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Episode details

Radio 3,14 Feb 2026,119 mins

Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 in Building a Library with Kathryn Stott and Andrew McGregor

Record Review

Available for 25 days

Andrew McGregor with the best new classical releases, joined by guest reviewers Lucy Parham and Kathryn Stott. 1410 Pianist Lucy Parham talks through her pick of the week's new releases. 1500 Building a Library: especially for Valentine's Day, pianist Kathryn Stott surveys recordings of Rachmaninov's lushly romantic Piano Concerto No. 2 and picks her favourite. The concerto symbolises both personal and artistic rebirth for the composer after years spent in deep depression. Its second movement inspired Eric Carmen’s pop ballad “All by Myself,” and also features in film scores, most famously the 1945 romance Brief Encounter. Top choice: Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano), Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Kirill Kondrashin (cond.) Decca Legends 4663752 c.1545 Record of the Week Andrew picks his favourite new release of the week.

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Tracklist

  1. Track
    Artist
  2. 1.
    Mache dich, mein Geist, bereit (Cantata BWV 115)
    Mache dich, mein Geist, bereit (Cantata BWV 115)
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  3. 2.
    Piano Quintet in D minor (1st mvt)
    Piano Quintet in D minor (1st mvt)
    Frank Martin
  4. 3.
    3 Romances Op.22 (Nos. 2 & 3)
    3 Romances Op.22 (Nos. 2 & 3)
    Clara Schumann