Smetana Má Vlast in Building a Library with Harriet Smith and Andrew McGregor
A trawl through the best of this the week's classical music releases, and in Building a Library Anna Picard chooses her favourite recording of Smetana's Má Vlast.
with Andrew McGregor
9.30 Building a Library
Anna Picard chooses her favourite recording of Bedřich Smetana's Má Vlast.
Dedicated to the city of Prague, Smetana's Má Vlast ('My Country') is a series of six orchestral tone poems depicting Bohemian legends, landscapes and history, replete with nationalistic and political meaning for Smetana and his Czech audiences. Its second movement 'Vltava' is the best known: a thrilling portrayal of the journey of Bohemia's longest river and one of music's greatest landscape paintings.
10.30
Harriet Smith reviews new releases of chamber music by Brahms, Weinberg and Saint-Saëns.
11.20
Record of the Week: an outstanding new release.
Last on
Music Played
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Rafael Antonio Castellanos
Gitanillas vienen (Arr. R. Savino for Chamber Ensemble)
Singer: Jennifer Ellis Kampani. Singer: Nell Snaidas. Ensemble: El Mundo.- Archivo de Guatemala: Music from the Guatemala City Cathedral Archive.
- Naxos.
- 8.
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Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73: III. Allegretto grazioso quasi andantino
Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt.- Brahms: Symphony No. 2 & Academic Festival Overture (Live).
- PENTATONE.
- 3.
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Eugène Ysaÿe
Obsession - Prelude: Solo sonata in A minor Op. 72 No. 2
Performer: James Ehnes.- Ysaÿe: Six Sonatas for Solo Violin, Op. 27.
- Onyx.
- 5.
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Sergey Prokofiev
Symphony no.5 in B flat major Op.100 (2nd mvt)
Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Santtu-Matias Rouvali.- Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5.
- Signum Classics.
- 2.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Serenade in B flat major K.361 'Gran partita' (1st mvt)
Ensemble: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin.- Mozart: Gran Partita - Wind Serenades K. 361 & 375.
- harmonia mundi.
- 6.
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Gunnar Andreas Kristinsson
Passacaglia (Version for Marimba, Harp & Bass Clarinet)
Performer: Ingólfur Vilhjálmsson. Ensemble: Duo Harpverk.- Moonbow.
- Sono Luminus.
- 4.
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Étienne Moulinié
Ballet du monde renversé: Dialogue de la Nuit et du Soleil
Lyricist: Anonymous. Conductor: William Christie. Ensemble: Les Arts Florissants.- N'espérez plus mes yeux... Airs sérieux et à boire, Vol. 3.
- harmonia mundi.
- 2.
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Mieczysław Weinberg
Piano Quintet, Op. 18: V. Allegro agitato
Performer: Elisaveta Blumina. Performer: Noah Bendix-Balgley. Performer: Shanshan Yao. Performer: Máté Szücs. Performer: Bruno Delepelaire.- Weinberg: Piano Quintet, Op. 18 & Children’s Notebook No. 3, Op. 23.
- Oehms Classics.
- 105.
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Camille Saint‐Saëns
Piano Trio No. 1, Op. 18: II. Andante
Ensemble: Trio Hélios.- D’un matin de printemps.
- Mirare.
- 102.
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Josef Labor
Cello Sonata in A Major, Op. 7: II. Scherzo. Allegro molto
Performer: Floris Mijnders. Performer: Oliver Triendl.- Labor: Chamber Works.
- CapriccioNR.
- 102.
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Johannes Brahms
Clarinet Sonata No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 120: I. Allegro amabile
Performer: Julian Bliss. Performer: James Baillieu.- Johannes Brahms: Clarinet Sonatas Op. 120, 4 Ernste Gesänge, Op. 121.
- Signum Classics.
- 301.
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Friedrich Gernsheim
Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 20: III. Rondo. Allegro
Ensemble: Mariani Klavierquartett.- Brahms & Gernsheim: Piano Quartets.
- Audax Records.
- 107.
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George Frideric Handel
Rodelinda, Act 1: scenes 6-8
Singer: Lucy Crowe. Singer: Iestyn Davies. Singer: Tim Mead. Ensemble: The English Concert. Conductor: Harry Bicket.- Handel: Rodelinda.
