The week ahead on Essential Classics – Piers Lane and Rafael Kubelik
Richard Denison
Producer, Essential Classics
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Artist of the Week
As the preparations for Christmas begin, one of the great traditions I particularly enjoy is the Christmas market. I’m told that Munich’s is always outstanding, and that city is an important presence in this week’s Essential Classics, as our Artist of the Week, Rafael Kubelik, was music director of the city’s Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra during the 1960s and 1970s. Kubelik spoke to Gramophone Magazine back in 1968 about his life and music.
Top of my must-hear Kubelik recordings this week are his fresh and characterful performances of Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances, Janacek’s Sinfonietta, and Mahler’s Symphony No.1 - plus, there’s a thrilling portrayal of the Amazonian warrior Sarka from Smetana’s Ma Vlast, and Mozart’s C minor Piano Concerto, K.491 with Clifford Curzon.
CD of the Week
Piers Lane Goes to Town
The piano and Piers Lane take centre stage on our CD of the Week: Piers Lane Goes to Town. Be prepared for ballerinas, a Jamaican rumba and a tiger tango, as well as a fittingly urbane and measured tribute to Beethoven from the one and only Dudley Moore, which you can see here: Piers Lane explains all on the Hyperion website
Britten 100
And finally, with Radio 3 gearing up for the Britten 100 weekend starting this Friday 22nd, Rob has chosen a group of recordings which show Britten’s talents as pianist and conductor. Schubert’s Arpeggione sonata with Mstislav Rostropovich and a Haydn Symphony live from Aldeburgh are among the treasures he has unearthed for us.
Benjamin Britten
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