CD Review

Saturday 20th November 2010 (starting tomorrow morning)
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Helen Wallace with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Chopin's Sonata in G minor for cello and piano. 10.30 Andrew talks to Geoffrey Smith about some recent opera releases including Richard Strauss Ariadne on Naxos (in English) from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Richard Armstrong with Christine Brewer in the title role; a 1981 Covent Garden performance of Mozart's Cosi fan tutte with Kiri te Kanawa and Tom Allen conducted by Colin Davis; Verdi's Otello, also with Davis, with the London Symphony Orchestra, Simon O'Neill, Gerald Finley and Anne Schwanewilms; and Gounod's Faust from Vienna with Piotr Beczala and Soile Isokoski conducted by Bertrand de Billy. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No 4. Leif Ove Andsnes (piano), London Symphony Orchestra/Antonio Pappano.

Saturday 27th November 2010 (starting tomorrow morning)
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Richard Wigmore recommends a recording of Hugo Wolf's Morike Lieder. 10.30 Canadian pianist Louis Lortie talks about his recently completed Beethoven sonata series. 11.40 Disc of the Week - Bellini's I Puritani in the newly released 1960 Glyndebourne Festival recording starring the young Joan Sutherland and conducted by Vittorio Gui.

Saturday 4th December 2010
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Annual Critics' Round-Up: Three of the programme's regular reviewers join Andrew to discuss some of the most interesting or important releases of the year. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Beethoven: Symphony No 6 (Pastoral). Budapest Festival Orchestra/Ivan Fischer.

Saturday 11th December 2010
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Iain Burnside with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Beethoven's Piano Sonata in E flat, Op 7. 10.30 Andrew talks to conductor Vasily Petrenko about working with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and beginning to record a Shostakovich symphony cycle. 11.45 Disc of the Week - Martinu: Le Jour de Bonte (The Day of Charity). Soloists, Prague Chamber Choir, Pilsen Philharmonic/Milan Kanak.

Saturday 18th December 2010
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: An update on the Monteverdi Vespers of 1610. Simon Heighes discusses some recent recordings of this ever-popular choral work which 400 years ago bridged the Renassiance with the Baroque. Which is the recording to go for in this anniversary year? 10.20 Andrew talks to conductor Riccardo Chailly about his recent recordings of Bach with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. 11.05 New releases of Brahms Variations for piano from pianists including Garrick Ohlsson, Murray Perahia and Claire Desert. 11.55 Disc of the Week: Bach: Cantata No 61, BWV61 (Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland). The Bach Players.

Saturday 25th December 2010
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Andrew McGregor introduces a special Christmas Day edition, rounding up some of the year's new releases from composers celebrating their anniversary in 2010. Including 9.03 Pergolesi: Violin Concerto in B flat. Giuliano Carmignola (violin), Orchestra Mozart/Claudio Abbado. Mahler: Sehr behaglich (Symphony No 4). Sarah Fox (soprano), Philharmonia Orchestra/Charles Mackerras. Chopin: Polonaise-fantasie in A flat, Op 61. Nelson Goerner (piano). 9.40 Barber: Andante sostenuto (Cello Concerto). Zara Nelsova (cello), New Symphony Orchestra of London/Samuel Barber. Barber: Violin Concerto. Vadim Gluzman (violin), Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra/John Neschling. Chopin: Mazurkas (selection). Cedric Tiberghien (piano). 10.30 Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (excerpts). Hilde Rossel-Majdan (mezzo-soprano), Waldemar Kmentt (tenor), Vienna Philharmonic/Rafael Kubelik. Schumann: Symphony No 4 in D minor, Op 120. Robert Schumann Philharmonie/Frank Beermann. Pergolesi: Stabat Mater (excerpts). Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano), Robin Blaze (countertenor), Anna Prohaska (soprano), Bernarda Fink (mezzo-soprano), Florilegium, Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin/Bernhard Forck. 11.40 Chopin: Scherzo in B flat minor, Op 31. Solomon (piano). Mahler: Allegro energico, ma non troppo (Symphony No 6). Vienna Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein.

Saturday 15th January 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: David Fanning compares the available recordings of Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio, Op 50 (In Memory of a Great Artist), written for his close friend and mentor Nikolai Rubinstein. 10.40 Andrew talks to countertenor Andreas Scholl about his new disc of music by Henry Purcell. 11.40 Disc of the Week - Schumann: Humoreske in B flat for piano, Op 20.

Saturday 29th January 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: David Owen Norris with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Liszt's Annees de Pelerinage (Book 2). 10.15 Martin Cotton introduces new recordings of orchestral music, including Prokofiev from Vladimir Ashkenazy and Hindemith from Lawrence Power. 11.45 Disc of the Week - Lutoslawski: Orchestral Works. BBC Symphony Orchestra/Edward Gardner.

Saturday 5th February 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: David Nice with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Berlioz's Romeo and Juliet. 10.30 Recent recordings by Bach and other members of his musical family. 11.45 Disc of the Week - Mahler: Symphony No 2 (Resurrection). Ricarda Merbeth (soprano), Bernarda Fink (mezzo-soprano), Netherlands Radio Choir, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Mariss Jansons.

Saturday 12th February 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library - Brahms: Four Serious Songs. Richard Wigmore recommends a recording of Brahms's swansong. 10.15 Edward Seckerson discusses important recent recordings of Mahler, including the Second Symphony (Resurrection) from the Berlin Philharmonic under Simon Rattle and Maris Jansons under the Royal Concertgebouw. There's also the chance to compare recordings of the Ninth Symphony from Claudio Abbado in Lucerne and David Zinman in Zurich and to hear the Fourth Symphony as played by the period instruments of Philippe Herreweghe's Orchestre des Champs Elysees. 11.45 Disc of the Week - Rossini: Stabat Mater. Anna Netrebko (soprano), Joyce DiDonato (mezzo-soprano), Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), Ildebrando D'Arcangelo (bass), Chorus and Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Ceciliade/Antonio Pappano.

Saturday 26th February 2011 (starting tomorrow morning)
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library - Bruckner Symphonies: Julian Johnson assesses some recent releases of recordings new and old including the Eighth symphony from Klaus Tennstedt with the Berlin Philharmonic, Rafael Kubelik with the Bavarian RSO and Christian Thielemann with the Dresden Staatskapelle. 10.45 Daniel Hope discusses his tribute recording to his fellow violinist, Joseph Joachim a mentor to the likes of Brahms, Schumann, Liszt and Max Bruch. 11.40 Disc of the Week - Mozart Keyboard Music (Vol 2). Kristian Bezuidenhout (fortepiano).

