite version of Brahms's Clarinet Trio

Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 in F major Oct 16, 2023

Richard Wigmore chooses his favourite recording of Beethoven's Symphony No 8 in F.

Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade Oct 09, 2023

Nigel Simeone discusses his favourite recordings of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade

Schumann's Piano Quartet in E flat, Op.47 Oct 02, 2023

Marina Frolova-Walker chooses her favourite version of Schumann's Piano Quartet, Op.47

Mahler's Symphony no. 8 in E-flat Major Sep 25, 2023

Gillian Moore's personal recommendation for Mahler's epic 'Symphony of a Thousand'

Mozart's Symphony No 35 in D, 'Haffner' Sep 18, 2023

Roger Parker chooses his favourite recording of Mozart's Symphony No. 35 in D major

Stravinsky's Petrushka Jul 10, 2023

Jonathan Cross with a personal recommendation for Stravinsky's second ballet Petrushka,

The essential works by English composer William Byrd. Jul 04, 2023

A survey of William Byrd with Kirsten Gibson and Andrew McGregor.

Poulenc’s Piano Concerto in C sharp minor Jun 26, 2023

Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite recording of Poulenc's Piano Concerto.

Puccini's Tosca Jun 20, 2023

Roger Parker's recommendation for the ultimate recording of Puccini's opera Tosca.

Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf Jun 12, 2023

Kate Molleson chooses her favourite recording of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

Brahms's A German Requiem Jun 05, 2023

Composer John Rutter's recommendation of a recording of Brahms's A German Requiem

Smetana's The Bartered Bride May 30, 2023

Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Smetana's The Bartered Bride

Mahler's Rückert-Lieder May 22, 2023

Flora Willson chooses her favourite recording of Mahler's Rückert-Lieder

Sibelius's Symphony No. 6 May 15, 2023

Mark Lowther nominates the best recording of Sibelius's sixth symphony

Handel's Coronation Anthems May 02, 2023

Simon Heighes chooses his favourite recording of Handel's Coronation Anthems

Schubert's Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D. 485 Apr 24, 2023

Sarah Devonald chooses her favourite recording of Schubert Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D. 485.

When he wrote his fifth symphony at the age of 19, Schubert was working unhappily as an assistant teacher in his father's school. But he was nevertheless on a compositional roll with songs, chamber music and four other symphonies to his name, all of which were performed by amateur and professional musicians made up from family and friends.

This genial, small-scale group gave the 1816 premiere of the symphony in the home of Otto Hatwig, violinist in Vienna's Burgtheater orchestra. And the jolly music seems to echo that cheerful ensemble, Schubert picking up from the classical models of 25 years earlier, seemingly oblivious to Beethoven's decade-plus of ground-breaking musical developments that were soon to become so influential.

Janáček's String Quartet No 1, 'Kreutzer Sonata' Apr 17, 2023

Erik Levi chooses his favourite recording of Leoš Janáček's String Quartet No 1 'Kreutzer Sonata'

Composed in only nine days in 1923, Janáček's compact, emotionally supercharged String Quartet No 1 takes its title from Leo Tolstoy’s 1889 novella where a wife and her violinist lover play Beethoven’s 'Kreutzer' Sonata together before the jealous husband murders his adulterous wife. Janáček's music roils with the conflicted passions of tormented love, desire and jealously of Tolstoy's story. But there was emotional turmoil in Janáček's life, too. Long-fed up with his wife, in 1915 Janáček had fallen deeply in love with Kamila Stösslová who, happily married and 40 years his junior, made sure that Janáček's love remained unrequited. And if that was unfortunate for Janáček, it was surely lucky for us as he poured his feelings for Stösslová into music which blazes with a truly exceptional emotional intensity.

Britten's Peter Grimes Apr 11, 2023

Kate Kennedy chooses her favourite recording of Britten's Peter Grimes

The opera Peter Grimes is set in a fictional small town that bears some resemblance to Britten's home of Aldeburgh, Suffolk, on England's east coast. It is a drama about outsiders and oppression. As Britten himself said, it was "a subject very close to my heart – the struggle of the individual against the masses. The more vicious the society, the more vicious the individual". The score is full of great orchestral descriptions of the Suffolk coast and highly dramatic confrontations.

Handel's Water Music Apr 05, 2023

Hannah French has been listening to recordings - old and new - of Handel's Water Music, whittling them down until she can herald the ultimate version to buy, download or stream.

Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances Apr 03, 2023

Marina Frolova-Walker chooses her favourite recording of Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances.

Chopin's Piano Concerto No 2 in F minor Mar 20, 2023

Building a Library: Kenneth Hamilton chooses his favourite recording of Chopin's Piano Concerto No 2 in F minor.

Frédéric Chopin composed this glorious concerto in 1829 when he was 20 and before he had finished his formal education. It was first performed in Warsaw, with the composer as soloist. It was actually the first of his two piano concertos to be written. Like all Chopin's works, it is full of haunting melodies and thrilling piano writing. The nocturnal middle movement in particular is a golden moment, inspired by Chopin's romantic idolization of Konstancja Gładkowska.

Walton's Viola Concerto Mar 06, 2023

David Owen Norris chooses his favourite recording of William Walton's Viola Concerto.

It was conductor Sir Thomas Beecham's suggestion that Walton should write a viola concerto for the virtuoso Lionel Tertis. But things did not go according to plan when Tertis sent back the music by return of post saying it was 'too modern'. So the 1929 premiere was given by Paul Hindemith (who had been sent the concerto by the BBC's Edward Clark) at the Queen's Hall, just around the corner from Broadcasting House. It was a success and Tertis, in the audience, relented. But although he subsequently played the concerto, Tertis continued to disparage it and was heard to say that Walton had 'murdered' the viola.

Despite its inauspicious beginning, Walton's Viola Concerto has long been recognised as one of his most important early works and is well established a cornerstone of an albeit limited repertoire. Perhaps the root of its appeal is to be found in its dedication 'to Christabel', the lyrical melancholy and poetic longing at the concerto's heart reflecting Walton's unrequited passion for Christabel, Lady Aberconway.

Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony Feb 27, 2023

Messiaen's Turangalîla Symphony with Gillian Moore

Olivier Messiaen's only symphony was written for an orchestra of enormous forces. The title comes from two Sanskrit words. "Lîla" means play in the sense of the divine action upon the cosmos. It also means love. "Turanga" is the time that runs, like a galloping horse and that flows, like sand in an hourglass; it's both movement and rhythm. The meaning of "Turangalîla" was best summed up by Messian himself as "a love song; a hymn to joy." He described the joy of Turangalîla as "superhuman, overflowing, blinding, unlimited".

Record Review Feb 20, 2023

Mozart's 'Dissonance' Quartet is the last of a set of six famously dedicated by Mozart to his 'very dear friend' Joseph Haydn. Soon after he arrived in Vienna in 1781, Mozart came to know Haydn's recently published Op. 33 set of innovatory string quartets which, said Haydn, had been composed in ‘a new and special way'. It was no idle boast. Not only more concentrated and sophisticated than any previous string quartet, the Op. 33s also employed all four instruments in a more equal, conversational style than ever before.

For Mozart, responding to the Op. 33s with his own set of quartets became a longer and more arduous compositional challenge than any other he ever undertook. The 'Dissonance' got its nickname in the 19th-century, well after Mozart's death, on account of its mysterious slow introduction, with its complex and unsettling harmonies. It caps the set of six which impressed its dedicatee so much that, shortly after the 1785 premiere, Haydn declared to Leopold Mozart that 'Before God and as an honest man, I tell you that your son is the greatest composer known to me either in person or by name.'

Beethoven's Piano Sonata No 23 ' Appassionata Feb 14, 2023

Beethoven's 23rd piano sonata is stormy and intense, so earned the nickname "Appassionata" or "Passionate". Pianist Iain Burnside has been listening to a wide range of recordings, old and new, to pick the ultimate version to buy, download or stream.

Purcell's Fairy Queen Feb 06, 2023

Purcell's magnum opus was written as a series of masques to be performed at the end of the acts of a special version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Arguably the greatest British composer before the 20th century, Purcell left us a tantalizing array of music for use in theatrical productions, which shows what an unsurpassed gift he had for matchings words and mood with music. Apart from the small-scale masterpiece, Dido and Aeneas, none of these pieces quite hangs together as a satisfying work of music theatre. The Fairy Queen is the closest we have to that. Written in a hybrid form of spoken drama and masque, it is notoriously difficult to bring off on the stage. But it is ideal for home listening. Nicholas Kenyon sifts through a strong field of some of the greatest names in baroque performance.

Debussy's Images for orchestra Jan 30, 2023

Yshani Perinpanayagam chooses her favourite recording of Debussy's Images for Orchestra.

Composed between 1906 and 1912, Images is Debussy’s final concert work for orchestra. Over its three sections it abundantly displays his customary sophistication and flair for orchestral sonorities and for painting pictures in sound. The first and last parts of the triptych are folk-inflected: the enigmatic Gigues quotes 'The Keel Row' from Northumberland and two French folk tunes feature in Rondes de printemps. The middle (and most often performed) section, Ibéria, is itself a triptych. Even though Debussy famously spent no more than an afternoon in Spain, Ibéria's three movements conjure up the sights, sounds and smells of Spain so evocatively that even his Spanish contemporaries were impressed.

Shostakovich's String Quartet No 8 in C minor Jan 23, 2023

Emily MacGregor chooses her favourite recording of Shostakovich's String Quartet No 8 in C minor.

Written at white heat in just three days, Shostakovich's Eighth String Quartet is also his most personal - indeed, it opens with a form of the composer's own initials. Emily has been listening to recordings from throughout the quartet's life - from its first performers to young ensembles of the present day.

Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No 2 in G minor Jan 16, 2023

Ben Gernon chooses his favourite recording of Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No 2.

This concerto is full of glorious melodies and deserves a place in everyone's collection. Prokofiev was on a concert tour when he wrote the piece and later wrote, "the number of places in which I wrote the Concerto shows the kind of nomadic concert tour life I led then. The main theme of the 1st movement was written in Paris, the first theme of the 2nd movement at Voronezh, the orchestration was finished in Baku and the premiere was given in Madrid." The concerto is more conventional than Prokofiev's early experimental works and its romantic heart has made it a perennial favourite.

Mahler's Symphony No 6 in A minor Jan 11, 2023

Edward Seckerson chooses his favourite recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 6 in A minor.

More often than not, Mahler's symphonies end positively, whether in triumph, exaltation, joyful exuberance, quiet bliss, or resignation and acceptance. But the Sixth is unique in its tragic, minor-key conclusion and this Symphony as a whole is among his darkest music. Intriguingly, he wrote it during one of the happiest periods of his life, the summers of 1903 and 1904. Mahler was convinced that, in his music, he had the ability to foresee and even predict events and, painful though it might be, as an artist he could not avoid doing so. And in 1907, when he looked back on the Sixth Symphony's finale with its 'three hammer blows of fate' he could point to the death of his daughter Maria, the diagnosis of the severe heart disease which would kill him, and the bitter end of his decade as director of the Vienna Opera. Closer to our own times, some have suggested that, as well as tragic autobiography, Mahler was predicting the tragedies of a whole century.

Rachmaninov's 24 Preludes Jan 02, 2023

Lucy Parham chooses her favourite recording of Rachmaninov's 24 piano preludes.

Rachmaninov's 24 piano preludes in all the 24 major and minor keys are a glorious treasure trove of different pianistic styles from lyrical to barn-storming. He wrote and published them at different times, and didn't regard them as a unified set. Unlike the keyboard preludes of Bach and Chopin they are not organized according to their keys either. But for a feast of piano playing, they are an essential thing for your library. And some of the titans of the keyboard have recorded their interpretations, including the composer himself how recorded a selection of them.

Beethoven's Symphony No 9 in D minor Jan 02, 2023

Tom Service chooses his favourite recording of Beethoven's Symphony No 9 in D minor.

Beethoven's final complete symphony is one of the summits of classical music. The famous final movement features four vocal soloists and a chorus in a setting of the "Ode to Joy" by Friedrich Schiller. Many of the world's greatest conductors and orchestras have tackled this musical Everest including Furtwangler, Toscanini and Karajan alongside conductors of later generations like Mackerras and Harnoncourt and it still inspires new recordings from today's performers.

Ravel's Piano Trio in A minor Dec 19, 2022

Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite recording of Maurice Ravel's Piano Trio in A minor.

Ravel was living in the Basque country not far from the town where he was born when completed his Piano Trio in 1914, just after the outbreak of World War I, far away from the front line. But there are no grim premonitions in this music and its lush harmonic sound world, full of Basque dance patterns and playful rhythmic sleights of hand, is characterised by the sort of lavish instrumental textures so typical of this master orchestrator. And based on Classical structures (Ravel joked "I’ve written my trio. Now all I need are the themes."), including a haunting passacaglia as its emotional centre of gravity, the Trio is a deeply satisfying musical journey which needs outstanding musicians to meet its exacting demands.

Mozart Piano Concerto No 21 in C Dec 12, 2022

Natasha Loges chooses her favourite recording of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467 ('Elvira Madigan').

Perhaps the only piece of music to be named after a Swedish slack line dancer, Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 gained its soubriquet after its remarkable slow movement was used as part of the soundtrack to the 1967 film Elvira Madigan. But circus acts or no, this concerto from 1785 is Mozart at the absolute height of his powers, the foremost pianist-composer of his day, breaking new ground with a series of concertos whose musical depth, virtuosity, inventiveness, woodwind writing and symphonic scale were all unprecedented.

There are literally hundreds of recordings of this great work, many made by the giants of 20th- and 21st-century piano-playing on modern pianos. But intriguingly, there is a much smaller, if growing number made by musicians who use instruments of the period, allowing us to hear the extraordinary range of colours and textures conjured up by Mozart and which he himself would have heard.

Richard Strauss's Don Juan Nov 28, 2022

William Mival chooses his favourite recording of Richard Strauss's symphonic poem Don Juan.

In Strauss's Don Juan, the infamous libertine bursts onto the stage with a dazzling flourish. The following 16 minutes are no less compelling, the irresistible, swaggering Don superbly evoked through sumptuous and virtuosic orchestration, including tender violin and oboe solos and heroic, triumphant horn calls. Strauss, in his mid-20s, could already do it all! It's music that, even after 130 years, still keeps orchestras and conductors on very much on their mettle.

Grieg's Violin Sonata No 3 in C minor Nov 21, 2022

Katy Hamilton with her pick of recordings of the last and greatest of Edvard Grieg's three violin sonatas, written when the composer was living in Troldhaugen in 1886-7.

