Rachmainov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with Marina Frolova-Walker and Andrew McGregor
Marina Frolova-Walker chooses her favourite recording of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, plus Joseph McHardy reviews new discs of baroque music with Andrew McGregor.
9.30 Building a Library
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.
10.45
Harpsichordist and choral conductor Joseph McHardy reviews new discs of baroque music with Andrew.
11.20
Record of the Week
Andrew recommends an outstanding new release.
Last on
Music Played
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
2 Pieces, Op. 10, TH 132: No. 1, Nocturne
Performer: Barry Douglas.- Tchaikovsky Plus One, Vol. 3.
- Chandos.
- 6.
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Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto in B minor for Violin RV386
Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Ensemble: Benedetti Baroque Orchestra.- Baroque.
- Decca.
- 8.
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Johannes Brahms
Cello Sonata No. 2 in F Major, Op. 99: II. Adagio affettuoso
Performer: Emmanuelle Bertrand. Performer: Pascal Amoyel.- Johannes Brahms: Sonatas & Liebeslieder For Cello and Piano.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 11.
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Béla Bartók
44 Duos for Violin: Pizzicato, Scherzo & Serbian Dance
Performer: Airi Yoshioka. Singer: Susan Botti. Ensemble: Duo della Luna.- Mangetsu.
- New Focus Recordings.
- 10.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sinfonia concertante in E flat for Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon & Orchestra, K297b: III. Andantino con variazioni
Performer: Emmanuel Pahud. Performer: Radovan Vlatković. Performer: Gilbert Audin. Performer: François Leleux. Orchestra: Orchestre de chambre de Paris.- Mozart & Flute in Paris.
- Warner Classics.
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Jocelyn Pook
We Rode and We Rode
Singer: Lorin Sklamberg. Singer: Melanie Pappenheim.- Drawing Life: Remembering Terezin.
- Humming Records.
- 1.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 "Eroica" (Arr. F.X. Scharwenka for Piano
Ensemble: Tessa Uys. Ensemble: Ben Schoeman.- Beethoven Symphonies, Vol. 1.
- SOMM Recordings.
- 3.
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Gustav Mahler
The Sound Of The Earth
Composer: Xiaogang Ye. Performer: Shanghai Municipal Committee Band. Singer: Shenyang. Singer: Liping Zhang. Singer: Michelle DeYoung. Singer: Brian Jagde.- Mahler: & Xiaogang Ye:The Song of the Earth.
- DG.
Record Review
9.00am
Tchaikovsky Plus One Vol. 3
Barry Douglas (piano)
Chandos CHAN20160
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2020160
Baroque – Music by Vivaldi and Geminiani
Nicola Benedetti (violin)
Benedetti Baroque Orchestra
Decca 4851891
https://shop.decca.com/*/*/Baroque/6ZQK0000000
Johannes Brahms: Sonatas & Liebeslieder For Cello and Piano
Emmanuelle Bertrand (cello)
Pascal Amoyel (piano)
Harmonia Mundi HMM902329
Mangetsu – Music by Botti, Bartok, Dusman, etc
Susan Botti (voice)
Airi Yoshioka (violin)
Duo Della Lana
New Focus Recordings FCR305
https://newfocusrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/mangetsu
9.30am – Building a Library – Marina Frolova-Walker on Rachmaninov Paganini Rhapsody
Recommended Recording:
Daniil Trifonov (piano)
Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor)
DG 4794970
Historic Choice:
William Kapell (piano)
Philadelphia Robin Hood Dell Orchestra
William Steinberg (conductor)
Naxos 8110692
Other recommendations:
Behzod Abduraimov (piano)
Luzerner Sinfonieorchester
James Gaffigan (conductor)
Sony 19075981622
10.15am – New Releases
Mozart & Flute in Paris
Emmanuel Pahud (flute)
Orchestre de chambre de Paris
François Leleux (conductor)
Warner Classics 9029673932 (2 CDs)
https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/mozart-flute-paris
Drawing Life: Remembering Terezin
Melanie Pappenheim (soprano)
Lorin Sklamberg (vocalist)
Jocelyn Pook (director)
Humming Records HUM001CD
https://www.musicglue.com/jocelyn-pook/
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonies for Piano Duo, Vol.1
Tessa Uys, Ben Schoeman (piano duo)
Somm SOMMCD0637
https://somm-recordings.com/recording/beethoven-symphonies-volume-1/
10.40am – Joseph McHardy Baroque and Choral
Con Arte e Maestria – Music by Webber, Gabrieli, Palestrina
Oliver Webber (violin)
Steven Devine (harpsichord)
Resonus Classics RES10282
JS Bach: Goldberg Variations
Samuele Telari (accordion)
Delphian DCD34257
https://www.delphianrecords.com/products/j-s-bach-goldberg-variations
Fux: Dafne in Lauro
Monica Piccinini (Diana/soprano)
Arianna Vendittelli (Dafne/soprano)
Sonia Tedla Chebreab (Amore/soprano)
Rafaelle Pe (Apollo/countertenor)
Valerio Contaldo (Mercurio/tenor)
Zefiro (ensemble)
Alfredo Bernardini (conductor)
Arcana A488 (2 CDs)
https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/Fux-Dafne-in-lauro-A488
Isaac: Missa Wohlauff gut Gsell von hinnen & other works
Cinquecento
Hyperion CDA68337
https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68337
Monteverdi: L’Orfeo
Johan Linderoth (Orfeo/tenor)
Ensemble Lundabarock
Höör Barock
Ensemble Altapunta
Fredrik Malmberg (director)
BIS BIS2519 (2 Hybrid SACDs)
https://bis.se/conductors/malmberg-fredrik/monteverdi-lorfeo
11.20am – Record of the Week
Mahler: & Xiaogang Ye:The Song of the Earth
Michelle DeYoung (mezzo-soprano)
Brian Jagde (tenor)
Liping Zhang (soprano)
Shenyang (bass-baritone)
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
Long Yu (conductor)
DG 4837452 (2 CDs)
https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/the-song-of-the-earth-long-yu-11680
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- Sat 24 Jul 202109:00BBC Radio 3
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