Saturday 2nd April 2011 (starting in 1 hour and 40 minutes)
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library - Bach: St John Passion. Simon Heighes recommends a recording. 10.30 Mozart keyboard works and symphonies. Nicholas Kenyon assesses some recent recordings including a budget priced set of the complete solo keyboard works. 11.40 Disc of the Week - Liszt: A Dante Symphony. Orchester Wiener Akademie/Martin Haselbock.

Saturday 9th April 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Roy Goodman gives a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Beethoven's violin concerto. 10.30 Piers Burton-Page joins Andrew to discuss newly-released box sets from the Melos Ensemble and the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Beethoven: Late piano sonatas. Alexei Lubimov (piano).

Saturday 16th April 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Prokofiev: Symphony No 6. Jonathan Swain recommends an available recording of this 'elegy of the tragedies of World War II'. 10.30 Jeremy Summerly looks at recent recordings of choral music from Iceland, Scandinavia and the Baltic States. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 1 and 3. Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Vasily Petrenko.

Saturday 7th May 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

9.30 Building a Library: Tomas Luis de Victoria on disc. 10.30 Chris de Souza discusses new Liszt recordings. 11.40 Disc of the Week - Delius: Appalachia and Delius: The Song of the High Hills. BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Andrew Davis.

Saturday 21st May 2011 (starting in 1 hour and 51 minutes)
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Stephen Johnson with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Schubert's Piano Trio in B flat, D898. 10.30 Andrew discusses recent opera recital discs with critic Warwick Thompson. He has been listening to new recordings from Rene Pape and Camilla Nyland, as well as newly-released archive recordings from Mirella Freni and Nicolai Ghiaurov. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Sonatas by Bartok, Strauss and Grieg. Vilde Frang (violin), Michail Lifits (piano).

Saturday 28th May 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Hilary Finch with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Britten's Serenade for tenor, horn and strings. 10.30 Pianist Iain Burnside with his thoughts on recent Chopin releases, including discs from Daniel Barenboim and Yundi Li. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Beethoven string quartets. Artemis Quartet.

Saturday 4th June 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Harriet Smith with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Beethoven's String Quartet in E flat, Op 74 (Harp). 10.30 Andrew talks to William Mival about recent Schoenberg releases, some of which have surprising couplings. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Liszt: Harmonies du soir. Nelson Freire (piano).

Saturday 11th June 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Richard Wigmore with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn. 10.30 Andrew talks to Sarah Lenton about recent releases of operas and oratorios by Handel on CD and DVD. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Violin Sonatas by Brahms, Schubert, Howard Ferguson, and Beethoven. Isaac Stern (violin), Myra Hess (piano). Recorded at the 1960 Edinburgh International Festival.

Saturday 2nd July 2011 (starting in 1 hour and 43 minutes)
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: David Vickers recommends a recording of Monteverdi's Selva morale e spirituale of 1641. 10.50 Paul Banks talks to Andrew about recent releases of music by Benjamin Britten, including Glyndebourne productions of Billy Budd and The Turn of the Screw. 11.55 Disc of the Week: Britten: Phaedra, Op 93. Sarah Connolly (mezzo), BBC Symphony Orchestra/Edward Gardner.

Saturday 9th July 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: David Nice recommends a recording of Bizet's L'Arlesienne. 10.45 Simon Heighes considers recent releases of baroque opera, including Pergolesi's L'Olimpiade and Cavalli's Artemisia. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Schubert: Symphony No 9 in C, D944 (Great) (excerpts). Budapest Festival Orchestra/Ivan Fischer.

Saturday 24th September 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Simon Heighes with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Purcell's The Fairy-Queen on CD and DVD. 10.45 Andrew talks to Chris de Souza about recent piano discs including concertos by Frederick Chopin, Mendelssohn and Somervell. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Bartok: Violin Concerto. James Ehnes (violin), BBC Philharmonic/Gianandrea Noseda.

Saturday 1st October 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Richard Osborne with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Bruckner's Symphony No 8. 10.15 Andrew explores some reissues of seminal vocal performances from, among others, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Elisabeth Soderstrom and Birgit Nilsson. 10.45 Andrew talks to Harriet Smith about recent chamber music releases, including the Ebene and Emerson Quartets playing Mozart. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Handel: Agrippina. Alexandrina Pendatchanska, Jennifer Rivera, Sunhae Im, Bejun Mehta, Marcos Fink, Neal Davies, Dominique Visse, Daniel Schmutzhard, Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin/Rene Jacobs.

Saturday 8th October 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

9.30 Building a Library: David Nice with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Tchaikovsky's opera The Queen of Spades. 10.45 Piers Burton-Page talks to Andrew about recent releases of music by Shostakovich and the man who is increasingly seen as one of the great Soviet composers - Mieczyslaw Weinberg. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Delius: Concertos. Tasmin Little (violin), Paul Watkins (cello), BBC Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Davis.

Saturday 15th October 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Stephen Johnson gives a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique. 10.45 Jeremy Summerly talks to Andrew about some recent releases of choral music covering a period of 500 years, including works by Palestrina and Dvorak. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Berlioz: Grande Messe des morts. Robert Murray (tenor), Ensemble Wroclaw, Gabrieli Consort and Players/Paul McCreesh.

I have the Davis/LSO Live version of Berlioz, so no need to go out and buy another. A fantastic recording.

Re. The Queen of Spades: I wonder if I can afford the Tchaikovsky Edition (Brilliant Classics) , all 60 cd's worth? Hmm....

Saturday 29th October 2011 (starting in 1 hour and 31 minutes)
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Rob Cowan makes a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Dvorak's Symphony No 8 in G. 10.15 Andrew talks to Richard Wigmore about newly-released CDs of Vivaldi including a disc of violin concertos from Federico Gugliemo, cello concertos from Jean-Guihen Queyras and a recording of the opera Farnace from Diego Fasolis. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Bach Complete Orchestral Suites. Freiburg Baroque Orchestra.

Saturday 5th November 2011 (starting in 1 hour and 36 minutes)
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: John Deathridge makes a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Beethoven's Symphony No 6 (Pastoral). 10.30 Andrew talks to Jessica Duchen about new piano concerto recordings, including Grieg and Liszt from Stephen Hough, Beethoven from Howard Shelley, and some less well-known works. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Josquin: Masses. The Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips.