Haydn's Harmoniemesse Nov 14, 2022

Richard Wigmore chooses his favourite recording of Joseph Haydn's Harmoniemesse in B flat.

In 1802, when Haydn completed the Harmoniemesse (having, as he put it, "toiled wearily and laboriously"), the 70-year-old was acknowledged as Europe's greatest living composer. The mass setting, Haydn's last major completed work, never gained the same popularity as his two late oratorios The Creation and The Seasons. But it has long been recognised as one of Haydn's supreme achievements into which, despite old age and failing health, he poured a lifetime of experience to create music both fresh and inspiring. The orchestra is the largest Haydn used for any of his six masses and its name comes from its large section of wind ('harmonie') instruments.

Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No 1 Nov 08, 2022

The pianist Joanna MacGregor's pick of the ultimate recording of Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto in B flat minor, Op. 23

Tchaikovsky's famous piano concerto is one of the most popular concertos in the repertoire - full of swaggering great tunes and still, soulful melodies. And many of the piano titans of the past and present have recorded it. Joanna will cut a swathe through the available recordings and come up with a suggestion for your library. And there should be plenty of fireworks along the way.

Schumann's Myrthen Oct 31, 2022

Elin Manahan-Thomas's chooses her favourite recording of Schumann's song-cycle Myrthen.

The 26 songs that Schumann published under the title Myrthen (Myrtles) were all composed in 1840, the year in which great songs flowed out of him in a great flood of inspiration. He gave a beautifully bound edition of the Myrthen songs to his bride Clara on the eve of their wedding that year. This cycle contains some of Schumann's most popular songs such as Der Nussbaum and Die Lotosblume. And some of the greatest Lieder singers from Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau to Christian Gerhaher have recorded their interpretations of many of these great songs.

Mozart's Symphony No 31 in D, 'Paris' Oct 24, 2022

Simon Heighes with his pick of recordings of Mozart's sparkling and tuneful Symphony no.31 in D, nicknamed the "Paris" Symphony.

Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending Oct 17, 2022

Continuing Radio 3's Vaughan Williams Today season, marking the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth, Kate Kennedy chooses her favourite recording of Ralph Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending.

In Vaughan Williams' modal and folk music-inflected The Lark Ascending a solo violin takes flight above the orchestra evoking for many the very essence of an idealised English countryside. But this popular work, written on the eve of the First World War, has perhaps inevitably become freighted with nostalgia for both a lost generation and a rural way of life which was soon to vanish forever.

JS Bach's St Matthew Passion Oct 10, 2022

Bach's St Matthew Passion is one of the most profound and popular choral works with many diverse interpretations of record to choose from, and Joseph McHardy joins Andrew McGregor to recommend his favourite.

Brahms' Double Concerto Oct 03, 2022

Roger Parker recommends a recording of Brahms Double Concerto in A minor.

The Double Concerto was Brahms' last orchestral work, composed in 1887. It was written partly as a gesture of reconciliation towards his friend the violinist, Joachim. The old friends had fallen out over Joachim's divorce. The concerto has been praised for its "vast and sweeping humour". It needs two brilliant and well matched soloists.

Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus Sep 28, 2022

Nigel Simeone with his pick of recordings of Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus.

Strauss's sparkling operetta premiered in 1874 and has been delighting audiences and listeners ever since. It has been fortunate on record, and Nigel discusses with Andrew a huge range of performances and styles.

Schubert's Piano Trio No 1 in B flat major Sep 21, 2022

Allyson Devenish chooses her favourite recording of Schubert's Piano Trio No 1 in B flat, D.898

Schubert began composing this masterpiece in 1827, the year before his death, at the same time as working on his famous song cycle Die Winterreise. It was a period in his life of illness and melancholy. But this work is brimming with lyricism and life force. Robert Schumann said of it: “One glance at Schubert's Trio in Bb and the troubles of our human existence disappear and all the world is fresh and bright again.” The work has attracted all the great performers of chamber music, from Alfred Cortot, Jacques Thibaud and Pablo Casals to the Beaux Arts Trio to the best musicians of today.

Walton's First Symphony Jul 11, 2022

Tom Service chooses his favourite recording of William Walton's Symphony No 1 in B flat minor.

In 1932, with the spectacular success of Belshazzar's Feast behind him, Walton began his Symphony No 1. But, always a slow worker, the symphony took him two painful years to complete – painful because what lay behind most of the Symphony was the emotional upheaval that came with the end of a relationship. The result was the greatest English symphony of its time, its darkly menacing first movement bursting with seemingly elemental power, is followed by a bitter scherzo marked Presto 'con malizia' ('with malice'), a melancholic slow movement and a joyful major key finale.

Beethoven's Missa solemnis Jul 04, 2022

Elin Manahan Thomas compares recordings of Beethoven's Missa solemnis and chooses her favourite.

Beethoven's setting of the Solemn Mass is one of the monuments of choral music. Written between 1819 and 1823, it is widely thought of as one of Beethoven's towering achievements. It was dedicated to Archduke Rudolf of Austria, one of Beethoven's most generous patrons as well as pupil and friend. The copy given to Rudolf was inscribed with the phrase: "From the heart – may it return to the heart!"

Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony Jun 27, 2022

Edward Seckerson compares recordings of Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony in E minor and chooses his favourite. Today, Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony is one of the composer's most popular works. Rachmaninov composed it in Dresden, during a period of retirement from concert activities, and conducted its premiere in Saint Petersburg in January 1908, to great critical acclaim. In his 2nd symphony, Rachmaninov introduces a single motto at the beginning that appears and evolves in each of the four movements, a compositional idea that can also be seen in Tchaikovsky, who was a great early influence on him. The symphony is a large-scale work lasting an hour that begins with dark, brooding melodic lines and ends in a triumphant scherzo finale.

Haydn opera survey Jun 20, 2022

Roger Parker chooses his favourite recordings of Haydn's operas.

Joseph Haydn is possibly one of the greatest composers who wrote operas which are hardly known. He wrote 17 of them, and opera occupied a great deal of his composing life. During the 1770s and 1780s, Haydn ran an opera company for his employer, Prince Nikolaus Esterházy. They put on up to 150 performances per year. Haydn's operas are not often performed today, but they contain some great music, which Roger explores.

Debussy's La mer Jun 13, 2022

Flora Willson chooses her favourite recording of Debussy's La mer.

Debussy composed La mer between 1903 and 1905. It is a brilliant and exciting orchestral showpiece that conjures up the many moods of the sea. Debussy corrected proofs of the score while on holiday at the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne on the English Channel coast. He described Eastbourne to his publisher, Durand, as "a charming peaceful spot: the sea unfurls itself with an utterly British correctness".

Britten's Four Sea Interludes Jun 06, 2022

Anna Lapwood compares recordings of Benjamin Britten's Four Sea Interludes and picks a favourite.

When Peter Grimes premiered in 1945 it immediately put Britten, uniquely among his compatriots, in the first rank of the world's opera composers. As well as the consummate solo vocal and choral writing, the orchestra, too, plays a vital role in Britten's dark drama of alienation and hypocrisy in a small Suffolk fishing community. Several purely orchestral episodes sometimes punctuate, sometimes push forward the narrative and four of these were published separately as the Sea Interludes. Much performed and recorded, Britten's dazzling orchestration vividly conjures up Dawn, Sunday Morning, Moonlight and a Storm.

Stravinsky's Symphony in 3 Movements May 30, 2022

Jonathan Cross compares recordings of Igor Stravinsky's Symphony in 3 Movements and picks a favourite.

The first movement of Stravinsky's Symphony in Three Movements began life as a piano concerto. And in a failed bid to join the ranks of well-paid movie composers in Hollywood where Stravinsky now lived, the second movement, with its prominent harp part, was originally conceived to accompany a vision of the Virgin Mary in the 1943 film Song of Bernadette. Stravinsky's genius was to add a third movement, related to the first, and so create a cohesive, satisfying and brilliant whole despite the disparate origins of its first two parts. He completed the Symphony in 1945 and, despite a deeply felt sense of exile, loss and nostalgia, it's perhaps some of the most American-sounding of Stravinsky's music, capped by a resplendent final chord, straight out of Hollywood.

Janacek's Jenufa May 23, 2022

Nigel Simeone joins Hannah to discuss a wide variety of recorded performances of Janacek's opera Jenufa.

Completed in 1902 Jenufa was Janacek's first great masterpiece. It is a tragic tale of small-minded village attitudes, infanticide and redemption. But as with all Janacek, the music is totally life-enhancing without being in the least sentimental. At the heart of the story is the strong but complicated relationship between Jenufa and her mother: they share some of the most heart-breaking music in the opera.

Vaughan Williams' 4th Symphony May 16, 2022

Mark Lowther joins Andrew to discuss a huge range of recorded performances of the Fourth Symphony of Ralph Vaughan Williams, who was born 150 years ago this autumn. First performed in 1935, its austerity and directness seem to presage the looming horror of World War II.

Beethoven's String Quartet in F, Op. 18 No. 1 May 09, 2022

Laura Tunbridge recommends her favourite recording of Beethoven's String Quartet in F, Op 18 No 1.

In Vienna at the end of the 18th century, Beethoven was in his late 20s, the supreme keyboard composer-improviser of his day. With dogged determination and a degree of circumspection he began picking off various genres over which the shadows of the late Mozart and the very much alive Haydn loomed large. With piano sonatas, piano trios and string trios under his belt, it took two laborious years to complete the Op 18 set of six string quartets. The first of the set was intended to make a big impression. Its imposing scale and wide expressive range are typical of the young Beethoven, including a restless dynamic energy and a tragic slow movement inspired, he said, by the tomb scene of Romeo and Juliet.

Chopin's Piano Sonata No 3 in B Minor May 02, 2022

Allyson Devenish compares recordings of Chopin's Piano Sonata No 3 in B minor and chooses her favourite.

Chopin's final piano sonata was composed in 1844 and dedicated to Countess Émilie de Perthuis. It is a work of immense complexity, both technically and musically, and comprises four movements. The sonata opens with heavy chords in B minor, but journeys through a Scherzo and dream-like Nocturne, before ending in a dazzling Finale, which starts in B minor but ends triumphantly in a B major Coda.

Zemlinsky's Lyric Symphony Apr 25, 2022

Composer, prominent conductor and influential composition teacher, Zemlinsky was at the centre of turn-of the century Viennese musical life. Among his distinguished pupils were Arnold Schoenberg (who also happened to be his brother-in-law), Berg, Webern and Korngold. He also taught and was romantically involved with Alma Schindler until she decided to marry a certain Gustav Mahler. And it's Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde which provided the model for Zemlinsky's best-known work, his1923 Lyric Symphony. Mahler had chosen Chinese poetry for his song-symphony and Zemlinsky, too, looked east, setting poems by the then fashionable 1913 Nobel Prize-winning Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore. The seven texts, an exploration of love, are sung alternately by baritone and soprano, accompanied in lush late-Romantic style by a large orchestra.

Handel's Messiah Apr 20, 2022

Messiah is Handel's best-known work and one of the most frequently performed choral works in western music. It was composed in 1741 with a text compiled from the King James Bible. It is full of show stoppers such as "For unto us a child is born", "The trumpet shall sound" and the ever-rousing "Hallelujah" chorus.

Mahler's 9th Symphony Apr 11, 2022

Gillian Moore compares recordings of Mahler's Ninth Symphony and chooses her favourite.

Mahler's final completed symphony is a monumental achievement ranging in emotion from wild passion to deep despair and finally resignation. He wrote it in 1908 and 1909 but did not live to see it performed. Leonard Bernstein said of the last movement: "It is terrifying, and paralyzing, as the strands of sound disintegrate. In ceasing, we lose it all. But in letting go, we have gained everything."

Mozart's The Marriage Of Figaro Apr 04, 2022

Inspired by the tumult of the impending French Revolution, Mozart's intricate and sublime opera Le nozze di Figaro proved explosive yet rapidly became one of the true masterpieces of the genre. Nicholas Kenyon discusses a wide range of interpretations with Andrew, before settling for what he believes to be the ultimate recording to buy, download or stream.

Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major Mar 28, 2022

Perhaps the deepest-felt of Beethoven's piano concertos, the G major poses both interpretative and technical challenges of the highest order. Joanna MacGregor has been listening to a wide range of different interpretations and discusses with Andrew her ultimate recommendation to buy, download or stream.

Bruckner's Symphony No.9 in D minor Mar 21, 2022

Dedicated to 'dem lieben Gott' (the beloved God), Bruckner's monumental Ninth Symphony in D minor was intended to be the culmination of his life's work. Bruckner began working on the Ninth Symphony in the summer of 1887, immediately after finishing his Eighth, but he died in 1896 before finishing the fourth and final movement. Nonetheless, Bruckner's Ninth Symphony is often performed as a mighty, visionary large-scale three-movement work. Shimmering strings and low brass start the opening movement, Feierlich, misterioso, followed by the Scherzo and an achingly expansive Adagio.

Schubert's String Quintet in C major Mar 14, 2022

Franz Schubert's last chamber piece, the String Quintet in C major (D. 956), is one of the most sublime pieces in the repertoire. It is scored for a standard string quartet plus an extra cello. The work remained unpublished at the time of Schubert's death in November 1828 and after it was belatedly premiered and published in the 1850s, it gradually gained recognition as a masterpiece. Knowing that Schubert died so soon after composing the work, makes many people hear a valedictory quality in the music.

Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings Mar 07, 2022

The Serenade's status as a darkly dazzling 20th-century classic is founded on Britten's unerring ear for finding and setting English poetry, coupled with his instinctive sense of instrumental and vocal virtuosity. Its six texts, from Ben Johnson to Tennyson, deal with night and the corruption of innocence, themes which preoccupied Britten throughout his career. Both the solo writing and the interplay between voice and horn are based on the strengths of the two musicians for which it was written, Britten's long-time partner, Peter Pears and the horn player Dennis Brain. They made the first recording in 1944, a year after the premiere, and since then many subsequent recordings, most often featuring British tenors, have followed.

Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV1043 Mar 01, 2022

Bach's Concerto for two violins in D minor, BWV1043, affectionately known as the 'Double Concerto', is one of the most popular works of the Baroque repertoire. The two solo parts of this concerto have survived in Bach’s own handwriting, in an autograph that dates from around 1730, when Bach was living in Köthen.

The outer movements illustrate the influence of the Italian Baroque style on Bach in their brisk rhythms, fugal imitations and much of the intricate passage work, while the central movement is deeply expressive as the melodic lines weave between the two violins.

