Mahler's Symphony No 6 in Building a Library with Edward Seckerson and Andrew McGregor
In Building a Library, Edward Seckerson chooses his favourite recording of Mahler's Symphony No 6 in A minor, plus a round-up of some of the best new classical releases.
Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.
9.30 am
Kate Kennedy shares some new releases that have caught her attention with Andrew and reveals her 'On Repeat' choice and explains her current preoccupation with it.
10.30 am
Building a Library
Edward Seckerson chooses his favourite recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 6 in A minor.
More often than not, Mahler's symphonies end positively, whether in triumph, exaltation, joyful exuberance, quiet bliss, or resignation and acceptance. But the Sixth is unique in its tragic, minor-key conclusion and this Symphony as a whole is among his darkest music. Intriguingly, he wrote it during one of the happiest periods of his life, the summers of 1903 and 1904. Mahler was convinced that, in his music, he had the ability to foresee and even predict events and, painful though it might be, as an artist he could not avoid doing so. And in 1907, when he looked back on the Sixth Symphony's finale with its 'three hammer blows of fate' he could point to the death of his daughter Maria, the diagnosis of the severe heart disease which would kill him, and the bitter end of his decade as director of the Vienna Opera. Closer to our own times, some have suggested that, as well as tragic autobiography, Mahler was predicting the tragedies of a whole century.
11.20 am
Record of the Week
An exceptional new release.
Send us your On Repeat recommendations at recordreview@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖRadio3
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Music Played
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Joseph Haydn
Symphony No 3 in G Major, Hob I:3: I. Allegro
Conductor: Johannes Klumpp. Orchestra: Heidelberger Sinfoniker.- Haydn: Complete Symphonies, Vol. 27.
- haenssler CLASSIC.
- 101.
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George Frideric Handel
Keyboard Suite, HWV 430 in E major 'The Harmonious Blacksmith': Air - Double 1 - Double 2 - Double 3 - Double 4 - Double 5
Performer: Ton Koopman.- Handel: Five Great Suites For Harpsichord (London, 1720).
- Challenge Classics.
- 19.
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Malcolm Arnold
Divertimento No 2: Fanfare - Nocturne - Chaconne
- Malcolm Arnold: Clarinet Concerto No. 1 and other works.
- Chandos.
- 5.
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Maurice Ravel
String Quartet in F major: Assez vif, tres rythme
Ensemble: Takács Quartet.- Hough, Dutilleux & Ravel: String Quartets.
- Hyperion.
- 5.
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Johannes Brahms
Cello Sonata No 1 In E Minor, Op 38: I. Allegro non troppo
Performer: Leonard Elschenbroich. Performer: Alexei Grynyuk.- Brahms: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2, Four Serious Songs.
- Onyx.
- 1.
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Steve Reich
WTC / 911: III. WTC
Ensemble: Kuss Quartet.- Krise/Crisis.
- Rubicon.
- 8.
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Franz Schubert
Erlkonig, D328
Singer: Matthias Goerne. Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.- Schubert Revisited.
- DG.
- 07.
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James McMillan
Ye Sacred Muses (2)
Ensemble: The King’s Singers. Ensemble: Fretwork.- Tom And Will.
- Signum.
- 10.
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Pál Hermann
Cello Concerto: I. Allegro cantabile
Orchestra: Lviv International Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Theodore Kuchar.- Hermann: Complete Surviving Music, Vol. 1.
- Toccata Classics.
- 101.
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Josquin des Prez
Nymphes des bois/Requiem aeternam (La deploration de Johannes Ockeghem)
Ensemble: The Gesualdo Six. Conductor: Owain Park.- HYPERION.
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Chiel Meijering
Rock That Trombone
Performer: Jörgen van Rijen. Ensemble: Alma Quartet.- Mirrored in Time.
- BIS.
- 115.
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Galina Grigorjeva
Prayer for Cello & Male-Voice Choir
Performer: Theodor Sink. Choir: National Male Choir of Estonia. Singer: Margus Vellmann. Singer: Grigori Rutškin.- Galina Grigorjeva: Music for Male-Voice Choir.
- Toccata Classics.
- 109.
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Gaetano Donizetti
Caterina Cornaro, A 63 (Excerpts): Guerra... Su, corriamo concordi
Lyricist: Giacomo Sacchèro. Choir: Coro Donizetti Opera. Orchestra: Gli Originali. Conductor: Riccardo Frizza. Singer: Javier Camarena.- Signor Gaetano.