Saturday 12th November 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Stephen Plaistow gives a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Faure's Nocturnes. 10.30 Andrew talks to Stephen Johnson about recent cycles of the Beethoven symphonies from Christian Thielemann and Riccardo Chailly. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Gluck's Ezio with Il Complesso Barocco conducted by Alan Curtis.

Saturday 19th November 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Jeremy Summerly makes a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Walton's Belshazzar's Feast. 10.30 As part of Radio 3's Symphony season, Andrew talks to William Mival about new releases of some seminal late 19th and early 20th-century symphonies. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Vivaldi: Concerti, Op 8. Pavlo Beznosiuk, The Avison Ensemble.

Saturday 3rd December 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Colin Lawson makes a personal recommendation for Brahms's Clarinet Quintet. 10.30 Andrew talks to Hilary Finch about recent song recital discs. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Liszt/Grieg - Piano Concertos. Stephen Hough (piano), Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra/Andrew Litton.

Saturday 10th December 2011
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Sarah Lenton makes a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Handel's Giulio Cesare in Egitto. 10.30 Andrew talks to Ivan Hewett about new releases of a variety of choral repertoire. 11.35 Disc of the Week: Schubert: Sonatas; Impromptus; Klavierstucke. Paul Lewis (piano).

Saturday 7th January 2012
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Richard Wigmore gives a personal recommendation from recordings of Haydn's Op 33 String Quartets. Andrew talks to Geoffrey Smith about new opera recordings on DVD including Ponchielli's La Gioconda, Bizet's Carmen and Stravinsky's Rake's Progress. 11.40 Berlioz: Harold in Italy; Les nuits d'ete. Anne Sofie von Otter (violin), Les Musiciens du Louvre/Marc Minkowski.

Today:

Martin Cotton with a personal recommendation from recordings of Elgar's Violin Concerto. Andrew talks to Geoffrey Norris about new piano releases, including discs by Vladimir Ashkenazy and Fazil Say. 11.40 Disc of the Week. Shostakovich: Symphony No 15. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conductor Bernard Haitink.

Today:

9.30 Building a Library: Stephen Walsh with a personal recommendation from recordings of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition (orchestral version)
Andrew talks to Julian Johnson about new orchestral releases of music by Weber, Brahms, Schumann and Bruckner
11.40 Mozart/Michael Haydn
Duo Sonatas
Rachel Podger (violin)
Jane Rogers (viola).

La Bella Minuta - Florid Songs for Cornetto around 1600
IPPOLITO (TARTAGLINO): Canzon a 4 Susanna
MAYONE: Canzon francese quarta
GUAMI: L'Accorta; La Novellina; La Guamina; L'Armoniosa; La Brillantina; Canzon a 8 No. 25
PALESTRINA: Quanti mercenarij, Nigra sum sed formosa
DES PREZ: Mille Regretz
TRABACI: Consonanze stravaganti; Durezze et ligature; Canzone francese terza
BRUNELLI: O quam suavis
LUZZASCHI: O primavera
DE RORE: Ancor che co'l partire
BARBARINO: Per fulgeat
Bruce Dickey (cornetto); Liuwe Tamminga (organ); Claudia Pasetto, Leonardo Bortoletto and Alberto Rasi (viola da gamba); Maria Christina Cleary (harp)
PASSACAILLE PAS979 (CD)
Los Pajaros Perdidos – The South American Project
ANON. (Popular Argentina): Duerme Negrito
LUNA / RAMIREZ: Alfonsina y el Mar
ANON. (Popular Venezuela): Montilla; Pajarillo Verde; Caballo Viejo and Alma Llanera; Polo margariteno
ANON. (Trad. Paraguay): Pajaro Campana
TREJO / PIAZZOLLA: Los Pajaros perdidos
ANON. (Popular Paraguay): Isla Saca
RAMONES: La embarazada del viento
QUINTANA / AMBROS: Zamba para no morir
CABRAL: Ay ! este azul
PLAZA: El Currucha
RIVERA: La Cocoroba
NELLA CASTRO / HERRERA: Zamba del Chaguanco
RECHES / GLEIJER: Como un pajaro libre
WALSH: Como la Cigarra
OTAROLA: Ojito de Agua
SOLER: Fandango
VELASQUEZ: Besame mucho
Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor); Lucilla Galeazzi, Luciana Mancini and Vincenzo Capezzuto (voices); Racquel Andueza (soprano); L'Arpeggiata; Christina Pluhar (director)
VIRGIN CLASSICS 0709502 (CD) or 6785162 (CD + DVD)
Ferita D’Amore (Wounded by Love) - Music for Theorbo
CASTALDI: La follia; Capriccio bischizzoso; Lusinghevole passeggio; Furiosa; Fantasticaria detta Gioviale; Cecchina; Florida; Arpesca; Capriccio detto Cerimonioso; Dunque Clorida; Ferita d’amore; Capriccio svegliatoio; Tasteggio soave; Sonata I; Vissi allor; Mascherina
Evangelina Mascardi (theorbo); Monica Pustilnik (tiorbino); Marco Beasley (tenor)
ARCANA A368 (CD)
Himmels-Lieder - Sacred songs & cantatas
ERLEBACH: Kommt ihr Stunden;
HILDEBRAND: Der V. Krieges-Angst-Seufftzer Ach Gott!; Der VI. Krieges-Angst-Seufftzer Ach hochster Gott
SCHOP: Lachrimae Pavan
BOHM: Mein Herz tichtet ein feines Lied
FRANCK: Lass O Herr dein Ohr sich neigen
SWEELINCK: Engelsche Fortuyn / Von der Fortuna werd‘ ich getrieben
KRIEGER: Gedancken eines Sterbenden: Hier lieg ich in der Noth
YOUNG: Aria
CASATI: Pater noster
BERTALI: Sonata a 5
KOBELIUS: Ich furchte keinen Tod auf Erden
Franz Vitzthum (countertenor); Capricornus Consort Basel
CHRISTOPHORUS CHR77354 (CD)
9.30AM BUILDING A LIBRARY
Stephen Walsh surveys available recordings of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition (orchestrated by Ravel) and makes a recommendation
10.20AM NEW RELEASES
Beethoven - Piano Sonatas Vol. 1
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor Op. 10 No. 1; Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major Op. 22; Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major Op. 26 'March Funebre'; Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major Op. 81a 'Les Adieux'
Jonathan Biss (piano)
ONYX ONYX4082 (CD)
Beethoven – Sonatas Vol. 1
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 27 No. 2 ‘Moonlight'; Piano Sonata No. 9 in E major Op. 14 No. 1; Piano Sonata No. 10 in G major Op. 14 No. 2; Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major Op. 22; Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor Op. 13 'Pathetique'; Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor Op. 10 No. 1; Piano Sonata No. 6 in F major Op. 10 No. 2; Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major Op. 10 No. 3; Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major Op. 27 No. 1 'Quasi una fantasia'; Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major Op. 26 'March Funebre' ;Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major Op. 7
François-Frederic Guy (piano)
ZIG ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT111101 (3CD, mid-price)
Beethoven Piano Sonatas Volume 1
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major Op. 106 'Hammerklavier'; Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major Op. 22; Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major Op. 81a 'Les Adieux'; Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major Op. 7; Piano Sonata No. 9 in E major Op. 14 No. 1; Piano Sonata No. 10 in G major Op. 14 No. 2; Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major Op. 27 No. 1 'Quasi una fantasia'; Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 27 No. 2 ‘Moonlight'
HJ Lim (piano)
EMI 7300092 (2CD, mid-price)
10:50AM
Julian Johnson joins Andrew to discuss some recent releases of orchestral repertoire:
BRAHMS: Variations on a Theme of Haydn “St. Anthony Chorale” Op. 56a; Serenade No.1 in D major Op. 11; Hungarian Dances Nos. 1, 3 & 10
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Robin Ticciati (conductor)
TUDOR TUDOR7183 (Hybrid SACD)
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 4
Orchestre Metropolitain, Yannick Nezet-Seguin (conductor)
ATMA CLASSIQUE ACD22667 (CD)
SPOHR: Six lieder op. 154
BEETHOVEN orch. Stravinsky: Mephistos Flohlied Op. 75 no. 3
SCHUBERT orch. Max Reger: 3 Lieder
WOLF: from Italienisches Liederbuch and Morike-Lieder
SIBELIUS: 7 Lieder
R. STRAUSS: Traum durch die Dammerung Op. 29 No. 1
Bo Skovhus (baritone); WDR Rundfunkorchester Koln, Stefan Blunier (conductor)
CRYSTAL CLASSICS N67062 (CD)
WEBER: Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor Op. 73; Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E flat Major Op. 74; Clarinet Concertino in E flat major Op. 26
Karl-Heinz Steffens (clarinet), Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Radoslaw Szulc (conductor)
TUDOR TUDOR7159 (Hybrid SACD)
SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1 in B flat major Op. 38 'Spring'; Symphony No. 3 in E flat major Op. 97 'Rhenish'
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Paavo Jarvi (conductor)
SONY CLASSICAL 88697964312 (Hybrid SACD)
11.50AM DISC OF THE WEEK

