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Handel's Water Music in Building a Library with Hannah French and Andrew McGregor

Hannah French finds the definitive recording of Handel's ever-popular Water Music, plus new releases selected by pianist Steven Osborne.

Hannah French finds the definitive recording of Handel's ever-popular Water Music, plus new releases selected by pianist Steven Osborne.

Presented by Andrew McGregor.

9.30am
Steven Osborne joins Andrew in the studio with a selection of his favourite new releases of the week.

10.30am
Hannah French has been listening to a wide range of recordings - old and new - of Handel's festive Water Music, whittling them down until she can herald the ultimate version to buy, download or stream.

11.15am
Record of the Week
Andrew's pick of the best of the best from the last seven days.

2 hours, 47 minutes

Music Played

  • Ottorino Respighi

    Antiche danze ed arie Suite No 2, P 138: Bergamasca

    Orchestra: Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège. Conductor: John Neschling.
    • Respighi: The Birds & Ancient Dances and Airs.
    • BIS.
    • 404.
  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Dialogue for Piano and Orchestra: II. Allegro moderato

    Performer: Martin Jones. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: John Andrews.
    • Dialogue for Piano and Orchestra: II. Allegro moderato.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 1.
  • Richard Wagner

    Prelude and Liebestod from 'Tristan und Isolde': Liebestod

    Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jakub Hrůša.
    • Liebestod - Wagner; Mahler; Strauss.
    • Accentus.
    • 2.
  • Jörg Widmann

    Clarinet Quintet (extract)

    Performer: Jörg Widmann. Ensemble: Hagen Quartett.
    • Myrios.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Rite of Spring: Part One (extract)

    Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Klaus Mäkelä.
    • Decca.
  • Theodor Kirchner

    10 Songs, Op.1: 7) Der Mond und Sie

    Performer: Edward Rushton. Singer: Kathrin Hottiger.
    • Prospero.
  • Claude Debussy

    Ariettes oubliees: C'est l'extase

    Performer: Edward Rushton. Singer: Kathrin Hottiger.
    • Prospero.
  • Maurice Ravel

    l'Enfant et les sortileges (extract)

    Conductor: Lorin Maazel. Orchestra: French National Radio Orchestra.
    • DG.
  • John Blow

    Venus and Adonis: Overture

    Singer: Tim Mead. Ensemble: La Nuova Musica. Conductor: David Bates.
    • Beauteous Softness.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 501.
  • Henry Purcell

    In the black dismal dungeon of despair, Z 190

    Singer: Tim Mead. Conductor: David Bates. Ensemble: La Nuova Musica.
    • Beauteous Softness.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 106.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    String Quartet No 5 in E flat major, Op 44 No 3: II. Scherzo. Assai leggiero vivace

    • Mendelssohn: String Quartets.
    • Linn.
    • 6.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Sonata No 11 in A Major, K 331: III. Alla turca

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
    • Beethoven: Complete Variations for Piano, Vol. 1.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 129.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    6 Variations in D Major, Op 76: Theme. Allegro risoluto

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
    • Beethoven: Complete Variations for Piano, Vol. 1.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 130.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    6 Variations in D Major, Op 76: Variation I

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
    • Beethoven: Complete Variations for Piano, Vol. 1.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 131.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    6 Variations in D Major, Op 76: Variation II

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
    • Beethoven: Complete Variations for Piano, Vol. 1.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 132.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    6 Variations in D Major, Op 76: Variation III

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
    • Beethoven: Complete Variations for Piano, Vol. 1.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 133.
  • Ludwig Daser

    Missa Praeter rerum seriem: I. Kyrie

    Ensemble: Huelgas Ensemble. Conductor: Paul Van Nevel.
    • Ludwig Daser: Polyphonic Masses.
    • Deutsche HM.
    • 1.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    6 Variations in D Major, Op 76: Variation IV

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
    • Beethoven: Complete Variations for Piano, Vol. 1.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 134.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    6 Variations in D Major, Op 76: Variation V

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
    • Beethoven: Complete Variations for Piano, Vol. 1.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 135.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 9 in E flat major, Op 70: Presto - Largo - Allegretto - Pochissimo animato - Allegro

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Kirill Petrenko.
    • Shostakovich's Symphonies 8, 9, 10.
    • Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • 8.

