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Building a Library on the works of Jan Dismas Zelenka with Hannah French and Andrew McGregor

Hannah French surveys the works and recordings of Jan Dismas Zelenka and chooses her favourite, plus Joanna MacGregor reviews new discs of piano music with Andrew McGregor.

9.30 Building a Library
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.

10.45
Joanna MacGregor reviews new discs of piano music with Andrew McGregor.

11.20
Record of the Week
Andrew recommends an outstanding new release.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Violin Sonata in C minor, BWV 1024: I. Adagio

    Performer: Chouchane Siranossian. Performer: Balázs Máté. Director: Leonardo García Alarcón.
    • Bach Before Bach.
    • Alpha.
    • 7.
  • Alexander Gretchaninov

    All-Night Vigil Op.59 (Bless the Lord, O My Soul)

    Choir: Latvian Radio Choir. Conductor: Sigvards Kļava.
    • Grechaninov: All-Night Vigil, Op. 59.
    • Ondine.
    • 1.
  • Astor Piazzolla

    Concierto para bandoneon: II. Moderato

    Performer: William Sabatier. Orchestra: Orchestre Dijon Bourgogne. Conductor: Leonardo García Alarcón.
    • Piazzolla: Concertos.
    • Fuga Libera.
    • 2.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: III. Rondo. Vivace (1808 version)

    Performer: Gianluca Cascioli. Ensemble: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 6.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 3.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Apres un reve, op. 7 no. 1

    Composer: Gabriel Fauré. Performer: Gianluca Cascioli. Performer: Christian-Pierre La Marca. Performer: Nathanaël Gouin. Music Arranger: Stephane Gassot. Music Arranger: Christian-Pierre La Marca. Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Ensemble: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Wonderful World.
    • Naive.
    • 1.
  • Sofia Gubaidulina

    Dialog: Ich und Du

    Performer: Vadim Repin. Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • Sofia Gubaidulina: Dialog: Ich und Du.
    • DG.
    • 1.
  • Gabriel Fauré

    Theme & Variations, Op. 73

    Performer: Imogen Cooper.
    • Le Temps Perdu.
    • Chandos.
    • 15.
  • Franz Schubert

    Fantasie in F minor for piano duet, D940: I. Allegro molto moderato

    Performer: Martha Argerich. Performer: Gabriela Montero.
    • Rendez-Vous With Martha Argerich - Volume 2.
    • Avanti.
    • 5.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, Op. 47 'Kreutzer': III. Finale. Presto.

    Performer: Tedi Papavrami. Performer: Martha Argerich.
    • Rendez-Vous With Martha Argerich - Volume 2.
    • Avanti.
    • 4.
  • Federico Mompou

    Musica callada: No. 1 Angelico & No. 25 (untitled)

    Performer: Lilit Grigoryan.
    • Mompou: Musica Callada.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 1.
  • Anton Bruckner

    Symphony No. 7 in E Major: I. Allegro Moderato

    Orchestra: Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Bruckner: Symphony No. 7.
    • Challenge Classics.
    • 1.

Record Review


9.00am

Bach Before Bach – Music by Bach, Farina, Muffat, Walther & Westhoff

Chouchane Siranossian

Leonardo García Alarcón

Balazs Maté

Alpha Alpha758

https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/Bach-Before-Bach-ALPHA758

Alexander Grechaninov: All-Night Vigil

Latvian Radio Chorus

Sigvards Klava (conductor)

Ondine ODE 1397-2

https://www.ondine.net/?lid=en&cid=998&oid=6796

Piazzolla: Concertos

William Sabatier

Emilie Aridon-Kociolek

Orchestre Dijon Bourgogne

Leonardo García Alarcón

Fuga Libera FUG790

https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/Piazzolla-Concertos-FUG790

Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 6

Gianluca Cascioli (piano)

Ensemble Resonanz

Riccardo Minasi (conductor)

Harmonia Mundi HMM902422

https://store.harmoniamundi.com/format/853794-beethoven-piano-concertos-nos-4-op-58-6-op-61a

9.30am – Building a Library – Hannah French’s Zelenka Survey

Recommended Recording:

Zelenka: Officium defunctorum & Requiem

Hana Blažíková (soprano), Markéta Cukrová (alto), Sebastian Monti (tenor), Tomáš Král (bass), Marian Krejcik (bass)