W.A. Mozart and M. Haydn - Duo Sonatas
MOZART: Duo for violin and viola in G major KV 423; Duo for violin and viola in B flat major KV 424; Menuetto (from 12 Duos for Horn KV 487)
HAYDN: Duo for violin and viola No. 1 in C major MH 335; Duo for violin and viola No. 2 in D major MH 336
Rachel Podger (violin), Jane Rogers (viola)
CHANNEL CLASSICS CCSSA32411 (Hybrid SACD)

Today: Including Building a Library: Rachmaninov: Symphony No 2; Operatic/vocal music by Smetana, Prokofiev, Shostakovich; Disc of the Week: Vivaldi: Teuzzone.

TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto in D major op. 35
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto in E minor op. 64
Ray Chen (violin), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding (conductor)
SONY 88697984102 (CD)

Janacek - Choral Works
JANACEK: Six Moravian Choruses, The Wild Duck, The Wolf’s Trail Elegy on the Death of My Daughter Olga, Nursery Rhymes;Our Evenings, Ave Maria, Our Father (Otcenas)
Thomas Walker (tenor); Ernestine Stoop (harp); Cappella Amsterdam; Radio Blazers Ensemble; Daniel Reuss (conductor)
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC902097 (CD)

RACHMANINOV: We shall rest (My otdokhnjom) Op. 26/3; Do you remember the evening? (Ty pomnish’ li vecher?); Oh no I beg you do not leave! (O net molju ne ukhodi!) Op. 4/1; Morning (Utro) Op. 4/2; In the silence of the mysterious night (V molchan’ji nochi tajnoj) Op. 4/3; Oh you my corn field! (Uzh ty niva moja!) Op. 4/5; My child you are beautiful as a flower (Ditja! Kak cvetok ty prekrasna) Op. 8/2; A dream (Son) Op. 8/5; I was with her (Ja byl u nej) Op. 14/4; I am waiting for you (Ja zhdu tebja) Op. 14/1; Do not believe me my friend (Ne ver mne drug) Op. 14/7; She is as beautiful as noon (Ona kak polden’ khorosha) Op. 14/9; Spring waters (Vesennije vody) Op. 14/11; In my soul (V mojej dushe) Op. 14/10; It is time! (Pora!) Op. 14/12; They replied (Oni otvechali) Op. 21/4; An excerpt from Alfred de Musset (Otryvok iz A. Mjusse) Op. 21/6; How nice this place is (Zdes’ khorosho) Op. 21/7; How much it hurts (Kak mne bol’no) Op. 21/12; Everything I had (Vsjo otnjal u menja) Op. 26/2; Yesterday we met (Vchera my vstretilis’) Op. 26/13; Everything passes (Prokhodit vse) Op. 26/15; Sad night (Noch’ pechal’na) Op. 26/12; Once again I am alone (Ja opjat’ odinok) Op. 26/9; At the gates of the holy cloister (U vrat obiteli svjatoj); Christ is risen! (Khristos voskres) Op. 26/6
Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone), Ivari Ilja (piano)
ONDINE ODE12072 (CD)

9.30am Building a Library

William Mival surveys recordings of Rachmaninov’s 2nd Symphony and makes a recommendation

10.25am New Releases

RAVEL: String Quartet
DEBUSSY: String Quartet Op.10
Eroica Quartet: Peter Hanson and Julia Hanson (violins), Vicci Wardman (viola), David Watkin (cello)
RESONUS RES10107 (download)