- Linn.
- 7-12.
Record Review
9.00am
Archivo de Guatemala: Music from Castellanos, Corelli, Zéspedes, etc
El Mundo / Richard Savino (arranger)
Naxos: 8574295
https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.574295
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 & Academic Festival Overture
Gewandhausorchester Leipzi
Herbert Blomstedt (conductor)
Pentatone: PTC5186851
Ysaÿe: Sonatas for Solo Violin, Op.27
James Ehnes (violin)
Onyx: ONYX4198
https://onyxclassics.com/release/ysaye-sonatas-for-solo-violin-op-27/
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5
Philharmonia Orchestra
Santtu-Matias Rouvali (conductor)
SIGNUM: SIGCD669
https://signumrecords.com/product/prokofiev-symphony-no-5-in-b-flat-op-100-1944/SIGCD669/
Mendelssohn: Te Deum à 8, MWV B 15 & Other Works
Stuttgart Chamber Choir
Frieder Bernius (conductor)
Hänssler: HC20034
https://haensslerprofil.de/shop/sonstige-klassik/mendelssohn-bartholdy-te-deum-frieder-bernius/
9.30am – Building a Library – Anna Picard on Smetana, Ma Vlast
Composer: Bedřich Smetana
Reviewer: Anna Picard
Recommended Recording:
Jakub Hrusa (conductor)
Prague Philhamonia
Supraphon SU 4032-2
https://www.supraphon.com/album/1530-smetana-my-country-a-cycle-of-symphonic-poems
Other Recommended Recordings:
Vaclav Talich (conductor)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Supraphon SU40652
https://www.supraphon.com/album/2041-smetana-my-country-dvorak-slavonic-dances-op-72-live-1939
Jiří Bělohlávek (conductor)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Decca: 4833187
https://www.deccaclassics.com/en/catalogue/products/smetana-ma-vlast-belohlavek-10486
10.15am – New Releases
Mozart: Gran Partita - Wind Serenades K. 361 & 375
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
Harmonia Mundi: HMM902627
https://store.harmoniamundi.com/format/713952-mozart-gran-partita-wind-serenades-k-361-375
Moonbow
CAPUT Ensemble, Siggi String Quartet, Duo Harpverk
Ingólfur Vilhjámsson (bass clarinet)
Dorian Sono Luminus: DSL92246
https://www.sonoluminus.com/store/moonbow
N'esperez plus mes yeux - Airs sérieux et à boire Vol. 3 (Music by Guédron, Jeune, Moulinié, etc.)
Les Arts Florissants
William Christie (conductor)
Harmonia Mundi: HAF8905318
https://store.harmoniamundi.com/format/714608-nesprez-plus-mes-yeux-airs-srieux-et-boire-vol-3
10.40am – Harriet Smith on Chamber Music
Weinberg: Piano Quintet Op. 18
Elisaveta Blumina (piano)
Bruno Delepelaire (cello)
Elisaveta Blumina (piano)
Máté Szücs (viola)
Noah Bendix-Balgley (violin)
Shanshan Yao (violin)
Oehms: OC487
Un Matin de Printemps (Music by Boulanger, Ravel and Saint-Saëns)
Trio Helios
Mirare: MIR564
Labor: Sonatas for Violin and Cello
Nina Karmon (violin)
Floris Mijnders (cello)
Premysl Vojta (horn)
Oliver Triendl (piano)
Capriccio; C5430
http://capriccio.at/josef-labor-1842-1924-Sonatas
Johannes Brahms: Clarinet Sonatas & Ernste Gesänge
Julian Bliss (clarinet)
James Baillieu (piano)
Signum: SIGCD671
https://signumrecords.com/product/16918/SIGCD671/
Brahms & Gernsheim: Piano Quartets Vol. 1
Mariani Klavierquartett
Audax Records: ADX13780
https://www.audax-records.fr/adx13780
11.20am – Record of the Week
Handel: Rodelinda
The English Concert
Harry Bicket (director)
Linn: CKD658
Broadcast
- Sat 8 May 202109:00BBC Radio 3
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