Scriabin's Piano Music Feb 21, 2022

Born in Moscow 150 years ago this year, Alexander Scriabin's music for solo piano has been recorded by many of the great pianists over the last century. But where to start if you're not familiar with this late-Romantic, sometimes elusive repertoire? David Owen Norris is on hand to navigate through some key pieces and makes some recommendations.

Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe Feb 13, 2022

Building a Library: Jeremy Sams recommends his favourite recording of Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe (complete ballet).

Maurice Ravel described his ballet, Daphnis and Chloe as a choreographic symphony. The story concerns the love between the goatherd Daphnis and the shepherdess Chloé. Ravel began work in 1909 after a commission from Sergei Diaghilev and it was premiered in Paris by his Ballets Russes in 1912. The orchestra was conducted by Pierre Monteux, the choreography was by Michel Fokine, and Vaslav Nijinsky and Tamara Karsavina danced the parts of Daphnis and Chloé. With rich harmonies and lush orchestrations it is one of Ravel's most popular works.

Haydn's Symphony No 49, 'La Passione' Feb 05, 2022

Simon Heighes recommends his favourite recording of Haydn's Symphony No 49 in F minor, 'La Passione'.

This sombre and darkly dramatic Haydn symphony is one of a series of visceral minor key symphonies reflecting Haydn's reaction to the German proto-Romantic literary movement, 'Sturm und Drang' – Storm and Stress – where passionate subjectivity and turbulent self-expression were the order of the day. The symphony was one of the most popular during Haydn's lifetime and its ominous, almost continuous F minor intensity and arresting dynamism still make an impact today.

Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Sonata Jan 30, 2022

Pianist Lucy Parham picks through the greatest recordings of Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Sonata.

Sergei Rachmaninov's Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 36, in B-flat minor was composed in 1913 and revised it in 1931. Three years after his third piano concerto was finished, he moved with his family to Rome and started working on his second piano sonata. It is a mighty but technically challenging piece. Rachmaninov himself was not satisfied with the work and revised it in 1931. In 1940, the pianist Vladimir Horowitz created his own edition which combined elements of both previous versions.

Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra Jan 22, 2022

Building a Library: Emily MacGregor recommends a her favourite recording of Béla Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra.

For Bartók, the circumstances surrounding the composition of his Concerto for Orchestra could hardly have been more miserable. In 1940 he fled his native Hungary to escape the Nazis and spent the remaining five years of his life in the United States, those years blighted by despair, painful illness and abject poverty. But unknown to Bartók, two fellow Hungarians, violinist Joseph Szigeti and conductor Fritz Reiner, conspired to persuade Serge Koussevitzky to offer a generous commission. In 1943, the glamorous conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra visited Bartók in his New York hospital, and flamboyantly presented the composer, not only with a commission for an orchestral work but also a $500 down payment. Bartók began work in August and finished the Concerto for Orchestra just under three moths later. It spotlights, often with brilliance and playfulness, all the sections of the orchestra and perhaps only its central Elegy, which Bartók called a 'lugubrious death-song', reflects the circumstances of its composition. The work's recorded history begins at the beginning in 1944 with Koussevitzky and the Boston SO and has been much recorded ever since, a 20th-century classic by one of the century's greatest composers.

Amy Beach Jan 16, 2022

Katy Hamilton surveys the key works and recordings of American composer Amy Beach and chooses her favourite.

Born in 1867 in New Hampshire, Amy Beach became the first successful American female composer, and her 'Gaelic' Symphony was the first symphony to be composed by an American woman. Despite great success during her lifetime, Amy Beach's music was neglected after her death in 1944, but enjoyed a renaissance in the late 20th century.

Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony Jan 08, 2022

Marina Frolova-Walker recommends a version of Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony in Building a Library.

Sergei Prokofiev wrote his Symphony No 5 in B-flat major in just a month in the summer of 1944 during World War II. He intended it as "a hymn to free and happy Man, to his mighty powers, his pure and noble spirit." The 1945 premiere was conducted by Prokofiev himself and the symphony has remained one of the composer's most popular works.

Mozart's Piano Concerto No 20 in D minor, K466 Jan 01, 2022

Perhaps the first of Mozart's extraordinary sequence of 'late' piano concertos, the D minor, K466, has attracted pianists as varied as Edwin Fischer and Mitsuko Uchida, many directing the orchestra from the keyboard. Tom Service guides us through a selection of the finest of these, with a recommendation for the essential recording to buy, download or stream.

Beethoven's Cello Sonata No 3, Op 69 Dec 18, 2021

Pianist Iain Burnside with a recommendation of the ultimate recording of the third, and arguably greatest, of Beethoven's five sonatas for cello and piano.

Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony Dec 13, 2021

Edward Seckerson recommends a version of Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony.

Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 in C major was at first dedicated to Lenin. But eventually the composer dedicated it to the besieged city of Leningrad, where it was first played in 1942, during the siege by German and Finnish forces. It soon became popular in both the Soviet Union and the West as a symbol of resistance to fascism and totalitarianism. The work is still regarded as an important musical testament to the 27 million Soviet people who lost their lives in World War II.

Brahms's String Quintet No 1 Dec 08, 2021

Natasha Loges compares recordings of Brahms's String Quintet No 1 in F major, Op 88, and chooses her favourite.

Brahms composed his String Quintet No 1 in F major in 1882 during a summer sojourn in the Austrian Spa town of Bad Ischl. Like the Mozart string quintets, it is written for two violins, two violas and one cello and Brahms intimated to his friend Clara Schumann that it is one of his finest works. To his publisher, Simrock, he said 'that you have never before had such a beautiful work from me'.

The Quintet comprises three movements: a glowing Allegro non troppo ma con brio and an exuberant fugal finale bookend an expansive and passionate slow movement.

Heinrich Schütz Dec 06, 2021

Henrich Schütz is one of the most important composers before JS Bach. But with over 500 surviving works and despite his pivotal position as the first German composer to achieve international fame and repute, Schütz is perhaps still not as well known as he should be. Kirsten Gibson surveys recorded collections of the 17th-century composer and recommends the best one for anyone unfamiliar with his music.

Mozart's Divertimento in E flat, K563 Nov 22, 2021

Roger Parker talks to Andrew about the wide range of approaches to one of Mozart's masterpieces, the Divertimento in E flat, K563, from classic recordings from the 60s and 70s to young ensembles' recent additions to the catalogue.

Richard Strauss' An Alpine Symphony Nov 15, 2021

Mark Simpson compares recordings of Richard Strauss's Eine Alpensinfonie and chooses his favourite. The epic Alpine Symphony is Strauss's vivid evocation of the thrills and spills of a day out in his beloved Bavarian Alps, including dangerous moments and a glacier on the way up to a spectacular view from the summit. On the way down there's a violent thunderstorm and at the end, as the sun sets and night falls, the deep, emotional satisfaction of having completed an arduous and exhausting journey. The 1915 tone poem thrillingly tests an orchestra, at once collectively, its individual sections and its principal players. And it also tests a conductor who has to convincingly marshal a score calling for 130-plus musicians including 34 brass players (with 12 offstage horns) and a percussion section stocked with, among other things, wind machine, thunder machine and cowbells. Spare a thought, too, for the recording engineers... Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Zelenka Survey Nov 08, 2021

Hannah French surveys the key works works and recordings of Czech composer Jan Dismas Zelenka and chooses her favourite.

Zelenka was born in Central Bohemia in 1679 and, after his musical education in Prague and Vienna, he spent most of his professional life in Dresden. Much admired by Bach for the harmonic inventiveness of his counterpoint, and friends with Telemann, Pisendel and Weiss, Zelenka was considered one of the giants of the Baroque era. Zelenka's music is also inspired by Czech folk music and it was Smetana who is credited with rediscovering the music of his forebear during the 19th century.

Elgar's Violin Concerto Oct 31, 2021

David Owen Norris chooses his favourite recording of Elgar's Violin Concerto.

Elgar's Violin Concerto in B minor was composed for the violinist Fritz Kreisler, who gave the premiere in London in 1910 - and Elgar made a recording with the young Yehudi Menuhin in 1932 that has become a classic. The score has the inscription "Herein is enshrined the soul of ....." The five dots are one of Elgar's enigmas, and many names have been suggested to fit the inscription. Elgar said of the Violin Concerto, "It's good! Awfully emotional! Too emotional, but I love it."

Presented by Andrew MacGregor.

Mendelssohn's Octet Oct 24, 2021

There has never been a more prodigiously talented child composer than Felix Mendelssohn and proof of that is his Octet. Written in 1825 when he was 16 years old, it was unprecedented in form: there had been double quartets but nothing like this where all the instruments are combined with unique brilliance and clarity of texture. Above all, though, it's the Octet's sheer lyrical joyousness and exuberant energy that set it apart, the teen Mendelssohn's generosity of spirit thrillingly combined with his compositional genius.

Haydn's Missa in tempore belli Oct 16, 2021

Haydn's Mass in Time of War is sometimes known as his Paukenmesse because of his prominent use of timpani for dramatic effect. It's one of the best known of his fourteen mass settings, and has been lucky on record. Richard Wigmore talks to Andrew about the work and about the very different approaches performers have brought to it, and settles on the ultimate recording to buy, download or stream.

Lehar's Merry Widow Oct 10, 2021

Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Lehar's The Merry Widow.

The Merry Widow by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár is one of the most popular operettas in the repertoire. It's the story of a fabulously rich widow, and the political shenanigans involved in making sure her fortune stays in the principality by finding her the right husband. Since its 1905 premiere in Vienna, it continues to captivate and charm audiences with its tuneful score, including hits such as the "Vilja Song", "You'll Find Me at Maxim's" and the "Merry Widow Waltz".

Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Bach's Coffee Cantata Oct 02, 2021

Simon Heighes compares recordings of Bach's Coffee Cantata and chooses his favourite.

Among Bach's secular cantatas, perhaps the most famous and frequently recorded is Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht – the Coffee Cantata – BWV 211.

Probably composed in 1734 for a performance at Leipzig's Zimmermann Coffee House with the student group collegium musicum, the comic cantata satirises the Saxon obsession with coffee, depicting a family dispute between father and daughter, Schlendrian and Liesgen, at odds about the benefits of the hot drink.

Saint-Saëns - Carnival of the Animals Sep 27, 2021

Sarah Devonald chooses her favourite recording of Saint-Saëns's Carnival of the Animals.

The Carnival of the Animals is a glorious romp in fourteen movements by Camille Saint-Saëns. It is for two pianos and chamber ensemble; and is among his most popular. Includes well-known movements like Elephants, Fossils and the Swan.

Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Schumann's Liederkreis Sep 24, 2021

Allyson Devenish compares recordings of Schumann's Liederkreis, Op 39, and chooses her favourite.

Schumann's Liederkreis, Op 39, is considered to be one of the greatest song cycles of the 19th century. Composed in 1840, Liederkreis comprises 12 songs which set poems by the German Romantic poet, Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff. Together, the 12 songs explore themes of loss, loneliness, nocturnal mystery, ecstasy and reverie. Schumann himself considered the Liederkreis, Op 39 to be the most romantic music he had ever written, and he wrote to his wife that the cycle had 'music of you in it, dearest Clara'.

Presented by Kate Molleson

Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Jul 25, 2021

Musicologist Marina Frolova-Walker chooses her favourite recording of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, a set of dazzling variations for piano and orchestra on Paganini's 24th Caprice for solo violin, was premiered in 1934 in Baltimore by the Philadelphia Orchestra and Leopold Stokowski with Rachmaninov playing the solo part. Rachmaninov had already written four piano concerti, and this Rhapsody parades as a one-movement piano concerto that takes Paganini's theme on a journey through brisk and highly virtuosic variations at the beginning and end and through richly lyrical variations in the slower middle section. The Rhapsody has become a cornerstone of the virtuoso piano repertoire and it has also been adapted for ballet.

Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Liszt Piano Sonata in B Minor Jul 17, 2021

Music researcher and writer Katy Hamilton chooses her favourite recording of Liszt's Sonata in B minor.

When Clara Schumann described Liszt's 1854 Piano Sonata in B minor as 'truly terrible' it reflected an influential school of 19th-century thought (Brahms fell asleep when he first heard it). But for Liszt himself it was his breakthrough piece which established him as a 'proper' composer, one for whom musically-driven formal organisation and inspired ingenuity were paramount, rather than a mere pianist whose music was generated by the need to demonstrate his transcendent technique.

Posterity has sided with Liszt, not Clara – and so have successive generations of performers, reflected in a recorded legacy that is a veritable Who's Who of the great pianists of the last century and our own.

Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Bernstein's Chichester Psalms Jul 12, 2021

Leonard Bernstein's exuberant Chichester Psalms was one of the composer's many strong connections with the UK, commissioned for the 1965 Southern Cathedrals Festival at Chichester Cathedral. Music journalist Edward Seckerson talks to Andrew about the background to the piece, whilst whittling down the available recordings to come up with the finest recording to buy, download or stream.

Beethoven Kreutzer Sonata Jul 04, 2021

Musicologist Professor Natasha Loges chooses her favourite recording of Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata. Beethoven's Violin Sonata in A major, Op.47, more commonly known simply as the Kreutzer Sonata, is one of the most technically challenging pieces in the violin repertoire. Leo Tolstoy immortalised the work in his notorious and daring 1889 novella The Kreutzer Sonata, which was promptly censored by the Russian authorities and, a year later, prohibited in newspapers in the USA. Beethoven composed his Kreutzer Sonata in 1803 and originally dedicated it to his friend and leading virtuoso of the day, George Bridgetower. They premiered the work together in May 1803 at Vienna's Augarten Theatre, allegedly sight-reading the entire work. Shortly afterwards, the two men fell out and Beethoven changed the dedication to the French violin pedagogue, composer and conductor, Rudolphe Kreutzer. It is said that Kreutzer himself hated the sonata and refused to play it. The dedication, however, has remained. It is a lengthy three-movement work in which a serene Andante with variations is bookended by two fiery outer movements. Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Mozart Quintet for Piano and Wind K.452 Jun 27, 2021

Iain Burnside chooses his favourite recording of Mozart's Quintet for Piano and Wind K.452. Mozart wrote his famous Quintet in E flat major for Piano and Winds in 1784 and it was premiered at the Imperial and Royal National Court Theater in Vienna. Shortly afterwards, Mozart wrote to his father: "I myself consider it to be the best thing I have written in my life." It is scored for piano, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon. And most people seem to agree with the composer that it is indeed one of his best pieces - with its amazing wind-writing and life-enhancing energy. Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde Jun 20, 2021

Musicologist Dr Flora Willson chooses her favourite recording of Mahler's orchestral song cycle Das Lied von der Erde.

Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde, 'Song of the Earth', is a set of six songs for two voices and orchestra, but is it a song-cycle or a symphony? Mahler certainly intended for Das Lied von der Erde to reflect the world in co taining everything, the whole range of human emotions and earthly experience, but the work doesn't easily fall into either the category of song-cycles or truly symphonic works. Mahler drew his texts for Das Lied from a compendium called The Chinese Flute, a translation of Chinese poems by the German poet Hans Bethge.

Mahler wrote Das Lied von der Erde in 1908-9 within a year of losing his beloved daughter Maria and receiving the diagnosis of the heart condition that would kill him in 1911. The work begins and ends with two of Mahler's most famous songs: Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde (The Drinking Song of Earth’s Sorrows) and Der Abscheid (The Farewell), a hauntingly beautiful, bleak and heartrending farewell to life as the 'sun sets behind the mountains.' The intervening songs are the introspective‘Der Einsame im Herbst’ (The Lonely One in Autumn) for mezzo soprano, the sprightly ‘Von der Jugend’ (Of Youth) for tenor, ‘Von der Schönheit’ (Of Beauty) depicting an innocent scene by a river bank where girls are picking flowers but are then briefly threatened by the arrival of boys on horseback, and ‘Der Trunkene im Frühling’ (The Drunkard in Spring).

Presented by Andrew McGregor.

Building a Library: Carmina Burana Jun 13, 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mozart: Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor, K 491 Mar 29, 2021

Lucy Parham picks her favourite recording of Mozart's Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor

Monteverdi: Madrigals Mar 20, 2021

Kirsten Gibson selects her favourite recordings of Monteverdi's Madrigals

Ravel: Introduction and Allegro Mar 15, 2021

Jeremy Sams selects his favourite recordings of Ravel's Introduction and Allegro

Debussy: Études Mar 08, 2021

Iain Burnside selects his favourite recordings of Debussy's Études

Josquin des Prez: 500th Anniversary Mar 01, 2021

Elin Manahan Thomas selects her favourite recordings of the music of Josquin des Prez

Bruckner: Symphony No 6 Feb 24, 2021

Tom Service selects his favourite recordings of Bruckner's Sixth Symphony

Stravinsky: Pulcinella Feb 15, 2021

Jonathan Cross chooses his favourite recording of Stravinsky's Pulcinella.

Bartok: String Quartet No 5 Feb 08, 2021

Kate Molleson chooses her favourite recording of Bela Bartok's String Quartet No 5

Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Feb 01, 2021

Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Humperdinck's opera Hansel and Gretel.

Vaughan Williams: Songs of Travel Jan 23, 2021

Mark Lowther picks his favourite recording of Ralph Vaughan Williams's Songs of Travel

Handel's Tamerlano Jan 19, 2021

Roger Parker chooses his favourite version of Handel's Tamerlano.

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 Jan 18, 2021

David Owen Norris chooses his favourite version of Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto

Brahms: Horn Trio in E flat major, Op. 40 Jan 08, 2021

Natasha Loges recommends recordings of Brahms's Horn Trio in E flat major, Op. 40

Bach: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 Dec 26, 2020

Nicholas Kenyon recommends recordings of Bach's Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248

Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major Dec 22, 2020

Gillian Moore recommends recordings of Mahler's First Symphony

Franck: Three Organ Chorales Dec 15, 2020

Anna Lapwood recommends recordings of César Franck's Three Organ Chorales

Copland: Clarinet Concerto Dec 11, 2020

Mark Simpson recommends recordings of Aaron Copland's Clarinet Concerto

Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major Dec 09, 2020

Sarah Willis recommends recordings of Richard Strauss's Second Horn Concerto

Mozart: The Magic Flute K. 620 Nov 25, 2020

Flora Willson recommends recordings of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute K. 620

Felix Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80 Nov 20, 2020

Natasha Loges recommends recordings of Felix Mendelssohn's String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No 29 in B flat, Op 106, 'Hammerklavier' Nov 12, 2020

Katy Hamilton recommends recordings of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No 29 in B flat, Op 106, 'Hammerklavier'

Janáček: The Cunning Little Vixen Nov 04, 2020

Nigel Simeone recommends recordings of Janáček's opera The Cunning Little Vixen

Pergolesi: Stabat Mater Oct 26, 2020

Jeremy Summerly recommends recordings of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater

Dvořák: Symphony no. 7 in D minor, Op.70 Oct 22, 2020

Jan Smaczny recommends recordings of Dvořák's seventh symphony

Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34 Oct 14, 2020

Lucy Parham recommends recordings of Brahms's Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34

Schumann: Symphony No. 3 “Rhenish” Oct 09, 2020

Marina Frolova-Walker recommends recordings of Schumann's 3rd symphony "Rhenish"

Mozart: 'Great' Mass in C minor, K427 Sep 29, 2020

Simon Heighes recommends recordings of Mozart's 'Great' Mass in C minor, K427

Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin Sep 22, 2020

Nicholas Baragwanath recommends recordings of Tchaikovsky's best-loved opera, Eugene Onegin

Ravel: String Quartet in F major Mar 19, 2020

Jeremy Sams recommends recordings of Ravel's String Quartet in F major

Vivaldi: L'estro armonico, Op. 3 Mar 12, 2020

Hannah French recommends recordings of Vivaldi's set of twelve concerti 'L'estro armonico' Op. 3

Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 3 Mar 04, 2020

Kate Molleson recommends recordings of Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 3, Sz. 119, BB 127

Grieg: Holberg Suite, Op. 40 Feb 24, 2020

Oliver Condy recommends recordings of Grieg's Holberg Suite, Op. 40

Poulenc: Gloria Feb 17, 2020

Elin Manahan Thomas recommends recordings of Poulenc's Gloria

Mozart: Symphony No.39 in E-Flat Major, K.543 Feb 10, 2020

Nicholas Kenyon recommends recordings of Mozart's Symphony no.39 in E-Flat Major, K.543

Chopin: The Four Scherzi Jan 28, 2020

Iain Burnside recommends recordings of Chopin's four scherzi

Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 Jan 21, 2020

Richard Wigmore recommends recordings of Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21

Elgar: 'Enigma' Variations Jan 07, 2020

Kate Kennedy recommends recordings of Elgar's 'Enigma' Variations

Schumann: Dichterliebe Op.48 Jan 06, 2020

Laura Tunbridge recommends recordings of Schumann's poignant song cycle "Dichterliebe"

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Jan 06, 2020

Edward Seckerson recommends recordings of Tchaikovsky's ballet music, The Nutcracker

Schubert: Quintet in A major, D.667 "Trout" Dec 16, 2019

David Owen Norris recommends recordings of Schubert’s Trout Quintet D.667

Delibes: Lakmé Dec 09, 2019

Flora Willson recommends recordings of Delibes's opera, Lakmé

Purcell: Dido and Aeneas Dec 03, 2019

Kirsten Gibson recommends recordings of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas Z.626

Haydn: Symphony No.102 in B flat major Nov 26, 2019

Sarah Walker recommends recordings of Haydn's Symphony No.102 in B flat major, H.1:102

Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms Nov 19, 2019

Jeremy Summerly recommends recordings of Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms

Mahler: Symphony No. 3 Nov 12, 2019

William Mival recommends recordings of Mahler's Symphony no. 3

Bach: Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1042 Nov 05, 2019

Mark Lowther recommends recordings of J. S. Bach's Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1042

Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 4 "Dumky" Oct 29, 2019

Katy Hamilton recommends recordings of Dvořák's Piano Trio no.4 in E minor "Dumky" Op.90

Verdi: La Traviata Oct 21, 2019

Mahan Esfahani recommends recordings of Verdi's La Traviata

Mozart: Serenade No.10 in B-flat, 'Gran Partita', K.361/370a Oct 14, 2019

Sarah Devonald recommends recordings of Wolfang Amadeus Mozart's Serenade No.10 in B-flat, 'Gran Partita', K.361/370a

Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben Oct 11, 2019

Tom Service recommends recordings of Richard Strauss's Ein Heldenleben.

Martinu: Top Five Sep 30, 2019

Jan Smaczny chooses his favourite Martinu recordings

Prokofiev: Symphony No 1 'Classical' Sep 27, 2019

Marina Frolova-Walker recommends recordings of Sergei Prokofiev's Symphony No 1

Strauss: Four Last Songs Jul 15, 2019

Iain Burnside recommends recordings of Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring Jul 06, 2019

Jonathan Cross recommends recordings of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring

Mozart: Piano Quartets Jul 01, 2019

Laura Tunbridge recommends recordings of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Quartets

Handel: Israel in Egypt Jun 25, 2019

Suzanne Aspden recommends recordings of George Frideric Handel's Israel in Egypt

Elgar: Violin Sonata Jun 17, 2019

David Owen Norris recommends recordings of Edward Elgar's Violin Sonata in E minor

Janáček: Glagolitic Mass Jun 10, 2019

Elin Manahan Thomas recommends recordings of Leoš Janáček's Glagolitic Mass

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 'Italian' Jun 03, 2019

Oliver Condy recommends recordings of Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 'Italian'.

Bach: Ascension Oratorio May 27, 2019

Hannah French recommends recordings of Bach's Ascension Oratorio, BWV 11.

Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite May 18, 2019

Andrew Mellor recommends recordings of Sibelius's Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22

Poulenc: Concerto for Two Pianos May 11, 2019

Tom McKinney recommends recordings of Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos in D minor, FP 61

Beethoven: Op.1 Piano Trios May 07, 2019

Helen Wallace recommends recordings of Beethoven's Piano Trios Op.1 Nos.1-3

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess Apr 30, 2019

Edward Seckerson recommends recordings of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess

R. Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor Apr 20, 2019

Lucy Parham recommends recordings of Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor

Brahms: Cellos Sonata No.1 in E minor Apr 13, 2019

Katy Hamilton recommends recordings of Brahms's Cello Sonata No.1 in E minor

Mahler: Symphony No.4 Apr 06, 2019

Nicholas Baragwanath recommends recordings of Mahler's Symphony No.4 in G major

Shostakovich: Piano Quintet Mar 30, 2019

Ivan Hewett recommends recordings of Shostakovich's Piano Quintet in G minor

Kurtag Survey Mar 27, 2019

Gillian Moore recommends recordings of music by György Kurtág

Brahms: Piano Concerto No.2 Mar 16, 2019

Tom Service recommends recordings of Brahms's Piano Concerto No.2 in B-flat Major

Mozart: Clarinet Quintet Mar 09, 2019

Richard Wigmore recommends recordings of Mozart's Clarinet Quintet in A major

Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence Mar 02, 2019

Stephen Johnson recommends recordings of Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence

Verdi: La forza del destino Feb 25, 2019

Flora Willson recommends recordings of Verdi's opera, La forza del destino

Berlioz: Top 5 Feb 16, 2019

Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite Berlioz recordings

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major 'Emperor' Feb 09, 2019

Nicholas Kenyon recommends recordings of Beethoven's Emperor concerto

Schubert: Schwanengesang Feb 02, 2019

Natasha Loges recommends recordings of Schubert's Schwanengesang

Schumann: String Quartet Op. 43 No. 3 in A Major Jan 26, 2019

Erica Jeal recommends recordings of Schumann’s String Quartet Op. 43 No. 3 in A Major

Handel: Ariodante Jan 19, 2019

Roger Parker recommends recordings of Handel's Ariodante

Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.1 Jan 12, 2019

Kate Molleson recommends recordings of Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No.1 in D major, Op.19

Debussy: String Quartet Jan 05, 2019

Laura Tunbridge recommends recordings of Debussy's String Quartet

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Jan 02, 2019

Marina Frolova-Walker recommends recordings of Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto

Vivaldi: Gloria Dec 27, 2018

Caroline Gill compares recordings of Vivaldi's Gloria

Richard Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel Dec 15, 2018

William Mival compares recordings of Richard Strauss's tone poem, Till Eulenspiegel

Haydn: Piano Sonata in E-flat major Dec 10, 2018

Iain Burnside compares recordings of Haydn's Piano Sonata in E-flat major Hob.XVI:52

Dvořák: Wind Serenade Dec 01, 2018

Sarah Devonald recommends recordings of Dvořák's Serenade for Winds in D minor, Op.44

Mendelssohn: String Quartet No.2 in A minor, Op.13 Nov 24, 2018

Harriet Smith recommends recordings of Mendelssohn's String Quartet No.2 in A minor

Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle Nov 17, 2018

Ben Walton recommends recordings of Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle

Couperin: Trois Leçons de Ténèbres Nov 10, 2018

Simon Heighes recommends recordings of Couperin's Trois Leçons de Ténèbres

Stravinsky: Mass Nov 03, 2018

Jeremy Summerly recommends recordings of Stravinsky's Mass

Purcell: King Arthur Oct 27, 2018

Kirsten Gibson recommends recordings of Purcell's King Arthur

JS Bach: Keyboard Concertos Oct 20, 2018

Mark Lowther recommends recordings of Bach's Keyboard Concertos

Franck: Violin Sonata in A major Oct 13, 2018

Mahan Esfahani recommends recordings of Franck's Violin Sonata in A major

Gibbons Survey Oct 06, 2018

Alexandra Coghlan recommends recordings of music by Orlando Gibbons

Ravel: L’enfant et les sortilèges Sep 29, 2018

Anna Picard recommends recordings of Ravel's L’enfant et les sortilèges

Vaughan Williams: On Wenlock Edge Sep 22, 2018

David Owen Norris recommends recordings of Vaughan Williams's On Wenlock Edge

Mozart: Concerto for two pianos E-flat major Sep 15, 2018

Sarah Walker recommends recordings of Mozart's Concerto for Two Pianos in E-flat major

Mozart: Don Giovanni Jul 07, 2018

Nicholas Kenyon recommends recordings of Mozart's Don Giovanni

Finzi: Dies Natalis Jun 30, 2018

Elin Manahan Thomas recommends recordings of Finzi's Dies Natalis

Debussy: Violin Sonata Jun 23, 2018

Caroline Rae recommends recordings of Debussy's Violin Sonata

Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk Jun 16, 2018

Marina Frolova-Walker recommends recordings of Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Schubert: Die Schöne Müllerin Jun 09, 2018

Laura Tunbridge recommends recordings of Franz Schubert's Die Schöne Müllerin

Schumann: Symphony No. 4 in D minor Jun 04, 2018

William Mival recommends recordings of Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 4 in D minor.

Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex May 26, 2018

Kate Molleson recommends a recorded version of Igor Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex.

Handel: Concerti a due cori May 19, 2018

Simon Heighes recommends a recorded version of Handel's Concerti a due cori.