Petits Fours - Favourite Encores
Repertoire arranged for string quartet:
DEBUSSY: Beau Soir
DVORAK: Humoresque for Quartet and Piano
ELGAR: Chanson de Nuit Op. 15 No. 1; Chanson de Matin Op. 15 No. 2; La Capricieuse Op. 17
DE FALLA: Nana and Polo from Siete canciones populares espanolas
GODOWSKY: Triakontameron No. 11 'Alt Wien'
KHACHATURIAN: Sabre Dance from Gayane
KREISLER: Caprice Viennois Op. 2
MENDELSSOHN: Auf Flügeln des Gesanges Op. 34 No. 2
PROKOFIEV: The Love for Three Oranges: March
RAVEL: Blues; Valses nobles et sentimentales No. 6 in C major
SARASATE: Playera Op. 23 No. 1; Zapateado Op. 23 No. 2
SCHUMANN: Sehr Langsam; Three Pieces from Kinderszenen
SHOSTAKOVICH: Duet for Two Violins and Piano; Waltz from Suite for Variety Orchestra
The Brodsky Quartet: Daniel Rowland and Ian Belton (violins), Paul Cassidy (viola), Jacqueline Thomas (cello) with Philip Edward Fisher (piano), Bob Smissen (viola)
CHANDOS CHAN10708 (CD, mid-price)

Clair de lune
DEBUSSY: Nuit d'etoiles; Pantomime; Claire de lune; Pierrot; Apparition; En sourdine; Fête galante; Romance (L'Ame evaporee); Les Cloches; Rondel chinois; Flots, palmes, sables; La Romance d'Ariel; Regret; Le matelot qui tombe à l'eau; Coquetterie posthume; L'Archet; Romance; Les Elfes; La Damoiselle elue
Natalie Dessay (soprano), Philippe Cassard (piano) with Karine Deshayes (mezzo-soprano) jeune choeur de paris, Catherine Michel (harp)
VIRGIN 7307682 (CD)
10:40am

Hilary Finch joins Andrew to discuss some recent releases of Russian operatic and vocal repertoire:

Songs for the Front
arr. SHOSTAKOVICH: Operatic songs by Rossini, Beethoven, Bizet, Weckerlin, Leoncavallo; Russian Operatic songs by Musorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Gurilyov, Ippolitov-Ivanov, Gulak-Artemovsky, Dargomyzhsky; Popular Soviet Songs by Verstovsky, Pritzker, Dunaevsky, Dmitri and Daniil Pokrass, Milyutin, Blanter
Russkaya Conservatoria Chamber Capella, Nikolay Khondzinsky (director)
TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC0121 (CD)

Shostakovich: Romances - Song Cycles for Bass and Piano
SHOSTAKOVICH: Four Romances on Poems by Pushkin Op. 46; Six Romances on Verses by Raleigh, Burns and Shakespeare Op. 62; Five Romances on words from Krokodil magazine Op. 121; Four Monologues to words by A Pushkin Op. 91; Four Verses of Captain Lebyadkin Op. 146
Peter Gluboky (bass), Natalia Rassudova (piano)
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9222 (CD, budget)

Shostakovich - Russian Romances
SHOSTAKOVICH: From Jewish Folk Poetry Op. 79; Suite on verses by Michelangelo Buonarroti Op. 145a; Three Romances on Poems by Pushkin Op. 46a; Six Poems of Marina Tsvetayeva Op. 143a; Six Romances on Verses by English Poets Op. 62; Six Romances on Texts by Japanese Poets Op. 21
Nina Fomina (soprano), Tamara Sinjawskaja (alto), Arkadi Mischenkin (tenor), Wladimir Kasatschuk (tenor), Anatolij Kotscherga (bass), Anatolji Babykin (bass), Stanislaw Suleymanow (bass), Kolner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester, Michail Jurowski (conductor)
CAPRICCIO CAP5095 (2CD)

Mariusz Kwiecien - Slavic Heroes
TCHAIKOVSKY: Yevgeniy Onegin - Eugene Onegin; Iolanta; Mazeppa
RACHMANINOV: Aleko
SMETANA: Certova stena
MONIUSZKO: Halka; Straszny Dwor – the haunted manor; Verbum Nobile – the word of a nobleman
DVORAK: Selma sedlack – the cunning peasant
RIMSKY-KORSOKOV: Sadko
BORODIN: Knyaz’ Igor - Prince Igor
SZYMANOWSKI: Krol Roger – King RogerOp.46
Mariusz Kwiecien (baritone), Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Lukasz Borowicz (conductor)
HARMONIA MUNDI HMW906101 (CD)

PROKOFIEV: The Love of Three Oranges
Soloists, Choir and Symphony Orchestra of All-Union Radio, Ensemble of Song of the All-Union Radio, D. Dalgat (conductor)
MELODIYA MELCD1001944 (2CD, mid-price)
11.40am Disc of the Week

VIVALDI: Teuzzone
Paolo Lopez (male soprano), Raffaella Milanesi (soprano), Delphine Galou (contralto), Furio Zanasi (baritone), Roberta Mameli (soprano), Antonio Giovannini (countertenor), Makoto Sakurada (tenor)
Le Concert des Nations, Jordi Savall (conductor)
NAIVE OP30513 (3CD)

Saturday 18th February 2012
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

including: 9.30 Building a Library: Nicholas Kenyon with a personal recommendation from recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations. Andrew talks to Harriet Smith about new recordings of violin concertos including pairings of Berg and Beethoven from Isabelle Faust and Barber and Khachaturian from Mikhail Simonyan. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Beethoven String Trios Op 9. Zimmermann Trio.

Saturday 3rd March 2012
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 David Fanning makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Nielsen's Symphony No 4. Andrew talks to David Owen Norris about a selection of recordings featuring the music of Chopin and Liszt. Piano music selections include modern and period pianos played by Nelson Goerner, Howard Shelley and Denis Matsuev. With Liszt symphonic tone poems performed Orchester Wiener Akademie and the Russian National Orchestra. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Vivaldi vocal works and concertos. Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano), Florilegium.

Saturday 10th March 2012
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Piers Burton-Page makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Vaughan Williams's Symphony No 4. Andrew also talks to Ivan Hewett about a selection of new recordings of contemporary music. 11.40 Disc of the week: Nielsen: Symphony No 1 and 6: The second in a series of complete Nielsen symphonies recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra under Colin Davis.

Saturday 17th March 2012
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Richard Osborne makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Strauss's opera Ariadne auf Naxos. Andrew talks to Jeremy Summerly about a selection of new recordings of contemporary choral music. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Beethoven and Berg: Violin concertos. Isabelle Faust (violin), Orchestra Mozart/Claudio Abbado.

Saturday 24th March 2012
Time: 09:00 to 12:00 (3 hours long)

The Spirit of Schubert.

