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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: ±«Óãtv 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.

Ìý

9.00am

Ìý

Respighi: The Birds & Ancient Dances and Airs

Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège

John Neschling

BISÌý BIS2540 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Ìý

Maconchy, Lutyens & Wallen: Works for Piano and Orchestra

Martin Jones (piano)

Rebeca Omordia (piano)

±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

John Andrews

Resonus ClassicsÌý RES10315

Ìý

Ìý

Anti-Melancholicus: J.S. Bach Cantatas

Alia Mens

Olivier Spilmont

ParatyÌý PTY2522057

Ìý

Ìý

Liebestod - Wagner; Mahler; Strauss

Bamberger Symphoniker

Jakub Hrůša

AccentusÌý ACC30599

Ìý

Ìý

09.30am – Steven Osborne: New Releases

Ìý

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

Trio Brax

LawoÌý LWC1248

Ìý

Ìý

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring & Firebird

Orchestre de Paris

Klaus Mäkelä

Decca Ìý4853946

Ìý

Ìý

Mozart, Widmann: Clarinet Quintets

Jörg Widmann (clarinet)

Hagen Quartett (string quartet)

MyriosÌý MYR031

Ìý

Ìý

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

Kathrin Hottiger (soprano)

Edward Rushton (piano)

ProsperoÌý PROSP11317

Ìý

Ìý

Steven Osborne: On Repeat

Ìý

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

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Orchestre National de la RTF

Berliner Philharmoniker

Lorin Maazel

Deutsche GrammophonÌý E4497692

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Listener On Repeat

Ìý

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

Barnabas Keleman (violin)

Zoltán Kocsis (piano)

BMCÌý BMC250

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

10.10am – New Releases

Ìý

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

Tim Mead (countertenor)

La Nuova Musica

David Bates

Pentatone ÌýPTC5187047

Ìý

Ìý

Mendelssohn: String Quartets

Consone Quartet

Linn ÌýCKD716

Ìý

Ìý

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

Ìý

Recommended recording:

Ìý

Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin

Georg Kallweit

Harmonia MundiÌý HMC902216

Ìý

Ìý

Other recommendations:

Ìý

FestspielOrchester Göttingen

Laurence Cummings

AccentÌý ACC26407

Ìý

Ìý

Le Concert Spirituel

Hervé Niquet

GlossaÌý GCD921616 (Hybrid SACD)

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

11:15 am

Ìý

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

Cédric Tiberghien (piano)

Harmonia Mundi ÌýHMM90243334 (2 CDs)

Ìý

Ìý

Ludwig Daser: Polyphonic Masses

Huelgas Ensemble

Paul Van Nevel

Deutsche HMÌý G010004950859B

Ìý

Ìý

11.25am – Record of the Week

Ìý

Shostakovich’s Symphonies 8, 9, 10

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko

Berliner PhilharmonikerÌý BPHR220421 (2 CDs & Blu-ray)

Ìý

Ìý

Broadcast

  • Sat 25 Mar 2023 09:00

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