Britten: Winter Words May 12, 2018

Kate Kennedy recommends a recorded version of Benjamin Britten's Winter Words.

Corelli: Violin Sonata Op. 5 May 05, 2018

Hannah French recommends a recorded version of Arcangelo Corelli's Violin Sonata Op. 5.

Brahms: Symphony No. 1 Apr 28, 2018

Ivan Hewett recommends a recorded version of Brahms' Symphony No. 1.

Leonard Bernstein: Candide Apr 26, 2018

Edward Seckerson recommends a recorded version of Leonard Bernstein's musical Candide.

Dvorak: Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Op 81 Apr 14, 2018

Richard Morrison recommends recordings of Dvorak’s Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Op 81

Widor: Organ Symphony No. 5 Apr 07, 2018

Andrew Mellor recommends recordings of Charles-Marie Widor's Organ Symphony No. 5

Tallis: The Lamentations of Jeremiah Apr 03, 2018

Alexandra Coghlan recommends recordings of Thomas Tallis' The Lamentations of Jeremiah.

Debussy: Piano Preludes Book 1 Mar 28, 2018

Iain Burnside recommends a recorded version of Debussy's Piano Preludes Book 1.

Massenet: Manon Mar 17, 2018

Flora Willson recommends a recording of Massenet's Manon

Britten: Piano Concerto, Op 13 Mar 13, 2018

Erica Jeal recommends a recorded version of Britten's Piano Concerto, Op 13.

Mahler: Symphony No. 7 Mar 03, 2018

Stephen Johnson recommends a recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 7.

Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust Feb 24, 2018

Nicholas Baragwanath recommends a recorded version of Berlioz's Damnation of Faust.

Haydn: String Quartet Op. 20 No. 3 in G minor Feb 17, 2018

Helen Wallace recommends a recording of Haydn's String Quartet Op. 20 No. 3 in G minor.

Boulez: Le Marteau sans maître Feb 12, 2018

Tom McKinney recommends recordings of Le Marteau sans maître by Pierre Boulez

Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 Feb 03, 2018

Harriet Smith recommends recordings of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major Op 109.

Dvorak: Serenade for Strings Jan 27, 2018

Sarah Devonald recommends recordings of Dvorak's Serenade for Strings in E Major, Op. 22.

Donizetti L'elisir d'amore Jan 20, 2018

Sarah Lenton recommends a recording of Donizetti's opera L'elisir d'amore

Handel Jephtha Jan 13, 2018

Suzanne Aspden recommends recordings of Handel's Jephtha.

Record Review Jan 06, 2018

Gillian Moore recommends recordings of works by Ligeti.

Mozart Prague Symphony Dec 30, 2017

Tom Service recommends a recorded version of Mozart's Prague Symphony - No. 38 in D, K504

Bach Brandenburg Concertos Dec 23, 2017

Sara Mohr-Pietsch recommends a recorded version of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos

Schubert Piano Sonata in B flat major Dec 21, 2017

David Owen Norris recommends a recorded version of Schubert's Piano Sonata in B flat D960

Elgar - The Dream of Gerontius Dec 11, 2017

Mark Lowther chooses his preferred recording of Elgar's 'The Dream of Gerontius'

Bruckner - Motets Dec 02, 2017

Bruckner wrote about 40 motets: Jonathan Freeman-Attwood reviews recordings.

Brahms String Quartet No.3 Op.67 Nov 25, 2017

Katy Hamilton chooses the best recording of Brahms' String Quartet No.3 in B flat major.

Rodgers & Hammerstein Oklahoma! Nov 18, 2017

Richard Sisson recommends the best recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical Oklahoma!

Shostakovich Symphony No.11 in G minor, 'The Year 1905' Nov 15, 2017

Gerard McBurney recommends the best recording of Shostakovich's Symphony No.11 in G minor

Building a Library: Vivaldi's La Stravaganza, Op.4 Nov 04, 2017

Simon Heighes recommends the best recording of Vivaldi's La Stravaganza, Op.4

Record Review Oct 28, 2017

Kirsten Gibson recommends a recorded version of Dowland's Lachrimae.

Giacomo Puccini - Il Tabarro Oct 21, 2017

Anna Picard recommends a recorded version of Puccini's Il Tabarro

Henry Purcell - My heart is inditing Z.30 Oct 17, 2017

Jeremy Summerly recommends a recorded version of Henry Purcell's My heart is inditing Z.30 in a live edition of Building a Library

Handel - Concerti Grossi Op.3 Oct 07, 2017

These 6 lively concertos were compiled into a set and published by John Walsh in 1734. Richard Wigmore surveys recordings and makes a recommendation.

Richard Wagner - Wesendonck-Lieder Sep 30, 2017

Natasha Loges recommends a recorded version of Richard Wagner's Wesendonck-Lieder

César Franck - Symphony in D minor Sep 23, 2017

Mahan Esfahani recommends a recorded version of César Franck's Symphony in D minor

Mozart Horn Quintet Sep 16, 2017

Sarah Walker recommends a recorded version of Mozart's Horn Quintet

Building a Library: Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem Jul 10, 2017

Alexandra Coghlan recommends the best recording of Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem

Building a Library:Janáček's Sinfonietta Jul 01, 2017

Richard Morrison recommends the best recording of Janáček's Sinfonietta.

Building a Library: Telemann's 'Water Music' Jun 24, 2017

Simon Heighes recommends the best recording of Telemann's 'Water Music'

Building a Library: Beethoven's Diabelli Variations Jun 19, 2017

Iain Burnside recommends the best recording of Beethoven's Diabelli Variations.

Building a Library: Survey of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor recordings Jun 10, 2017

Ivan Hewett and Andrew survey recordings of the composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Building a Library:Sinfonia da Requiem by Benjamin Britten Jun 03, 2017

Building a Library:Sinfonia da Requiem by Benjamin Britten

Building a Library: The Mikado by Sir Arthur Sullivan May 27, 2017

Sarah Lenton recommends the best recording of The Mikado by Sir Arthur Sullivan.

Building a Library: Sofia Gubaidulina May 20, 2017

Gillian Moore surveys recordings of music by Russia's greatest living composer.

Building a Library: Monteverdi's L'Orfeo May 15, 2017

Jeremy Summerly joins Andrew for a live review of recordings of Monteverdi's opera.

Building a Library: Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto May 06, 2017

Prokofiev was soloist at the concerto's 1921 premiere, which has become his most popular.

Building a Library: Schumann's Liederkreis, Op. 24 Apr 29, 2017

Liederkreis was written in the year he devoted to song composition after marrying Clara.

Building a Library: Mahler's Second Symphony Apr 25, 2017

William Mival assesses recordings of Mahler's epic Symphony No. 2 'Resurrection' and makes a recommendation. A journey from the darkness of a funeral march via the terror of the Last Judgement through to the light of redemption and, finally, resurrection is not to be undertaken lightly.

Andrew McGregor celebrates Record Store Day 2017 and 60 years of Record Review with a special programme broadcast live from Spiritland, a listening café just north of King's Cross in London.

Building a Library: Rachmaninov's Cello Sonata Apr 15, 2017

Rachmaninov's Cello Sonata was overshadowed by the success of his Piano Concerto No. 2.

Building a Library: Kodaly's Dances of Galanta Apr 08, 2017

Kodaly's joyful work is based on the Hungarian dances of Galanta where he lived as a boy.

Building a Library: Verdi's Aida Apr 01, 2017

Set in the Egypt of the Pharaohs, Verdi's Aida premiered at the Cairo opera house in 1871

Building a Library: Mozart's Clarinet Concerto Mar 25, 2017

Mozart's final instrumental work was written for his friend, clarinettist Anton Stadler.

Building a Library: Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time Mar 21, 2017

Messaien's piece was premiered at a prisoner of war camp, outdoors in the rain, in 1941.

Building a Library: Schoenberg's Gurrelieder Mar 11, 2017

Building a Library on Schoenberg's epic cantata Gurrelieder. Nicholas Baragwanath guides us through this gargantuan late flowering of 19th-century Romanticism in which Schoenberg wove together a sumptuous score that can be surprising to people accustomed to the more astringent sound world of his later works.

Building a Library: Survey of Ethel Smyth recordings Mar 04, 2017

Kate Kennedy explores the music of an underrated English composer and a member of the women's suffrage movement.

Building a Library: Ives's Second Symphony Feb 27, 2017

Edward Seckerson joins Andrew McGregor to assess recordings of Ives Symphony No. 2.

Building a Library: Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez Feb 18, 2017

Tom McKinney heads to Spain with the ever-popular Rodrigo Guitar Concerto.

Building a Library: Bach's B Minor Mass Feb 11, 2017

Sir Nicholas Kenyon sifts through the available recordings of Bach's B minor Mass. It was one of Bach's last compositions, completed in 1749, the year before his death. He refashioned music that he had composed throughout his career. The Mass was never performed in its entirety during Bach's lifetime but is now regarded as a supreme masterpiece.

Building a Library: Rossini's The Barber of Seville Feb 04, 2017

Ben Walton compares recordings of Rossini's hugely popular opera on Beaumarchais's play.

Building a Library: Sibelius's Tapiola Jan 28, 2017

Tapiola is Sibelius's final masterpiece for orchestra. Andrew Mellor recommends a version

Building a Library: Beethoven's String Quartet No 12, Op. 127 Jan 21, 2017

Stephen Johnson compares recordings of the first of Beethoven's late string quartets.

Building a Library: Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony Jan 14, 2017

Rob Cowan sifts through "Tchaik 4," a piece written at a time of emotional turmoil.

Building a Library: Schubert's Fantasy in C, D934, for violin and piano. Jan 07, 2017

Harriet Smith compares recordings of Schubert's piece, which baffled its 1828 audience.

Building a Library: Bruckner's Third Symphony Dec 31, 2016

Dedicated to his hero Wagner, Bruckner revised his Third Symphony several times.

Building a Library: Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 21 Dec 24, 2016

David Owen Norris sifts through the available recordings of Mozart's Piano Concerto No 21

Building a Library: Lassus's Lagrime di San Pietro Dec 17, 2016

Caroline Gill compares recordings of Lassus's depiction of the sorrows of St Peter.

Building a Library: Puccini's La fanciulla del West Dec 10, 2016

Flora Willson pans for gold in available recordings of Puccini's California-based opera

Building a Library: Haydn's Symphony no. 99 Dec 03, 2016

Symphony No.99 is an example of late, great Haydn. Richard Wigmore recommends a recording

Building a Library: Survey of Barbara Strozzi Nov 26, 2016

Dr Hannah French surveys recordings of music of 17th-century Venetian Barbara Strozzi.

Building a Library: Bach's Lutheran Masses Nov 19, 2016

Jonathan Freeman-Attwood surveys recordings of Lutheran Masses by JS Bach.

Building a Library: Vaughan Williams's London Symphony Nov 12, 2016

Mark Lowther makes a recommendation from the available recordings.

Building a Library: Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress Nov 05, 2016

Anna Picard compares recordings on CD and DVD of Stravinsky's operatic morality tale.

Building a Library: Brahms' String Sextet No 1 in B flat Oct 29, 2016

Katy Hamilton recommends a recording of Brahms's String Sextet No.1, composed in 1860.

Building a Library: Mateo Flecha's ensaladas Oct 22, 2016

Tess Knighton compares recordings of 'Ensaladas' of the early 16th century Mateo Flecha

Cabaret Oct 15, 2016

Richard Sisson compares recordings of Kander and Ebb's 1966 musical 'Cabaret'

Elgar: Falstaff – Symphonic Study in C minor, Op. 68 Oct 08, 2016

David Nice surveys recordings of Elgar's Falstaff – Symphonic Study in C minor, Op. 68

Tallis Spem in alium Oct 06, 2016

Simon Heighes recommends a recorded version of Tallis's Spem in alium

Building a Library: Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor Sep 27, 2016

Sara Mohr-Pietsch on Chopin's Piano Concerto No.1, live from Southbank Centre

Building a Library:Vivaldi's The Four Seasons Sep 17, 2016

Mahan Esfahani comes up with a personal recommendation for Vivaldi's The Four Seasons

Proms Composer: Jonathan Dove Sep 12, 2016

The final Proms Composer of this season is British composer Jonathan Dove

Proms Composer: Max Reger Sep 05, 2016

Our weekly Proms Composer is German composer, organist, pianist, and teacher Max Reger.

Proms Composer: Alexander Zemlinsky Aug 30, 2016

This week's Proms Composer is Austrian late Romantic Alexander Zemlinsky.

Proms Composer: Emily Howard Aug 21, 2016

British composer Emily Howard (born in Liverpool in 1979) is this week's Proms Composer.

Proms Composer: Thomas Adès Aug 16, 2016

Summer Record Review's weekly look at a Proms Composer explores recordings of Thomas Adès

Proms Composer: Kurt Schwertsik Aug 08, 2016

Summer Record Review's Proms Composer explores the recordings of Kurt Schwertsik

Proms Composer: Wolfgang Rihm Jul 30, 2016

Summer Record Review's weekly Proms Composer explores recordings by Wolfgang Rihm

Proms Composer: Galina Ustvolskaya Jul 28, 2016

Summer Record Review explores recordings of music by Galina Ustvolskaya

Proms Composer: Galina Usvolskaya Jul 16, 2016

Summer Record Review's Proms Composer slot explores recordings of music by Ustvolskaya

Building a Library: Faure's Requiem in D minor, Op. 48 Jul 14, 2016

Richard Morrison compares recordings of Fauré's Requiem in D minor, Op. 48

Offenbach Orphée aux enfers Jul 09, 2016

Sarah Lenton recommends a recorded version of Offenbach's Orphée aux enfers

Victoria - Masses Jun 25, 2016

Tess Knighton gives a recommendation for Victoria's Masses from among available versions.

Mahler Symphony 5 Jun 21, 2016

William Mival's live traversal of recordings of Mahler's 5th Symphony

JS Bach's ‘Funeral Ode’ for the Queen of Poland BWV198 Jun 11, 2016

Jonathan Freeman-Attwood recommends a recording of Bach's ‘Funeral Ode’

Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 (Op. 74) 'Pathétique' Jun 04, 2016

Marina Frolova-Walker recommends a recording of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 6, 'Pathétique'

Schumann's Fantasie in C, Op. 17 May 28, 2016

Kenneth Hamilton recommends a recording of Schumann's Fantasie in C, Op. 17

Handel's Alcina May 21, 2016

Berta Joncus recommends a recording of Handel's Alcina from among available versions.