Andrew McGregor presents all that's new in the world of classical music recording. Including 9.30 Building a Library: Harriet Smith makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Schubert's Piano Sonata in C minor, D958. 10.20 Andrew talks to pianist Iain Burnside about some of the most important recordings of Schubert lieder. 11.15 Tom Service presents the Schubert Lab, asking how did Schubert managed to compose nearly 22,000 bars of music in the year 1815.

Saturday 7th April 2012
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Andrew McGregor presents the weekly programme devoted to all that's new in the world of classical music recording. Including 9.30 Building a Library: Jeremy Summerly makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Bach's St Matthew Passion. Andrew talks to Stephen Plaistow about recent piano releases. 12.00 Disc of the Week: Verdi's Macbeth on DVD from the Royal Opera House conducted by Antonio Pappano and directed by Phyllida Lloyd.

Saturday 21st April 2012 (starting in 1 hour and 36 minutes)
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Geoffrey Norris makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Prokofiev's Symphony No 5. Andrew talks to Caroline Gill about new releases of choral music. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Piano concertos by Lessel and Dobrzynski performed by Howard Shelley and Sinfonia Varsovia.

Saturday 28th April 2012
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: David Vickers surveys the recordings of the operas of Vivaldi and makes a personal recommendation. Andrew talks to Chris de Souza about new releases of symphonies by Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier (Book 2). Peter Hill (piano).

Saturday 5th May 2012
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Jessica Duchen makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Korngold's Violin Concerto. 10.30 Andrew talks to Bach expert Nicholas Anderson about recently issued box sets. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Massenet: Don Quichotte. Soloists, Mariinsky Academy and Orchestra/Valery Gergiev.

Saturday 19th May 2012
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Tess Knighton discusses her personal recommendations of Gesualdo on disc. 10.30 Andrew talks to conductor Mark Elder about working with the Halle and recording Wagner's Ring Cycle. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Grieg: String Quartet, Op 27. Brahms: Clarinet Quintet, Op 115. Jorg Widmann (clarinet), Hagen Quartet.

Saturday 26th May 2012
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Jeremy Thurlow makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony. 10.30 Mark Lowther talks to Andrew about recent choral releases. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Britten: Serenade for tenor, horn and strings; Nocturne. Finzi: Dies Natalis. Mark Padmore (tenor), Britten Sinfonia/Jacqueline Shave.

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Hilary Finch discusses her personal recommendations of Wolf's Spanish Songbook. 10.30 Andrew talks to Professor Erik Levi about recent releases of Bruckner Symphonies. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Bruckner: Symphony No 9 (four-movement version). Berlin Philharmonic/Simon Rattle.

Saturday, June 9th, 2012 on
BBC Radio Three from 9:00am to 12:15pm

Including: 9.30 Building a Library: Jan Smaczny makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Dvorak's Cello Concerto. 10.30 Andrew talks to Simon Heighes about recent baroque vocal releases. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Debussy: Complete Preludes. Alex Lubimov (period pianos).

Saturday, June 16th, 2012 on BBC Radio Three from 9:00am to 12:15pm

Including 9.15 Building a Library: Stephen Johnson makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's Symphony No 5. 10.30 Rob Cowan talks to Andrew about recently-released Japanese Radio recordings including Isaac Stern, Emil Gilels and Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Berlioz: Herminie; Les Nuits d'ete. Ravel: Sheherazade. Veronique Gens (soprano), Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire/John Axelrod.

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012 on BBC Radio Three from 9:00am to 12:15pm

Including 9.30am Building a Library: Another chance to hear William Mival's personal recommendation from the available recordings of Rachmaninov's Second Symphony. 10.30 Harriet Smith talks to Andrew about recent releases from the Artemis, Wihan and Italian Quartets. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique. Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Robin Ticciati.

Saturday 7th July 2012
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Andrew McGregor presents the weekly programme devoted to all that's new in the world of recorded music. Including 9.30 Building a Library: Roger Parker discusses his personal recommendation from recordings of Puccini's opera Turandot. 10.30 Andrew talks to Iain Burnside about recent releases of piano concertos and solo piano music by Rachmaninov and Shostakovich. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Elgar: Cello Concerto; Introduction and Allegro; Elegy for Strings; Pomp and Circumstance Marches Nos 1-5. Paul Watkins (cello), BBC Philharmonic/ Andrew Davis.

Saturday, August 11th, 2012 on BBC Radio Three from 9:00am to 12:15pm

Including 9.00 Handel's Memories: A selection from Grand Concertos, Op 6. Al Ayre Espanol/Eduardo Lopez Banzo. Handel: Theodora. Dawn Upshaw (soprano), Lorraine Hunt (mezzo), David Daniels (countertenor), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/William Christie. 10.00 Karajan 1960s: A box set of Herbert von Karajan's recordings made for Deutsche Grammophon during the 60s. 11.00 Dvorak: Piano Quartet No 2 in E flat, Op 87. Schubert Ensemble. 11.40 Wagner: Lohengrin. Klaus Florian Vogt (tenor), Annette Dasch (soprano), Berlin Radio Chorus/Marek Janowski

Saturday, September 22nd, 2012 on BBC Radio Three from 9:00am to 12:15pm

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Jeremy Summerly makes a personal recommendation of recordings of Brahms's A German Requiem. 10.30 New Releases: Andrew McGregor discusses new releases of piano music with Kenneth Hamilton. 11.20 Interview with pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard about his Liszt project and his new recording of Debussy's Preludes. 11.55 Disc of the Week: The Beethoven Journey: Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos 1 and 3. Leif Ove Andsnes (piano, director).

9.30 Building a Library: Robert Philip makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata. 10.30 Andrew talks to Caroline Gill, who has been listening to recent releases of British choral music from composers including Jonathan Dove, Richard Rodney Bennett, Imogen Holst and John Rutter. 11.45am Disc of the Week: Mendelssohn violin concertos. Alina Ibragimova (violin), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Vladimir Jurowski (conductor).