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

Respighi: The Birds & Ancient Dances and Airs

Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège

John Neschling

BIS BIS2540 (Hybrid SACD)

https://bis.se/conductors/neschling-john/respighi-the-birds-ancient-dances-and-airs

Maconchy, Lutyens & Wallen: Works for Piano and Orchestra

Martin Jones (piano)

Rebeca Omordia (piano)

BBC Concert Orchestra

John Andrews

Resonus Classics RES10315

https://www.resonusclassics.com/products/maconchy-lutyens-wallen-works-for-piano-and-orchestra

Anti-Melancholicus: J.S. Bach Cantatas

Alia Mens

Olivier Spilmont

Paraty PTY2522057

http://paraty.fr/en/portfolio/anti-melancholicus-2/

Liebestod - Wagner; Mahler; Strauss

Bamberger Symphoniker

Jakub Hrůša

Accentus ACC30599

https://accentus.com/discs/liebestod-wagner-mahler-strauss/

09.30am – Steven Osborne: New Releases

Trio Brax – music by Habbestad, Lund, Iberg, Hindemith

Trio Brax

Lawo LWC1248

https://lawostore.no/cd/rokkones-ola-asdahl-tenor-saxophone-neher-julia-viola-osadchuk-sergej-piano-trio-brax-25092

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring & Firebird

Orchestre de Paris

Klaus Mäkelä

Decca 4853946

https://www.deccaclassics.com/en/catalogue/products/stravinsky-the-rite-of-spring-the-firebird-klaus-maekelae-12914

Mozart, Widmann: Clarinet Quintets

Jörg Widmann (clarinet)

Hagen Quartett (string quartet)

Myrios MYR031

https://myriosmusic.com/products/myr031-mozart-widmann-clarinet-quintets

Mon amie la lune. Lieder by Grieg, Debussy, Kirchner & Maurice

Kathrin Hottiger (soprano)

Edward Rushton (piano)

Prospero PROSP11317

https://prospero-classical.com/album/kathrin-hottiger-edward-rushton-mon-amie-la-lune/

Steven Osborne: On Repeat

Ravel: L'enfant et les Sortileges & L'heure Espagnole

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Orchestre National de la RTF

Berliner Philharmoniker

Lorin Maazel

Deutsche Grammophon E4497692

Listener On Repeat

Hommage A Fritz Kreisler – music by Kreisler, Dvořák, Tchaikovsky, etc.

Barnabas Keleman (violin)

Zoltán Kocsis (piano)

BMC BMC250

https://bmcrecords.hu/albumok/barnabas-kelemen-zoltan-kocsis-hommage-a-fritz-kreisler

10.10am – New Releases

Beauteous Softness – music by Blow, Purcell, Webb, etc.

Tim Mead (countertenor)

La Nuova Musica

David Bates

Pentatone PTC5187047

https://www.pentatonemusic.com/product/beauteous-softness/

Mendelssohn: String Quartets

Consone Quartet

Linn CKD716

https://www.linnrecords.com/recording-mendelssohn-string-quartet-e-flat-major-1823-string-quartet-e-flat-major-op-44-no-3

10.30am – Building a Library: Hannah French on Handel’s Water Music

Recommended recording:

Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin

Georg Kallweit

Harmonia Mundi HMC902216

Other recommendations:

FestspielOrchester Göttingen

Laurence Cummings

Accent ACC26407

Le Concert Spirituel

Hervé Niquet

Glossa GCD921616 (Hybrid SACD)

11:15 am

Variation[s] 1: Beethoven – inc. music by Mozart, Schumann, Webern

Cédric Tiberghien (piano)

Harmonia Mundi HMM90243334 (2 CDs)

Ludwig Daser: Polyphonic Masses

Huelgas Ensemble

Paul Van Nevel

Deutsche HM G010004950859B

11.25am – Record of the Week

Shostakovich’s Symphonies 8, 9, 10

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko

Berliner Philharmoniker BPHR220421 (2 CDs & Blu-ray)

https://www.berliner-philharmoniker-recordings.com/shostakovich.html

Broadcast

  • Sat 25 Mar 202309:00

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