Haydn String Quartet in G Op.77 No.1 May 14, 2016

Caroline Gill recommends a recording of Haydn's String Quartet Op.77 No.1

Bohuslav Martinu's Symphony No. 6 May 09, 2016

Jonathan Swain recommends a recording of Bohuslav Martinu's Symphony No. 6

Schubert: Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat major, D.929 Apr 30, 2016

Iain Burnside compares recordings of Schubert's E flat Piano Trio D.929.

Verdi's Falstaff Apr 27, 2016

Andrew is joined by Roger Parker live in Stratford-upon-Avon to discuss Verdi's opera.

Hildegard of Bingen survey Apr 16, 2016

Sara Mohr-Pietsch surveys music by Hildegard of Bingen & makes a personal recommendation

Bach's Concerto for Oboe, Violin and strings in C minor BWV1060R Apr 14, 2016

David Vickers recommends a version of this ever-popular Bach Concerto.

Brahms's Violin Sonata in G Major, Op. 78 Apr 02, 2016

Katy Hamilton recommends a recording from the available versions.

Schumann's Frauenliebe und -leben Mar 26, 2016

Erica Jeal recommends a recording from the available versions of this great song cycle.

Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, 'Pathetique' Mar 19, 2016

Sarah Walker recommends a recording from the available versions.

Rachmaninov Symphony No. 3 Mar 14, 2016

Sarah Devonald recommends a recording of Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 3.

Delius Sea Drift Mar 05, 2016

Daniel Grimley recommends a version from the available recordings of Delius's Sea Drift

Mozart's Requiem Feb 29, 2016

Nicholas Kenyon recommends a recording of Mozart's Requiem.

Shostakovich Symphony No 9 Feb 20, 2016

David Nice recommends a recorded version of Shostakovich's 9th Symphony

Guillaume de Machaut Feb 13, 2016

Simon Heighes recommends recordings which represent the music of Guillaume de Machaut.

Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.5 ‘Reformation’ Feb 06, 2016

Andrew Mellor compares recordings of Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.5, the ‘Reformation’. It was written to mark the 300th anniversary of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession in 1530, a critical event of the Protestant Reformation

Jerome Kern: Show Boat Feb 01, 2016

Edward Seckerson joins Andrew live to recommend a recording of Jerome Kern's Show Boat.

Debussy's Nocturnes Jan 25, 2016

Julian Johnson recommends a recording of Debussy's Nocturnes.

Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana Jan 16, 2016

Anna Picard compares recordings of Mascagni's perennially popular 'Cavalleria Rusticana'

Dutilleux survey Jan 09, 2016

Ivan Hewett surveys recordings of music by Henri Dutilleux, a composer with a unique voice who took inspiration from the tradition of Ravel, Debussy and Roussel, but created a sound world of sensuous harmony and colour that was all his own.

Beethoven: Symphony No 5 Jan 02, 2016

Nicholas Baragwanath recommends a version of Beethoven's 5th Symphony

Poulenc Organ Concerto Dec 26, 2015

Oliver Condy recommends a version of Poulenc's Organ Concerto

Nielsen Symphony No. 6 Dec 19, 2015

Stephen Johnson surveys recordings of Nielsen's Symphony No.6, his "Sinfonia semplice"

Sibelius Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39 Dec 12, 2015

Gillian Moore recommends a recorded version of Sibelius's 1st Symphony in E minor

Schubert Mass No. 6 in E flat, D950 Dec 09, 2015

Jeremy Summerly compares recordings of Mass No. 6 in E flat, D950, by Schubert - a powerful masterpiece, written during the final year of the composer's life.

Bellini Norma Nov 28, 2015

Roger Parker recommends a recording of Bellini's opera Norma

Bartok Piano Concerto No.2 Nov 21, 2015

Harriet Smith compares recordings of Bartok's Second Piano Concerto, widely recognised as one of the most technically challenging pieces in the repertoire, and makes a personal recommendation.

Poulenc Flute Sonata Nov 14, 2015

David Owen Norris recommends a version of Poulenc's Flute Sonata

Building a Library on Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks Nov 11, 2015

With Andrew McGregor, an edited version of the regular CD Review slot.

Berg Violin Concerto Oct 31, 2015

Kate Molleson recommends a version of Berg's Violin Concerto

Building a Library: Mozart Symphony No.36 'Linz' Oct 24, 2015

Building a Library: Richard Wigmore compares recordings of Mozart's Symphony No. 36 in C major, K425, known as the Linz Symphony, which was written in just four days during the Mozarts' stopover in the Austrian town of Linz whilst travelling in late 1783. When the local count heard of their arrival he announced a concert, and the composer had very little time to provide a symphony for it!

Rebecca Clarke Viola Sonata Oct 17, 2015

Helen Wallace recommends a recorded version of Rebecca Clarke's Viola Sonata

Haydn Trumpet Concerto Oct 10, 2015

As part of BBC Music's Ten Pieces Secondary, which aims to open up the world of classical music to children aged 11 and above, Hannah French compares available versions of Haydn's Trumpet Concerto in E flat major and makes a personal recommendation. A favourite of the trumpet repertoire and possibly Haydn's most popular concerto, this work was composed in 1796 while the composer was working on The Creation. It was written for his long-time friend Anton Weidinger who had developed a keyed trumpet which could play chromatically, unlike the natural trumpet which had a more limited choice of notes.

Verdi Requiem Oct 03, 2015

Flora Willson recommends a recorded version of Verdi's Requiem

Beethoven Symphony No 4 Sep 19, 2015

Rob Cowan recommends a recorded version of Beethoven's 4th Symphony.

Proms Composer: Arvo Part Sep 14, 2015

Estonian-born Arvo Part is the final Proms Composer for 2015 Summer CD Review

CD Review Interview: Marin Alsop Sep 12, 2015

Andrew McGregor talks to Marin Alsop about her recordings and career

Proms Composer: Franz Schmidt Sep 07, 2015

This week's Proms Composer is Austrian composer and cellist Franz Schmidt (1874-1939)

Proms Composer: Henry Cowell Sep 01, 2015

American composer Henry Cowell (1897-1965) is this week's Proms Composer.

Proms Composer - Jon Leifs Aug 20, 2015

Andrew McGregor explores recordings of music by Icelandic composer Jon Leifs

Proms Composer: John Foulds Aug 11, 2015

Andrew McGregor explores recordings of music by John Foulds

Proms Composer: Brett Dean Aug 07, 2015

This week's Proms Composer is Australian Brett Dean.

Proms Composer: Boulez Jul 27, 2015

CD Review explores recordings of music by French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez

Summer Interview - Carolyn Sampson Jul 18, 2015

Andrew talks to the celebrated and versatile soprano Carolyn Sampson

Proms Composer - HK Gruber Jul 18, 2015

Andrew McGregor explores recordings of music by the many-faceted composer HK Gruber

Brahms Cello Sonata in F major Op.99 Jul 11, 2015

Katy Hamilton recommends a recording of Brahms's Cello Sonata No.2, Op.99

Richard Rodgers Carousel Jul 04, 2015

Edward Seckerson recommends a recording of Richard Rodgers' Carousel

Britten Les Illuminations Jun 27, 2015

Erica Jeal recommends a recorded version of Britten's Les Illuminations

Wagner Die Meistersinger Jun 20, 2015

Nicholas Baragwanath recommends a recorded version of Wagner's Die Meistersinger

Monteverdi Il ritorno d'Ulisse Jun 13, 2015

Tess Knighton compares recordings of Monteverdi's least-known opera, Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, and makes a personal recommendation

Nielsen 3rd Symphony Jun 06, 2015

Andrew Mellor compares recordings of Nielsen's 'Sinfonia Espansiva' and makes a personal recommendation

Mendelssohn Piano Trio Op.49 May 30, 2015

Harriet Smith compares recordings of Mendelssohn's Piano Trio in D minor, Op.49, and makes a personal recommendation

Offenbach: Tales of Hoffmann May 26, 2015

Sarah Lenton recommends a recording from the available versions of Offenbach's opera, The Tales of Hoffmann

Mozart - Horn Concertos May 18, 2015

Jonathan Freeman-Attwood compares recordings of Mozart’s Horn Concertos and makes a personal recommendation.

Walton's Cello Concerto May 09, 2015

Helen Wallace compares recordings of Walton's Cello Concerto and makes a personal recommendation

Scriabin's Prometheus May 02, 2015

William Mival recommends a version from the available recordings of Scriabin's Prometheus

Verdi Macbeth Apr 25, 2015

Roger Parker compares recordings of Verdi's first Shakespearean opera Macbeth and makes a personal recommendation

Purcell Funeral Music Apr 18, 2015

Kirsten Gibson recommends a recording from the available versions of Purcell’s Music for Queen Mary’s Funeral and Funeral Sentences

Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake Apr 11, 2015

Marina Frolova-Walker makes a recommendation from the available recordings of Tchaikovsky's ballet, Swan Lake.

Sibelius's 4th Symphony Apr 06, 2015

David Nice recommends a version from the available recordings of Sibelius's 4th Symphony.

Elgar's 2nd Symphony Mar 28, 2015

Richard Morrison recommends a recording from the available versions of Elgar's 2nd Symphony.

Haydn's Nelson Mass Mar 21, 2015

Jeremy Summerly discusses Haydn's Nelson Mass, his Missa in angustiis, live in the studio with Andrew McGregor

Bizet's Carmen Mar 14, 2015

Flora Willson recommends a recording from the available versions of Bizet's opera Carmen

Clara Schumann Piano Trio Mar 07, 2015

David Owen Norris recommends a recording from the available versions of Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio.

Schubert Piano Sonata in A major D959 Feb 28, 2015

Sarah Walker recommends a recording from the available versions of Schubert's Piano Sonata in A major D. 959

Bach Magnificat Feb 21, 2015

Simon Heighes recommends a version from the available recordings of Bach's Magnificat

Ravel Piano Concerto in G Feb 14, 2015

Jonathan Swain recommends a version from the available recordings of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G

Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 ‘Organ’ Feb 07, 2015

Geoffrey Norris recommends a recording from the available versions of Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 ‘Organ’

Beethoven Eroica Symphony Jan 31, 2015

Nicholas Kenyon recommends a version of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony from the available recordings.

Bartok Music for Strings Percussion & Celesta Jan 24, 2015

Rob Cowan's live discussion of recordings of Bartok's Music for Strings Percussion & Celesta

Berg's Wozzeck Jan 17, 2015

Gillian Moore makes a recommendation from the available recordings of Berg's opera, Wozzeck

Dvorak's American Quartet Jan 10, 2015

Robert Philip makes a recommendation from the available recordings of Dvorak's American Quartet

RCM Session Report Jan 03, 2015

Simon Heighes visits an unusual recording session at the Royal College of Music where students and early recording experts have teamed up to recreate Arthur Nikisch and the Berlin Philharmonic'€™s 1913 recording of Beethoven'€™s 5th Symphony. The original recording, one of the earliest one and most successful attempts to record an entire symphony using (close to) a full orchestra, used an acoustic horn to cut into a wax disc. Simon talked to participants in the 2014 re-enactment about the challenges of re-creating a recording process that pre-dated the use of electronic microphones.

Palestrina Missa Papae Marcelli Jan 03, 2015

Caroline Gill compares the available recordings of Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli and makes a personal recommendation.

Schubert Symphony no.8 Dec 27, 2014

Chris De Souza with a personal recommnedation from recordings of Schubert's 'Unfinished' Eighth Symphony

27 12 14: Alfred Brendel interview Dec 27, 2014

In a CD Review exclusive, Andrew McGregor talks to legendary pianist Alfred Brendel. Now retired from the concert platform, Brendel’s career stretched over six decades and saw collaborations with the leading conductors, singers and instrumentalists of the day. He shares with Andrew his memories of a fascinating career in an interview rich in insight and his characteristic dry humour

Beethoven's Ghost Piano Trio Dec 20, 2014

Harriet Smith recommends a recording from the available versions of Beethoven's Ghost Piano Trio.

Bruckner 7th Symphony Dec 17, 2014

John Deathridge recommends a version from the available recordings of Bruckner's 7th Symphony

Bach Orchestral Suites Dec 06, 2014

Mark Lowther surveys the available recordings of Bach's four orchestral suites and makes his personal recommendation

Schumann Symphony no.2 Nov 29, 2014

Richard Wigmore with a personal recommendation from recordings of Schumann's negelected but deeply-felt Second Symphony

Purcell Hail! Bright Cecilia Nov 22, 2014

Simon Heighes compares recordings of Purcell's Ode Hail! Bright Cecilia and makes a personal recommendation

Rossini William Tell Nov 15, 2014

Richard Osborne compares recordings of Rossini's final opera and makes a personal recommendation

Stravinsky Petrushka Nov 08, 2014

Martin Cotton compares recordings of Stravinsky’s ballet Petrushka, and makes a personal recommendation

Chopin Preludes Nov 03, 2014

Recorded live at Sage Gateshead in conversation with Andrew McGregor, Kenneth Hamilton with a personal recommendation from recordings of Chopin's set of 24 Preludes for piano, Op.28

Strauss Oboe Concerto Oct 25, 2014

Sarah Devonald with a personal recommendation from recordings of Strauss's joyful, autumnal Oboe Concerto

Mozart Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail Oct 18, 2014

Berta Joncus with a personal recommendation from the many recordings of Mozart’s opera Singspiel 'Die Entführung aus dem Serail', the work that prompted the infamous (and now contested) complaint that there were “too many notes”!

Shostakovich 10th Symphony Oct 11, 2014

Stephen Johnson recommends a version from the available recordings of Shostakovich's powerful 10th Symphony

Interview - Vasily Petrenko Oct 07, 2014

Andrew talks to conductor Vasily Petrenko about completing his cycle of Shostakovich's symphonies for record label Naxos, and his other recent recordings of Russian repertoire.

Brahms Piano Quartet in G minor Oct 04, 2014

Ivan Hewett with a personal recommendation from recordings of Brahms's piano quartet in G minor, Op.25

Holst The Planets Sep 27, 2014

David Owen Norris compares recordings of Holst's The Planets and makes a personal recommendation

Emma Kirkby and Catherine Mackintosh on recording Handel's Messiah with Christopher Hogwoo Sep 26, 2014

In an interview originally broadcast in April 2014 Andrew talks to soprano Emma Kirkby and violinist Catherine Mackintosh about the recording they made of Handel's oratorio Messiah with conductor Christopher Hogwood back in 1980. This iconic recording changed the way we hear this staple of choral societies up and down the land; and the cast of musicians now reads like a Who's Who from the world of Historically Informed Performance Practice.

