Main content

Strauss's Don Quixote in Building a Library with Nigel Simeone & Sarah Walker

Nigel Simeone selects his favourite version of Strauss's Don Quixote; plus Gillian Moore with her choice of recent releases

Sarah Walker with the best new recordings of classical music.

1405
Gillian Moore with her choice of exciting recent releases

1500
Building a Library

Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite version of Strauss's Don Quixote

Don Quixote is a tone poem for cello, viola, and orchestra, subtitled Fantastic Variations on a Theme of Knightly Character. It is based on the novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. Strauss wrote it in 1897. The solo cello portrays Don Quixote, and the solo viola, tenor tuba, and bass clarinet represent his squire Sancho Panza. It is full of Strauss's wildly imaginative orchestration used to describe elements in the story such as an approaching army, and, at one point, the bleating of sheep.

Recommended version
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Antonio Janigro (cello)
Milton Preves (viola)
Fritz Reiner (conductor)
RCA Living Stereo 09026 68170-2

1545
Record of the Week: Sarah’s top pick.

18 days left to listen

1 hour, 59 minutes

Music Played

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Nessun Dorma (Turandot)

    Singer: Pene Pati. Orchestra: Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine. Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume.
    • Pene Pati - Nessun Dorma.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.47 in G major H.1.47 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Concerto Copenhagen.
    • Berlin Classics.
  • Richard Wagner

    Ring Odyssey (GötterdÀmmerung extract)

    Music Arranger: Joseph Swensen. Singer: Derek Welton. Orchestra: Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine. Conductor: Joseph Swensen.
    • Ring Odyssey.
    • Alpha.
    • 9-10.
  • Amy Beach

    Variations on Balkan Themes Op.60 (extract)

    Performer: Claire Huangci.
    • Made in Usa: Gershwin, Beach & Barber.
    • ALPHA.
    • 2, 6, 8.
  • Robert Schumann

    Violin Concerto in D minor (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Niek Baar. Orchestra: German Radio Philharmonic. Conductor: Christoph Poppen.
    • Schumann & Bruch Violin Concertos.
    • Channel Classics.
    • 2.
  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    The Kalendar Prince (Sheherazade Op.35)

    Music Arranger: Vincent Paulet. Orchestra: Ensemble K. Conductor: Simone Menezes.
    • Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, A Tale.
    • ALPHA.
    • 2.
  • Richard Rodgers

    Carousel Waltz (Carousel)

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel.
    • Chandos Records.
    • 101.
  • Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf

    String Quartet no.5 in E flat major (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Bennewitz String Quartet.
    • An Evening in Vienna 1784.
    • SUPRAPHON.
    • 10.
  • Anton Bruckner

    Symphony no.4 in E flat major 'Romantic' (2nd mvt - extract))

    Orchestra: Anima Eterna Brugge. Conductor: Pablo Heras‐Casado.
    • Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 "Romantic".
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 106.
  • William Byrd

    Te Deum (The Great Service)

    Choir: Alamire.
    • WILLIAM BYRD: The Great Service & English Anthems.
    • Inventa.
    • 2.

Broadcast

  • Sat 21 Sep 2024 14:00

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive Radio 3 audio archive of programmes about composers and their works.

Browse previous episodes of the Record Review Podcast

Browse previous episodes of the Record Review Podcast

All episodes since 2010, listed alphabetically by composer surname.

Why the music we love as teens stays with us for life

Cognitive neuropyschology can explain why we return to old favourites again and again.