Building a Library: Bruckner: Symphony No 4

David Greilsammer - Mozart In-between
MOZART: Symphony No. 23 in D K181;
Piano Concerto No. 9 in Eb K271 ‘Jeunehomme’;
Thamos Konig in Agypten KV 345 (excerpts);
Venga pur minacci e frema (Farnace - from Mitridate re di Ponto)*;
SCHULER: In-between
Lawrence Zazzo (countertenor)*, L‘Orchestre de Chambre de Geneve, David Greilsammer (piano and conductor)
SONY 88725430252 (CD)

MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G K453; Piano Concerto No. 26 in D K537 'Coronation'
Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano), Die Kolner Akademie, Michael Alexander Willens (conductor)
BIS BIS1944SACD (Hybrid SACD)

MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G K453; Rondo in A K386; Piano Concerto No. 22 in Eb K482
Kristian Bezuidenhout (fortepiano), Freiburger Barockorchester, Petra Mullejans (director)
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC902147 (CD)

9.30am Building a Library

Stephen Johnson surveys recordings of Bruckner’s 4th Symphony and makes a recommendation:

BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 4 in Eb ‘Romantic’
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Gunter Wand (conductor)
RCA RED SEAL 09026688392 (CD mid-price)

10.25am

Mark-Anthony Turnage – Orchestral Works Vol. 3
TURNAGE: On Opened Ground: concerto for viola and orchestra*; Texan Tenebrae^; Lullaby for Hans - for string orchestra~; Riffs and Refrains - concerto for clarinet and orchestra+; Mambo, Blues and Tarantella - concerto for violin and orchestra#
Christian Tetzlaff (violin)#, Michael Collins (clarinet)+, Lawrence Power (viola)*, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski~#, Marin Alsop^+ and Markus Stenz* (conductors)
LPO LPO0066 (CD)

Esa-Pekka Salonen – Out of Nowhere
SALONEN: Violin Concerto; Nyx
Leila Josefowicz (violin), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor)
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4790628 (CD)

10.50am New Releases

Geoffrey Smith joins Andrew to discuss recent operatic releases

HANDEL: Alessandro HWV21
Lawrence Zazzo (Alessandro), Yetzabel Arias Fernandez (Rossane), Raffaella Milanesi (Lisaura), Martin Oro (Tassile), Andrew Finden (Clito), Sebastian Kohlhepp (Leonato), Rebecca Raffell (Cleone), Deutsche Händel-Solisten, Michael Form (director)
PAN CLASSICS PC10273 (3CD)

MOZART: Le nozze di Figaro K492
Ludovic Tezier (Il Conte di Almaviva), Barbara Frittoli (La Contessa di Almaviva), Ekaterina Siurina (Susanna), Luca Pisaroni (Figaro), Karine Deshayes (Cherubino), Ann Murray (Marcellina), Robert Lloyd (Bartolo), Robin Leggate (Don Basilio), Antoine Normand (Don Curzio), Christian Treguier (Antonio), Maria Virginia Savastano (Barbarina), Paris Opera Orchestra, Paris Opera Chorus, Philippe Jordan (conductor)
BEL AIR BAC071 (2DVD) and BAC471 (Blu-ray)

Handel: Giulio Cesare in Egitto
Lawrence Zazzo (Cesare), Natalie Dessay (Cleopatra), Isabel Leonard (Sesto), Varduhi Abrahamya (Cornelia), Christophe Dumaux (Tolomeo), Nathan Berg (Achille), Dominique Visse (Nireno), Aimery Lefèvre (Curio), Le Concert d`Astree, Emmanuelle Haim (conductor)
VIRGIN 0709399 (2DVD)

11.45am Disc of the Week

MOZART: La finta giardiniera
Sophie Karthauser (Sandrina / Violante), Jeremy Ovenden (Contino Belfiore), Alex Penda (Arminda), Marie-Claude Chappuis (Cavaliere Ramiro), Nicolas Rivenq (Podesta), Sunhae Im (Serpetta), Michael Nagy (Nardo, Roberto), Freiburger Barockorchester, Rene Jacobs (conductor)
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC902126-28 (3CD)

Including 9.30am Building a Library: Richard Wigmore makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Schubert's Fourth Symphony (Tragic). 10.30 New Releases: Simon Heighes reviews recent recordings of baroque music. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Duo: cellist Sol Gabetta and pianist Helene Grimaud play music by Schumann, Brahms, Debussy and Shostakovich.

Saturday, November 17th, 2012 on BBC Radio Three from 9:00am to 12:15pm

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Sarah Lenton makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Berlioz's opera Les Troyens. 10.30 New Releases: Harriet Smith reviews recent recordings of symphonies by Beethoven and Schubert. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos 9 and 21. Mitsuko Uchida (piano), Cleveland Orchestra.

Saturday, November 24th, 2012 on BBC Radio Three from 9:00am to 12:15pm

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Stephen Plaistow makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Mozart's Piano Sonata No 8 in A minor, K310. 10.30 Erik Levi reviews the latest releases of American orchestral music. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Part: Adam's Lament. Latvian Radio Choir, Vox Clamantis, Sinfonietta Riga. And Andrew McGregor travels to Budapest to meet Ivan Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra as they record Mahler's Fifth Symphony.

Saturday, December 15th, 2012 on BBC Radio Three from 9:00am to 12:15pm

Including 9.05 Building a Library: David Fanning makes a personal recommendation of recordings of Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No 8 in B flat. 9.50 Andrew is joined by fellow critics Harriet Smith, Caroline Gill and Edward Seckerson to argue the case for what they consider the best new recordings of 2012.

Saturday, December 22nd, 2012 on BBC Radio Three from 9:00am to 12:15pm

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Richard Osborne with a personal recommendation for Rossini's opera on the Cinderella story, La Cenerentola. Andrew also talks to Adrian Thomas about recent recordings of music by Witold Lutoslawski. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Bach: Cantatas from Leipzig 1727-32. Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki (conductor).

Saturday 5th January 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Erica Jeal with a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's Second Symphony. 10.30 Andrew talks to Iain Burnside about recent piano releases, including works by Bach and Schumann. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Mozart: Don Giovanni. Ildebrando D'Arcangelo (Don Giovanni), Diana Damrau (Donna Anna), Joyce DiDonato (Donna Elvira), Rolando Villazon (Don Ottavio), Luca Pisaroni (Leporello), Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Yannick Nezet-Seguin (conductor).

Date: Saturday 26th January 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: As part of the Britten 100 season, Piers Burton-Page makes a personal recommendation from recordings of the opera Billy Budd. 10.30 Andrew joins cellist Alban Gerhardt and pianist Steven Osborne in the recording studio as they record Britten's cello sonata, eavesdropping on the sessions and talking to them about their approach to the music. 11.35 Disc of the Week: Britten: The Rape of Lucretia. Soloists including Ian Bostridge, Susan Gritton and Angelika Kirchschlager, Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble, Oliver Knussen (conductor).

