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Debussy's La mer in Building a Library with Flora Willson and Andrew McGregor

Flora Willson chooses her favourite recording of Debussy's La mer, plus new Baroque vocal releases with Simon Heighes.

9.30 am
Building a Library
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".

10.40 am
New Baroque vocal releases with Simon Heighes.

11.20 am
Record of the Week
An exceptional new release.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Anon.

    Nina y Vina

    Ensemble: Accademia del Piacere. Director: Fahmi Alqhai.
    • Colombina. Music for the Dukes of Medina Sidonia.
    • Deutsche HM.
    • 14.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Cello Sonata No. 4 in C major, Op 102 No 1:

    Performer: Roel Dieltiens. Performer: Andreas Staier.
    • Beethoven: Cello Sonatas, Op 102 - Bagatelles, Opp 119 & 126.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.
  • John Ireland

    Satyricon

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • John Ireland: Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.
  • Isaac Albéniz

    Iberia, T 105, Cahier 1: II. El puerto

    Performer: Nelson Goerner.
    • Albéniz: Iberia.
    • Alpha.
    • 2.
  • Anonymous

    Muy crueles bozes dan

    Ensemble: Accademia del Piacere. Director: Fahmi Alqhai.
    • Colombina. Music for the Dukes of Medina Sidonia.
    • Deutsche HM.
    • 9.
  • Edvard Grieg

    Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, Op 65 No 6

    Performer: Peter Donohoe.
    • Edvard Grieg: Lyric Pieces.
    • Chandos.
    • 23.
  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Il quarto libro de madrigali, 1603: I. Ah dolente partita, SV 75 & II. Cor moi, mentre vi miro, SV 76

    Choir: Collegium Vocale Gent. Conductor: Philippe Herreweghe.
    • Monteverdi: Il quarto libro de madrigali.
    • PHI.
    • 1.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Concerto no.1 in D minor, Op.15: 3) Rondo

    Performer: Leon Fleisher. Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Pierre Monteux.
    • Doremi.
  • Steve Reich

    Reich / Richter: Opening

    Ensemble: Ensemble intercontemporain. Conductor: George Jackson.
    • Reich/Richter.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 1.
  • Nicolaus Bruhns

    Paratum cor meum

    Ensemble: Yale Institute of Sacred Music. Director: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • Bis.
  • Johann David Heinichen

    Magnificat

    Choir: Ensemble Polyharmonique. Orchestra: Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Jaroslaw Thiel.
    • Accent.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht

    Ensemble: La Chapelle Harmonique. Conductor: Valentin Tournet.
    • Chateau de Versailles Spectacles.
  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Pimpinone: Wilde Hummel! Boser

    Ensemble: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: Georg Kallweit.
    • CPO.
  • Johann Daniel Pucklitz

    Oratorio Secondo: Erwunschte Todesstunden

    Ensemble: Goldberg Baroque Ensemble. Conductor: Andrzej Szadejko.
    • MDG.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet No 15 in A minor, Op 132: III. Heiliger Dankgesang

    Ensemble: Ehnes Quartet.
    • Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15, Op. 132, String Quartet No. 16, Op. 135.
    • Onyx.
    • 3.

Record Review

The link below each recording takes you directly to the label’s website. Please be aware that non-UK labels may be cheaper via a record store or an online retailer.

9.00am

Colombina. Music for the Dukes of Medina Sidonia – music by Enrique, Obrecht, anon., etc.

Accademia del Piacere

Fahmi Alqhai

Deutsche HM G010004786034V

http://www.accademiadelpiacere.es/discography/?lang=en

Beethoven: Cello Sonatas, Op. 102 - Bagatelles, Opp. 119 & 126

Andreas Staier (fortepiano)

Roel Dieltiens (cello)

Harmonia Mundi HMM902429

https://store.harmoniamundi.com/format/1046540-beethoven-cello-sonatas-op-102-bagatelles-opp-119-126

John Ireland: Orchestral Works

Sinfonia of London

John Wilson

Chandos CHSA 5293 (Hybrid SACD)

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%205293

Albéniz: Iberia

Nelson Goerner (piano)

Alpha ALPHA829

https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/albeniz-iberia

9.30am - Building A Library: Flora Willson on Debussy’s La mer

Recommended Recording:

Les Siècles

François-Xavier Roth

Actes Sud ASM10

https://www.actes-sud.fr/node/44598

Other recommendations:

(1964 recording)

Berliner Philharmoniker

Herbert von Karajan

DG E4474262

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/debussy-la-mer-ravel-bolero-karajan-6346

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel

DG 4791550

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/debussy-stravinsky-dudamel-la-phil-live-7512

10.15am – new releases

Edvard Grieg: Lyric Pieces, Vol. 1

Peter Donohoe (piano)

Chandos CHAN 20254

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2020254

Monteverdi: Il quarto libro de madrigali

Collegium Vocale Gent

Philippe Herreweghe

PHI LPH037

https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/monteverdi-il-quarto-libro-de-madrigali

Johannes Brahms; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concertos With Leon Fleisher, Vol. 2

Leon Fleisher (piano)

Concertgebouw Orchestra

Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

Pierre Monteux

Bruno Walter

Doremi DHR-8160

Steve Reich: Reich/Richter

Ensemble Intercontemporain

George Jackson

Nonesuch 7559791189

https://www.nonesuch.com/albums/reich-richter

10.40am – New Releases: Simon Heighes on baroque vocal recordings

Nicolaus Bruhns: Cantatas and Organ Works, Vol. 1

Yale Institute of Sacred Music

Masaaki Suzuki

BIS BIS2271 (Hybrid SACD)

https://bis.se/conductors/suzuki-masaaki/nicolaus-bruhns-cantatas-and-organ-works-vol1

Johann David Heinichen: Dresden Vespers

Ensemble Polyharmonique

Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra

Jaroslaw Thiel

Accent ACC24381

https://www.propermusic.com/acc24381-johann-david-heinichen-dresden-vespers.html

Bach: Motets

La Chapelle Harmonique

Valentin Tournet

Château de Versailles Spectacles CVS067

https://tickets.chateauversailles-spectacles.fr/uk/merchandising/38383/cvs067-cd-bach-motets

Telemann: Pimpinone

Marie-Sophie Pollak (soprano)

Dominik Köninge (baritone)

Akademie Für Alte Musik Berlin

Georg Kallweit

CPO 555394-2

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/cpo/detail/-/art/georg-philipp-telemann-pimpinone/hnum/10781841

Johann Daniel Pucklitz: Oratorio Secondo

Goldberg Baroque Ensemble

Goldberg Vocal Ensemble

MDG MDG9022241 (2 Hybrid SACDs)

https://www.propermusic.com/mdg9022241-johann-daniel-pucklitz-oratorio-secondo.html

11.20am – Record of the Week

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15, Op. 132, String Quartet No. 16, Op. 135

Ehnes Quartet

Onyx ONYX4227

https://onyxclassics.com/release/beethoven-string-quartet-no-15-op-132-string-quartet-no-16-op-135/

Broadcast

  • Sat 11 Jun 202209:00

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