Handel Orlando Sep 20, 2014

Anna Picard recommends a version from the available recordings of Handel's opera Orlando

Summer Interview - Kristjan Jarvi Sep 16, 2014

Andrew talks to the conductor Kristjan Järvi about the reinvention of core repertoire, the juxtaposing influences in his formative years, and his new collaborative projects

Proms Composer - Harrison Birtwistle Sep 09, 2014

Each week Andrew recommends recordings of music by a Proms composer whose music deserves to be heard more often. The music of this week's Proms Composer, Harrison Birtwistle, is as uncompromising as the man himself. 80 years old this year, he has written widely in many genres, and is an icon of contemporary music in the UK and

Summer Interview - Andrew Litton Sep 06, 2014

Andrew talks to American conductor Andrew Litton about recording Prokofiev and Wagner in Bergen, as well as a recent labour of love involving his hero, jazz pianist Oscar Peterson

Summer Review - Gluck Operas Sep 01, 2014

Andrew talks to Simon Heighes about a box set of operas by Gluck from Decca. In his anniversary year, Gluck is being reassessed and we are finding out that he was more than just the instigator of operatic reforms and the composer of Orfeo ed Euridice and the 2 Iphegenia operas. His career was in fact multi-faceted and, coming between Handel and Mozart, his style is a tantalising mix of late Baroque and early Classical.

Summer Interview - Jessye Norman Aug 23, 2014

Andrew talks to soprano Jessye Norman about her new memoir, the extraordinary recording career, memories of finding herself working in a divided Berlin having grown up in the segregated American south, a bizarre encounter during a song recital, the joy of performing Tippett's A Child of our Time with its innovative use of spirituals and her deeply held conviction that the arts are an essential part of life which touch the depths of the human spirit.

Proms Composer - Adams Aug 22, 2014

Each week Andrew recommends recordings of music by a Proms composer. This week's Proms Composer, is the American John Adams who is strongly influenced by minimalism. Known equally for his orchestral works such as Short Ride in a Fast Machine, chamber music such as Shaker Loops, vocal music like The Wound-Dresser and his operas which include Nixon in China, The Death of Klinghoffer and Doctor Atomic.

Proms Composer - Kodaly Aug 22, 2014

Each week Andrew recommends recordings of music by a Proms composer whose music deserves to be heard more often. This week's Proms Composer, Zoltán Kodály, was a Hungarian composer and ethnomusicologist. In the early 1900s he visited remote villages to notate the folk music of Hungary and the Hungarian-inhabited areas of Slovakia and Romania. Kodaly and his friend Bela Bartok recorded the songs on phonograph cylinders. His work is an attractive mixture of late-romantic, impressionistic and modernist musical styles inflected with folk idioms. His most famous pieces include the Háry János Overture, Dances of Marosszék, Dances of Galánta and Psalmus Hungaricus.

Summer Review - recent re-releases from the RCA label Aug 18, 2014

Andrew talks to Rob Cowan about the recently-released collection of RCA's 'Living Stereo' recordings, celebrating a golden age in the American label's history.

Proms Composer - Leifs Aug 18, 2014

Each week Andrew recommends recordings of music by a Proms composer whose music deserves to be heard more often. The music of this week's Proms Composer, Jon Leifs, is infused with the rugged, primal beauty of his native Iceland.

Proms Composer - Alwyn Aug 11, 2014

Each week Andrew recommends recordings of music by a Proms composer whose music deserves to be heard more often. This week's Proms Composer, William Alwyn, was a flautist with the LSO and wrote no fewer than five symphonies along with operas, songs and chamber music but he’s perhaps best remembered as the composer of over 200 film scores.

Summer Interview - Sir Neville Marriner Aug 11, 2014

Sir Neville Marriner reflects on half-a-century of recording history with the ensemble he founded in the late 50s, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

Summer Review - Baroque recordings on the L' Oiseau-Lyre label Aug 04, 2014

Caroline Gill joins Andrew live to discuss a 50-CD box set dedicated to L’Oiseau-Lyre’s founding commitment – the music of the Baroque. It contains a range of acclaimed, pioneering recordings that span a fascinating range of repertoire and performing styles.

Proms Composer - Casella Aug 04, 2014

Each week during the BBC Proms Andrew recommends recordings of music by a composer featured at the festival whose music deserves to be heard more often. Alfredo Casella was an Italian composer influenced by time spent in Paris in the 1910s. Along with a large compositional output, some of which boasts fantastically original scorings, he was a busy teacher, concert organiser and promoter of new music.

Proms Composer - Beamish Jul 29, 2014

Each week Andrew recommends recordings of music by a Proms composer whose music deserves to be heard more often. This week's Proms Composer, Sally Beamish, is an individual voice who draws both on her Scottish heritage and her background as a distinguished chamber musician.

Summer Session Report - Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra Jul 26, 2014

A session report from Istanbul. Andrew talks to the conductor and players from The Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra as they record Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. Their Austrian conductor, Sascha Goetzel, explains their vision of being a bridge between the people of Turkey and the European tradition in classical music.

Summer Interview - Kristian Bezuidenhout Jul 19, 2014

Andrew talks to Kristian Bezuidenhout about his cycle of Mozart keyboard works and the joys (and challenges) of playing fortepianos.

Proms Composer - Moeran Jul 19, 2014

Each week during the Proms Andrew recommends recordings of music by a Proms composer whose music deserves to be heard more often. This week's Proms Composer, E.J.Moeran, was heavily influenced by English folk song and wrote in a very lyrical, accessible style recognisably his own.

Wagner's Siegfried Idyll Jul 12, 2014

Martin Cotton with a personal recommendation from recordings of Wagner's intimate musical birthday gift for his wife, Cosima

Gluck Orfeo ed Euridice Jul 05, 2014

Simon Heighes compares recordings of Gluck's great reform opera on both CD and DVD and makes a personal recommendation

Ravel La Valse Jun 28, 2014

William Mival compares recordings of Ravel's La Valse and makes a personal recommendation

Elgar Cello Concerto Jun 21, 2014

Helen Wallace with a personal recommendation from recordings of Elgar's autumnal Cello Concerto

Rameau Pieces de Clavecin Jun 14, 2014

Nicholas Kenyon compares recordings on both harpsichord and piano of Rameau's volumes of harpsichord music and makes a personal recommendation

Der Rosenkavalier Jun 07, 2014

Richard Osborne considers the available recordings of Strauss's opera Der Rosenkavalier and recommends his favourite version

Schumann's Kreisleriana May 31, 2014

Kenneth Hamilton considers the available versions of Schumann's Kreisleriana and recommends his favourite recording.

Beethoven's 2nd Symphony May 27, 2014

Rob Cowan joins Andrew McGregor in the studio to make a recommendation from the available recordings of Beethoven's 2nd Symphony

Mussorgsky's Songs and Dances of Death May 17, 2014

Nicholas Baragwanath makes a recommendation from the available recordings of Mussorgsky's Songs and Dances of Death

Mozart's Marriage of Figaro on DVD May 10, 2014

Sarah Lenton with a personal recommendation from the many DVD versions of Mozart's serious comedy, the opera The Marriage of Figaro

Tchaikovsky's 1st Piano Concerto May 03, 2014

Chris De Souza recommends a version from the available recordings of Tchaikovsky's 1st Piano Concerto.

Haydn Symphony 101 Apr 26, 2014

Misha Donat recommends a version from the available recordings of Haydn's Symphony No.101 "The Clock"

Nielsen 2nd Symphony Apr 19, 2014

David Fanning recommends a version from the available recordings of Nielsen's 2nd Symphony.

Schubert Impromptus D899 Apr 12, 2014

Robert Philip with a personal recommendation from nearly 80 years of recordings of Schubert's first set of Impromptus for piano, D899

Vivaldi Stabat mater Apr 05, 2014

Caroline Gill with a personal recommendation from recordings of Vivaldi's intensely personal Stabat mater

Copland Appalachian Spring Mar 31, 2014

Mark Lowther compares recordings, and the various versions, of Copland's 'Ballet for Martha' Appalachian Spring and makes a personal recommendation

Mozart Coronation mass Mar 26, 2014

Jeremy Summerly with a recommendation from the available recordings of Mozart's Coronation mass

Handel 12 Grand Concertos Op.6 Mar 15, 2014

David Vickers compares recordings of Handel's Op.6 concerti grossi and makes a personal recommendation

Bernstein West Side Story Mar 08, 2014

Edwards Seckerson with a personal recommendation from recordings of West Side Story, the musical which launched Stephen Sondheim's career and made Leonard Bernstein a household name

Beethoven 7th Symphony Mar 01, 2014

John Deathridge with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Beethoven's 7th Symphony

Haydn Symphony no 44 Feb 22, 2014

Nicholas Kenyon with a personal recommendation from recordings of Haydn's Symphony no 44, the so-called 'Mourning' Symphony

Purcell songs Feb 15, 2014

This week, Anna Picard is our guide through the rich and varied collection of songs by Henry Purcell

Vaughan Williams 9th Symphony Feb 08, 2014

Jonathan Swain recommends a recording from the available versions of Vaughan William's 9th Symphony

Grieg Piano Concerto Feb 01, 2014

David Owen Norris compares recordings of this evergreen work and makes a personal recommendation

Debussy Images for Piano Jan 25, 2014

Stephen Walsh makes a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Debussy's 2 books of Images for piano

Monteverdi L'incoronazione di Poppea Jan 18, 2014

Tess Knighton with a personal recommendation from recordings of Monteverdi's opera L'incoronazione di Poppea

Berlioz Les Nuits d'ete Jan 11, 2014

Christopher Cook recommends a recording from the available versions of Berlioz's song cycle, Les Nuits d'ete

Schumann Symphony no.1 Jan 04, 2014

Erica Jeal with a personal recommendation from recordings of Schumann's first symphony, the 'Spring' Symphony

Haydn The Creation Dec 28, 2013

Iain Burnside with a personal recommendation from recordings of Haydn's oratorio The Creation

Dvorak Symphony no.6 Dec 21, 2013

Jan Smaczny with a personal recommendation from recordings of Dvorak's sixth symphony

Wagner Parsifal Dec 14, 2013

David Nice makes a recommendation from the available recordings of Wagner's final opera Parsifal.

Bach Cantata No 21 Dec 07, 2013

Nicholas Anderson with a personal recommendation from recordings of Bach's Cantata No 21, Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis

Chopin Ballades Nov 30, 2013

Jessica Duchen compares recordings of Chopin's four Ballades and makes a recommendation

Britten Turn of the Screw Nov 16, 2013

Simon Heighes with a personal recommendation from CD and DVD recordings of Britten's opera The Turn of the Screw

Shostakovich Symphony No.8 Nov 09, 2013

Stephen Johnson surveys recordings of Shostakovich's 8th Symphony and makes a personal recommendation

Brahms 1st Piano Concerto Nov 02, 2013

Harriet Smith suggests a version from the available recordings of Brahms' 1st Piano Concerto in D minor.

Beethoven String Quartet Op.131 Oct 26, 2013

Martin Cotton compares recordings of Beethoven's String Quartet Op.131 in C# minor and makes a personal recommendation

Mozart Piano Sonata in A Minor K310 Oct 19, 2013

Stephen Plaistow recommends a recording from the available versions of Mozart's Piano Sonata in A Minor K310 (repeat of a programme originally broadcast in November 2012)

Walton Violin Concerto Oct 12, 2013

Piers Burton-Page with a personal recommendation from recordings of Walton's Violin Concerto

Verdi's Un ballo in maschera Oct 05, 2013

Roger Parker recommends a version from the available recordings of Verdi's opera, Un ballo in maschera.

Handel Theodore Sep 28, 2013

Richard Wigmore compares recordings of Handel's penultimate oratorio Theodora and makes a personal recommendation

Sibelius 3rd Symphony Sep 21, 2013

Richard Osborne with a recommendation from the recordings of Sibelius' 3rd Symphony

Bartok Dance Suite Sep 14, 2013

Rob Cowan with a personal recommendation from recordings of Bartok's Dance Suite

Beethoven Piano Sonata Op.111 Jul 06, 2013

David Owen Norris compares recordings of Beethoven's last piano sonata and makes a recommendation

Shostakovich Sym.5 Jul 02, 2013

Geoffrey Norris with a personal recommendation from recordings of Shostakovich's Symphony no.5

Dvorak Stabat Mater Jun 22, 2013

Jan Smaczny surveys recordings of Dvorak's Stabat Mater and makes a personal recommendation

Verdi Rigoletto Jun 15, 2013

Richard Osborne with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Verdi's opera Rigoletto

8 June Byrd 4-Part Mass Jun 08, 2013

Simon Heighes with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of William Byrd's 4-Part Mass

Brahms Symphony no.2 Jun 01, 2013

Stephen Johnson with a personal recommendation from recordings of Brahms' second symphony

Szymanowski Violin Concerto No.1 May 25, 2013

Rob Cowan compares recordings of Szymanowski's Violin Concerto No.1 and makes a personal recommendation

Wagner Tannhauser May 18, 2013

John Deathridge recommends a version from the available recordings of Wagner's opera Tannhauser

Handel Solomon May 11, 2013

Jeremy Summerly with a personal recommendation from recordings of Handel's Solomon

Stravinsky The Soldier's Tale May 04, 2013

Geoffrey Smith makes a personal recommendation from the recordings of Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale

Tchaikovsky Hamlet Fantasy Overture Apr 27, 2013

Stephen Walsh compares recordings of Tchaikovsky's Hamlet Fantasy Overture and makes a recommendation

Debussy Pelleas et Melisande Apr 20, 2013

Christopher Cook with a personal recommendation from the recordings of Debussy's opera, Pelleas et Melisande.