- PENTATONE.
- 116.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Coronation Mass, K. 317: VI. Agnus Dei
Choir: Bavarian Radio Symphony Choir. Singer: Sophie Harmsen. Singer: Steve Davislim. Singer: Krešimir Stražanac. Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: Howard Arman. Singer: Katharina Konradi.- Mozart: Krönungsmesse, K. 317 & Other Choral Works (Live).
- BR-Klassik.
- 108.
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Bohuslav Martinů
Piano Trio No 1, H 193 "5 Pièces brèves"
Ensemble: 葵トリオ.- Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1 "5 Pièces brèves" - Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3.
- haenssler CLASSIC.
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Billy Taylor
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free
Performer: Christian Reif. Music Arranger: Jeremy Siskind. Singer: Julia Bullock.- Walking In The Dark.
- Nonesuch.
- 5.
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Samuel Barber
Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24
Singer: Julia Bullock. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Christian Reif.- Walking In The Dark.
- Nonesuch.
- 6.
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.
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9.00am
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Haydn: Complete Symphonies, Vol. 27
Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra
Johannes Klumpp
Hänssler ÌýHC22077
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Handel: Five Great Suites For Harpsichord (London, 1720)
Ton Koopman (harpsichord)
Challenge Classics ÌýCC72923
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Malcolm Arnold: Clarinet Concerto No. 1 and other works
Michael Collins (clarinet)
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Philharmonic
Rumon Gamba
Chandos ÌýCHAN20152
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Hough, Dutilleux & Ravel: String Quartets
Takács Quartet
Hyperion ÌýCDA68400
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09.30am – Kate Kennedy: New Releases
Brahms: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2, Four Serious Songs
Leonard Elschenbroich (cello)
Alexei Grynyuk (piano)
Onyx ÌýONYX4226
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Krise/Crisis – music by Haydn, Shostakovich, Reich, etc.
Kuss Quartet
RubiconÌý RCD1102
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Schubert Revisited
Matthias Goerne (baritone)
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
DGÌý 4839758
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Tom & Will - Weelkes and Byrd: 400 Years
King's Singers
Fretwork
SignumÌý SIGCD731
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Kate Kennedy: On Repeat
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Pál Hermann: Complete Surviving Music, Vol. 1
Clive Greensmith (cello)
Kateryna Poteriaieva (violin)
Alina Shevchenko (piano)
Roman Marchenko (piano)
Sofia Soloviy (soprano)
Lviv International Symphony Orchestra
Theodore Kuchar
Toccata Classics ÌýTOCC0443
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10:10 am
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Listener On Repeat
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Josquin's legacy – music by Josquin, Willaert, Lhéretier, etc.
The Gesualdo Six
Owain Park
HyperionÌý CDA68379
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Mirrored in Time – music by Bartók, Schumann, Meijering, etc.
Jörgen van Rijen (trombone)
Alma Quartet
BISÌý BIS2616 (Hybrid SACD)
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Galina Grigorjeva: Music For Male-Voice Choir
Theodor Sink (cello)
Estonian National Male Choir
Mikk Uleoja
Toccata ClassicsÌý TOCC0679
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Signor Gaetano – music by Donizetti
Javier Camarena (tenor)
Gli Originali
Riccardo Frizza
PentatoneÌý PTC5186886
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10.30am – Building a Library: Edward Seckerson on Mahler’s Symphony No 6 in A minor
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Recommended recording:
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Klaus Tennstedt
London Philharmonic Orchestra
LPOÌý LPO0038 (2 CDs)
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Other recommendation:
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Wiener Philharmoniker
Leonard Bernstein
DGÌý E4276972 (2 CDs)
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11:15am
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Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1 '5 Pièces brèves' - Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3
Aoi Trio
HänsslerÌý HC22029
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Mozart: Coronation Mass - Vesperae solennes de Dominica
Katharina Konradi (soprano)
Sophie Harmsen (mezzo-soprano)
Steve Davislim (tenor)
Krešimir Stražanac (bass)
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
Howard Arman
BR KlassikÌý 900530
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11.25am – Record of the Week
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Walking in the Dark – music by Billy Taylor, Barber, Denny, etc.
Julia Bullock (soprano)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Christian Reif (piano and conductor)
NonesuchÌý 7559790817
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Broadcast
- Sat 7 Jan 2023 09:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
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