Collegium 1704 & Collegium Vocale 1704

Václav Luks (director)

Accent ACC24244

Other recommendations:

Thomas Hengelbrock conducts Zelenka, Bach & Lotti

Balthasar Neumann Ensemble & Choir,

Thomas Hengelbrock (director)

Deutsche HM 88697594232

Anima Aeterna

Jakub Józef Orliński (countertenor)

Il Pomo d’Oro

Francesco Corti (director)

Erato 9029674390

Zelenka: Solo Motets

Alex Potter (counter-tenor)

Capriccio Basel Baroque Orchestra

Dominik Kiefer (director)

Pan Classics PC10274

Zelenka: Capriccios Nos. 1-5 & other orchestra works

Camerata Bern

Alexander van Wijnkoop (director)

DG Archiv 4698422

Zelenka: Trio Sonatas Nos. 1-6

Zefiro

Arcana A394

Zelenka: Sonatas

Monica Huggett (baroque violin)

Ensemble Marsyas

Linn CKD415

Zelenka: Hipocondrie à 7 concertanti in A major, ZWV187, etc.

Freiburger Barockorchester

Deutsche HM 74321935532

Zelenka: Italian Arias, ZWV176

Hana Blazíková (soprano)

Markéta Cukrová (alto) & Tomás Selc (bass-baritone)

Ensemble Tourbillon

Petr Wagner (director)

Accent ACC24306

Zelenka: De Profundis/Miserere/Requiem

Il Fondamento Choir

Peter De Groot

Peter Kooij

Ian Honeyman

Il Fondamento

Griet Cornelies

Paul Dombrecht (director)

PAS9528

Zelenka: Psalmi Vespertini III

Prague Baroque Soloists

Ensemble Inegal

Adam Viktora (director)

Nibiru 01642231

Zelenka: Missa Nativitatis Domini

Barbora Sojková (soprano)

Markéta Cukrová (alto)

Tomáš Král (bass)

Musica Florea (on period instruments)

Marek Štryncl (director)

Supraphon SU41112

10.15am – New Releases

Wonderful World – Music byFauré, Gershwin, Glass, Say, Strauss, etc.

Christian-Pierre La Marca (cello)

Naive V7362 (2 CDs)

https://www.naiverecords.com/christianpierre-la-marca

Monteverdi: Daylight. Stories of Songs, Dances and Loves

Concerto Italiano

Rinaldo Alessandrini (director)

Naive OP7366

https://www.naiverecords.com/concerto-italiano?rq=Concerto%20Italiano

Bryars & Pitts: Burden of Truth

The Song Company, Gavin Bryars & Antony Pitts (conductors)

1EqualMusic 1EMBOT (download only)

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_1EMBOT

Sofia Gubaidulina: Dialog: Ich und Du, The Wrath of God & The Light of the End

Vadim Repin (violin)

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Andris Nelsons (conductor)

DG 4861457

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/gubaidulina-nelsons-repin-12472

10.40am Joanna McGregor’s Pianists

Rendez-Vous With Martha Argerich - Volume 2
Martha Argerich (piano)

Avanti AVA10632 (6 CDs)

https://www.avanticlassic.com/releases/317a5a0c-47d9-4f93-bbb2-c3bbd14b6d03

Le Temps Perdu

Imogen Cooper (piano)

Chandos CHAN 20235

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2020235

Mompou: Musica Callada

Lilit Grigoryan (piano)

Orchid Classics ORC100178

https://www.orchidclassics.com/releases/orc100178-lilit-grigoryan-plays-mompou/

Cziffra: Complete Studio Recordings

Georges Cziffra (piano)

Erato 9029672924 (41CDs)

https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/georges-cziffra

Chansons Populaires – Music by Bartok, Desyatnikov & Tchaikovsky

Lukas Geniušas (piano)

Mirare MIR440

http://smarturl.it/LukasGeniusas?fbclid=IwAR1gUHnpHTvizYqYt7RBRqRoKXrR3czqI-XjT22X0wb0I1x8Afiu-pG1ErI

11.20am – Record of the Week

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra

Bernard Haitink (conductor)

Challenge Classics CC72895

https://www.challengerecords.com/products/16268803040781

Broadcast

  • Sat 6 Nov 202109:00

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