13 Apr 13 Apr 13, 2013

Chris de Souza with a personal recommendation from recordings of Liszt's piano concerto no.2

Schumann Myrthen Apr 06, 2013

Richard Wigmore compares recordings of Schumann's wedding gift to his wife Clara, his Op.25 song cycle Myrthen

Bach Sonatas for violin Mar 30, 2013

Caroline Gill with a personal recommendation from recordings of Bach's sonatas for violin and keyboard

Handel 8 Great Harpsichord Suites Mar 23, 2013

Simon Heighes surveys recordings of Handel's Eight Great Suites, played on harpsichord and piano, and makes a recommendation

Corelli Concerti grossi Op.6 Mar 16, 2013

David Vickers recommends a version from the recordings of Corelli's set of Concerti grossi, Op.6

Mozart Piano Concerto K459 Mar 09, 2013

Nicholas Kenyon surveys recordings of Mozart's Piano Concerto No.19 K459 and makes a recommendation

Stravinsky Firebird Suite Mar 02, 2013

William Mival with a personal recommendation from recordings of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite

Mozart String Trio in Eb K563 Feb 23, 2013

Misha Donat recommends a version from the recordings of Mozart's String Trio in Eb K563

Mahler Symphony No.6 Feb 16, 2013

Julian Johnson compares recordings of Mahler's sixth symphony

Brahms Piano Trio in B major Op.8 Feb 09, 2013

Iain Burnside with a survey of recordings of Brahms' Piano Trio in B major, Op.8

Walton 1st Symphony Feb 02, 2013

Martin Cotton recommends a version from the recordings of Walton's 1st Symphony

Britten Billy Budd Jan 26, 2013

Piers Burton-Page with a personal recommendation from recordings of Britten's opera Billy Budd

Faure Cello Sonata no.2 Jan 19, 2013

Jessica Duchen with a personal recommendation from recordings of Faure's Cello Sonata no.2

Dowland Survey Jan 12, 2013

Tess Knighton recommends recordings of works by John Dowland.

Sibelius 2nd Symphony Jan 05, 2013

Erica Jeal makes a personal recommendation from the recorded versions of Sibelius' 2nd Symphony

29 Dec12: Beethoven Missa solemnis Dec 29, 2012

John Deathridge with a personal recommendation from recordings of Beethoven's Missa solemnis

Rossini's La Cenerentola Dec 22, 2012

Richard Osborne recommends a version of Rossini's opera La Cenerentola

Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No 8 Dec 15, 2012

David Fanning recommends a version of Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No 8

Bartok Concerto for Orchestra Dec 08, 2012

Rob Cowan with a personal recommendation from recordings of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra

Strauss Lieder Dec 01, 2012

Hilary Finch with a recommendation for the ultimate disc of Lieder by Richard Strauss

Mozart Sonata K.310 Nov 24, 2012

Stephen Plaistow with a personal recommendation from recordings of Mozart's Piano Sonata in A minor, K.310

Berlioz The Trojans Nov 17, 2012

Sarah Lenton recommends a version from the available recordings of Berlioz's opera, The Trojans

Schubert Symphony No 4 Nov 10, 2012

Richard Wigmore recommends a version from the available recordings of Schubert's 4th Symphony "The Tragic"

Bruckner Symphony No 4 Nov 03, 2012

Stephen Johnson with a personal recommendation from recordings of Bruckner's 4th Symphony

Debussy Images Oct 27, 2012

Jonathan Swain with a personal recommendation from recordings of Debussy's Images for orchestra

Schumann Etudes symphoniques Oct 20, 2012

Harriet Smith with a personal recommendation from performances of Schumann's Etudes symphoniques

Bach Double Concerto Oct 13, 2012

Nicholas Anderson with a personal recommendation from recordings of Bach's concerto for two violins

Schubert Arpeggione Sonata Oct 06, 2012

Robert Philip with a personal recommendation from recordings of Schubert's 'Arpeggione' Sonata

Janacek String Quartets Sep 29, 2012

Ivan Hewett with a personal recommendation from recordings of Janacek's 2 string quartets.

Brahms German Requiem Sep 22, 2012

Jeremy Summerly with a personal recommendation from recordings of Brahms' German Requiem

Haydn Sinfonia Concertante Sep 15, 2012

Colin Lawson with a personal recommendation from recordings of Haydn's delightful Sinfonia Concertante

Puccini Turandot Jul 07, 2012

Roger Parker recommends a version from recordings of Puccini's final opera Turandot

Tchaikovsky Symphony no.3 Jun 30, 2012

Rob Cowan with a personal recommendation from recordings of Tchaikovsky's 3rd Symphony

Sibelius Symphony no.5 Jun 16, 2012

Stephen Johnson with a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius' 5th symphony.

Dvorak Cello Concerto Jun 09, 2012

Jan Smaczny recommends a version from recordings of Dvorak's Cello Concerto

Wolf Spanish Song Book Jun 02, 2012

Hilary Finch recommends a version from recordings of Wolf's Spanish Song Book

Messiaen Turangalila Symphony May 26, 2012

Jeremy Thurlow recommends a version from recordings of Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony

Gesualdo round-up May 19, 2012

Tess Knighton discusses with Andrew her personal recommendations for recordings of Gesualdo's music

Chopin Mazurkas 120512 May 12, 2012

David Owen Norris recommends a version from recordings of Chopin's Mazurkas

Korngold Violin Concerto May 05, 2012

Jessica Duchen with a personal recommendation from recordings of Korngold's Violin Concerto

Vivaldi Opera Survey Apr 28, 2012

David Vickers recommends a recording from the available recordings of Vivaldi's operas

Prokofiev 5th Symphony Apr 21, 2012

Geoffrey Norris recommends a version from the available recordings of Prokofiev's 5th Symphony.

Mozart Jupiter Symphony Apr 14, 2012

Martin Cotton recommends a version from among the available recordings of Mozart's last symphony, The Jupiter

Bach St Matthew Passion Apr 07, 2012

Jeremy Summerly with a personal recommendation from recordings of Bach's St Matthew Passion

Schubert Death and the Maiden Quartet Mar 31, 2012

As Part of The Spirit of Schubert, Misha Donat recommends a version of Schubert's Death and the Maiden Quartet

Schubert Sonata D.958 Mar 24, 2012

As part of The Spiri of Schubert, Harriet Smith with a personal recommendation from recordings of the composer's late C minor Sonata, D.958

Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos Mar 17, 2012

Richard Osborne recommends a recording from the available versions of Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos

Vaughan Williams Sym.4 Mar 10, 2012

Piers Burton-Page with a personal recommendation from recordings of Ralph Vaughan Williams' fourth symphony

Nielsen Sym 4 Mar 03, 2012

David Fanning with a personal recommendation from recordings of Nielsen's fourth symphony

Gershwin Piano Concerto Feb 25, 2012

Geoffrey Smith with a personal recommendation from recordings of Gershwin's Piano Concerto

Bach Goldberg Variations Feb 18, 2012

Nicholas Kenyon with a personal recommendation from recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations

Verdi Otello Feb 11, 2012

Christopher Cook considers the available version of Verdi's opera Otello

Rachmaninov 2nd Symphony Feb 04, 2012

William Mival considers the available recordings of Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony

Mendelssohn Elijah Jan 28, 2012

Ian Burnside considers recordings of Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah

Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition Jan 15, 2012

Stephen Walsh considers recordings of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition

Elgar Violin Concerto Jan 14, 2012

Martin Cotton with a personal recommendation from the recordings of Elgar's violin concerto

Haydn Op 33 String Quartets Jan 07, 2012

Richard Wigmore considers the recordings of Haydn's group of six string quartets he published as his Op.33

Tchaikovsky Suite no.3 Dec 31, 2011

Jonathan Swain with a personal recommendation from recordings of Tchaikovsky's third orchestral suite

Britten Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Dec 24, 2011

Chris de Souza considers recordings of Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra

Schumann Piano Trio No.1 17-Dec-11 Dec 17, 2011

Erica Jeal compares the available versions of Schumann's first Piano Trio

Handel Giulio Cesare 10-Dec-11 Dec 10, 2011

Sarah Lenton joins Andrew to discuss the available versions of Handel's 'Egyptian' opera Giulio Cesare

Brahms Clarinet Quintet Dec 03, 2011

Colin Lawson with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Brahms' autumnal Clarinet Quintet

Mahler 8th Symphony Nov 26, 2011

Julian Johnson considers recordings of Mahler's 8th Symphony, "The Symphony of a Thousand"

Walton Belshazzar's Feast Nov 19, 2011

Jeremy Summerly considers the available recording of William Walton's Belshazzar's Feast

Faure Nocturnes Nov 12, 2011

Stephen Plaistow considers the available recordings of Faure's Nocturnes

Beethoven Symphony no.6 'Pastoral' Nov 05, 2011

John Deathridge with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Beethoven's sixth symphony, the 'Pastoral'

Dvorak 8th Symphony Oct 29, 2011

Rob Cowan considers the available recordings of Dvorak's 8th Symphony

Liszt Sonata Oct 22, 2011

Kenneth Hamilton with a personal recommendation from recent releases pf Liszt's Piano Sonata in B minor

Berlioz Symphonie fantastique Oct 15, 2011

Stephen Johnson considers the available recordings of Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique

Tchaikovsky Queen of Spades Oct 08, 2011

David Nice with a personal recommendation from available recordings of Tchaikovsky's opera

Bruckner 8th Symphony Oct 01, 2011

Richard Osborne considers the available recordings of Bruckner's 8th Symphony

Purcell The Fairy Queen 24-Sep-11 Sep 24, 2011

Simon Heighes compares the available versions of Purcell's semi-opera, on CD and DVD, and makes a recommendation.

Haydn Symphony No.100 in G 17-Sep-11 Sep 17, 2011

Robert Philip compares the available recordings of Haydn's Symphony No.100 in G, the "Military".

Bizet L'Arlesienne 09-Jul-11 Jul 09, 2011

David Nice compares the available recordings of both Georges Bizet's incidental music to the play L'Arlesienne, and the perenially popular orchestral suites

Monteverdi Selva morale e spirituale 02-Jul-11 Jul 02, 2011

David Vickers compares the available recordings of Monteverdi's ‘forest of moral and spiritual’ meditations.

Light Music Jun 25, 2011

Adrian Edwards considers recordings of light music.

Wagner Tristan & Isolde Jun 18, 2011

Roger Vignoles with a personal recommendation from the available CDs and DVDs of Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde

Mahler Des Knaben Wunderhorn Jun 11, 2011

BAL: Mahler Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Richard Wigmore recommends a recording of Mahler's song collection.

Beethoven 'Harp' Quartet Jun 04, 2011

Harriet Smith with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Beethoven's so-called 'Harp' Quartet

Britten Serenade May 28, 2011

Hilary Finch with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Britten's Serenade for tenor, horn and strings

Schubert Trio no.1 May 21, 2011

Stephen Johnson with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Schubert's Piano Trio in B flat, D.898

Mozart Piano Concerto K453 14-May-11 May 14, 2011

Robert Philip considers the available recordings of Mozart's G major Piano Concerto K453

Victoria 400th anniversary round-up May 07, 2011

BAL Special: Victoria 400th anniversary round-up. Simon Heighes surveys a range of recordings of the greatest master of the Spanish Golden Age

Dvorak Quartet Op.106 Apr 30, 2011

Jan Smaczny with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Dvorak's last string quartet

Rossini Stabat Mater Apr 23, 2011

BaL: Rossini Stabat Mater Richard Osborne recommends a recording

Beethoven violin concerto Apr 09, 2011

Roy Goodman, in conversation with Andrew McGregor, with a personal recommendation from recent available recordings of Beethoven's violin concerto.

Bach St John Passion Apr 02, 2011

BAL: Bach St John Passion - Simon Heighes recommends a recording

MOZART Symphony no 25 in g minor Mar 26, 2011

BaL: Mozart Symphony no 25 in g minor -Chris de Souza recommends a recording of this dramatic early symphony

Mahler Symphony No.10 19-Feb-11 Mar 19, 2011

In this Building a Library on Mahler's 10th Symphony the discussion of a recommended recording is inseparable from a discussion of which 'performing version' each conductor has chosen to work from. Stephen Johnson discusses the relative merits of ten recordings in conversation with Andrew McGregor.

Liszt Annees Bk.1 Mar 05, 2011

Stephen Plaistow with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Liszt's Annees de Pelerinage, Book One

Ravel Alborada del gracioso 19-Feb-11 Feb 19, 2011

Ravel's Alborada del gracioso: a 7-minute piano solo-turned-spectacular orchestral showpiece. If ever a ‘small but perfectly formed’ masterpiece suggests worlds way beyond its scale, then Alborada is it.

Brahms Four Serious Songs Feb 12, 2011

BaL: Brahms Four Serious Songs. Richard Wigmore recommends a recording of the composer's great swansong.

Berlioz Romeo et Juliette with David Nice Feb 05, 2011

BAL: Berlioz Romeo et Juliette; a Dramatic Symphony - David Nice recommends a recording of one of the most daringly original works of the whole nineteenth century

Liszt Annees Bk.2 Jan 29, 2011

David Owen Norris with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Liszt's Annees de Pelerinage, Book Two (Italy)

Strauss Alpensinfonie Jan 22, 2011

William Mival with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Richard Strauss's massive tone poem Alpensinfonie

Tchaikovsky Piano Trio Op.50 15-Jan-11 Jan 15, 2011

David Fanning compares the available recordings of Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio Op 50, subtitled "In memory of a great artist" for his close friend and mentor Nikolai Rubinstein.

Monteverdi Vespers 18-Dec-10 Dec 18, 2010

Simon Heighes compares the available recordings of Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 in this anniversary year.

Beethoven Sonata Op.7 Dec 11, 2010

Iain Burnside with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Beethoven's fourth published piano sonata, Op.7

Wolf Morike Lieder Dec 01, 2010

BaL Wolf Morike Lied. Richard Wigmore recommends a recording of Wolf's settings of poems by Eduard Morike

Wolf Morike Songbook Nov 27, 2010

BaL Wolf Morike Songbook. Richard Wigmore recommends recordings of Wolfs's fifty or so Morike settings

Honegger Symphony no.3 Nov 13, 2010

Jonathan Swain with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Honegger's Symphony no.3

Mahler Ruckert-Lieder Nov 06, 2010

Hilary Finch with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Mahler's set of Ruckert-Lieder

Bach Organ Music Oct 30, 2010

BaL Bach Organ music - Stephen Farr offers a few tips for assembling a collection of Bach organ music recordings

Beethoven Violin Sonatas update of recent recordings Oct 23, 2010

BAL: Beethoven Violin Sonatas update. Ivan Hewett listens to some recent recordings

Schumann The Paradise and the Peri Oct 16, 2010

Bal: Schumann The Paradise and the Peri – Peter Quantrill’s personal recommendation of the best available version

Dvorak Slavonic Dances Op.46 Oct 09, 2010

Rob Cowan compares the available recordings of Dvorak's first set of Slavonic Dances (Op.46) which he orchestrated from his original set of dances for piano duet.

Mussorgsky Boris Godunov Oct 02, 2010

BAL: Mussorgsky Boris Godunov Stephen Walsh recommends a recording of this Pushkin inspired epic

Brahms Quartet in c minor Op 51 no 1 Sep 25, 2010

BAL: Brahms Quartet in c minor Op 51 no 1 - Piers Burton Page recommends a recording

Sibelius Symphony no.7 Sep 18, 2010

Stephen Johnson with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Sibelius' seventh symphony