Saturday 2nd February 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Andrew McGregor presents the weekly programme devoted to all that's new in the world of recorded music. Including 9.30 Building a Library: Martin Cotton introduces a survey of recordings of Walton's First Symphony. 10.30 Andrew talks to Sarah Lenton about DVDs of early operas by Verdi. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn: String Quartets. Ebene Quartet.

Date: Saturday 9th February 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Iain Burnside presents a survey of recordings of Brahms's Piano Trio in B, Op 8. 10.30 Andrew talks to Caroline Gill about new recordings of chamber and vocal music by Bach and Vivaldi. Disc of the Week: Erlkonig - a recital of Schubert songs. Matthias Goerne (baritone), Andreas Haefliger (piano).

Saturday 23rd February 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Andrew McGregor presents Radio 3's weekly programme devoted to all that's new in the world of classical music recordings. Including 9.30 Building a Library: Misha Donat with a survey of recordings of Mozart's Divertimento for string trio, K563. 10.30 Andrew talks to Edward Seckerson about recordings of symphonies by Mahler, Bruckner and Shostakovich. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Szymanowski: Symphonies Nos 2 and 4. BBC Symphony Orchestra, Edward Gardner (conductor).

Saturday 2nd March 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: William Mival with a survey of recordings of Stravinsky's The Firebird Suite. 10.30 Andrew talks to Hilary Finch about new recordings of song recitals and collections. 11.45 Barber: Cello Concerto, Sonata, Adagio for Strings. Christian Poltera (cello), Kathryn Stott (piano), Bergen Philharmonic, Andrew Litton (conductor).

Saturday 9th March 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Nicholas Kenyon gives a personal recommendation from recordings of Mozart's Piano Concerto in F, K459. 10.30 Baroque Spring: Andrew talks to conductor Alan Curtis about changing styles of Baroque performance practice with excerpts from his new recording of Handel's opera Giulio Cesare. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Petrassi: Magnificat; Salmo IX. Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro Regio Turin, Gianandrea Noseda (conductor).

Saturday 23rd March 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30am Building a Library: As part of Radio 3's Baroque Spring season, a survey of recordings of Handel's eight Great suites for keyboard HWV 426-33. 10.30 Andrew talks to Harriet Smith about new recordings of chamber music. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Couperin: Couperin: Trois Lecons de Tenebres. Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Marianna Beate Kielland (mezzo), Susanne Heinrich (viol), Lynda Sayce (theorbo), Robert King (chamber organ). The King's Consort, Robert King (conductor).

Saturday 30th March 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: As part of Baroque Spring, Caroline Gill makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Bach's accompanied violin sonatas. 10.30 Andrew talks to Rob Cowan, who has been listening to recent releases from the radio archives of Japanese broadcaster NHK, including performances from Emil Gilels, Vaclav Neumann and the late Wolfgang Sawallisch. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Mussorgsky and Prokofiev: piano music. Steven Osborne (piano).

Saturday 6th April 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Richard Wigmore makes a recommendation from recordings of Schumann's Myrthen Op 25, songs written as a wedding present for his wife, Clara. 10.30 Andrew talks to Jeremy Summerly about recent releases of 21st-century choral music. 11.45 Disc of the week: Schoenberg: Verklarte Nacht, Op 4. Schubert: String Quintet in C, D956. Janine Jansen, Boris Brovtsyn (violins), Maxim Rysanov, Amihai Grosz (violas), Torleif Thedeen, Jens Peter Maintz (cellos).

Saturday 13th April 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Chris de Souza makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Liszt's Piano Concerto No 2. 10.30 Andrew talks to Anna Pickard, who has been listening to recent Baroque vocal releases from Lucy Crowe, Julia Lezhneva and Roberta Invernizzi. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Weckmann: Conjuratio. Ricercar Consort, Philippe Pierlot (conductor).

Saturday 20th April 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Christopher Cook makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Debussy's opera Pelleas et Melisande. 10.30 Andrew talks to Mark Lowther about new recordings of violin concertos by Mendelssohn, Bruch and Dvorak. 11.45 Disc of the Week: Berlioz: Grande Messe des morts. London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis (conductor).

Saturday 27th April 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Stephen Walsh makes a recommendation from recordings of Tchaikovsky's Hamlet Fantasy Overture, Op 67. 10.30 Andrew talks to Misha Donat about recent releases of chamber music by, among others, Beethoven and Brahms. 11.45 Disc of the week: Schubert: Winterreise. Matthew Rose (bass), Gary Matthewman (piano).

Saturday 27th April 2013 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 17:00 to 22:00 (5 hours long)

Handel's Giulio Cesare.

Live from the Metropolitan Opera in York, David McVicar's production of Handel's Giulio Cesare, a version of the Caesar and Cleopatra story, featuring themes of love, war, and empire-building based on historical events of the Roman civil war of 48-47 BC Julius Caesar has defeated his rival Pompey and pursued him to Alexandria, the capital of Egypt, where he finds a kingdom ruled by Cleopatra and her younger brother Ptolemy. Presented by Margaret Juntwait and expert commentator Ira Siff. Handel: Giulio Cesare. David Daniels, countertenor (Giulio Cesare), Natalie Dessay, soprano (Cleopatra), Christophe Dumaux, countertenor (Tolomeo), Patricia Bardon, contralto (Cornelia), Alice Coote, soprano (Sesto), Guido Loconsolo, bass (Achilla), John Moore, bass (Curio), Rachid Ben Abdeslam, countertenor (Nireno), Chorus and Orchestra of The Metropolitan Opera, New York, Harry Bicket (conductor).

Saturday 11th May 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: Jeremy Summerly makes a personal recommendation from recordings of Handel's Solomon. 10.30 Kenneth Hamilton talks to Andrew about recent discs of French piano discs, including two new releases of pieces by Charles-Valentin Alkan. 11.40 Disc of the Week: Beethoven: String Quartets. Belcea Quartet.

Saturday 18th May 2013
Time: 09:00 to 12:15 (3 hours and 15 minutes long)

Including 9.30 Building a Library: John Deathridge makes a recommendation from recordings of Wagner's opera Tannhauser. 10.30 Andrew talks to Martin Cotton about recent releases of symphonies by Rachmaninov, Prokofiev and Shostakovich. 11.45 Disc of the week: Britten: Piano Concerto; Britten: Violin Concerto. Howard Shelley (piano), Tasmin Little (violin), BBC Philharmonic, Edward Gardner (conductor).