Each week, an expert and enthusiast brings a wide range of recordings of a well-known classical piece, exploring the music and different performances, ending with a recommendation for your library. This podcast is a guide to the best recordings of the greatest classical music.
Episodes
Schumann's 2nd Symphony
Jessica Duchen surveys recordings of Schumann's 2nd Symphony and make a recommendation.
Handel's Semele
Jeremy Summerly surveys recordings of Handel's Semele and makes a top recommendation.
Ravel's Miroirs
Yshani Perinpanayagam surveys recordings of Ravel's Miroirs and makes a recommendation.
Vivaldi's Cello Concertos
Charlotte Gardner surveys Vivaldi's Cello Concertos and makes a top recommendation.
Walton's Belshazzar's Feast
David Owen Norris picks his top recording of William Walton's Belshazzar's Feast.
Haydn's 'Emperor' String Quartet
Laura Tunbridge makes a recommendation from recordings of Haydn's 'Emperor' Quartet.
Beethoven's 'Spring' Sonata
Kathryn Stott surveys recordings of Beethoven's 'Spring' Sonata and makes recommendation.
Nielsen's Symphony no.2
Mark Lowther surveys recordings of Nielsen's Symphony no.2 and makes a recommendation.
Mendelssohn's 'Scottish' Symphony
Dr Katy Hamilton picks her top recording of Mendelssohn's 3rd Symphony, the 'Scottish'.
Falla's The Three-Cornered Hat
Jonathan Cross makes a recommendation from recordings of Falla's The Three-Cornered Hat.
Brahms' Op.116-119
Lucy Parham surveys recordings of Brahms' Op.116-119 and makes a top recommendation.
Bach's Cello Suites
Joseph McHardy surveys recordings of JS Bach's Cello Suites and makes a recommendation.
Verdi's Rigoletto
Flora Willson makes a top recommendation from recordings of Verdi's Rigoletto.
Mahler's Symphony no.5
Alice Farnham surveys recordings of Mahler's Symphony no.5 and makes a top recommendation
Schubert's String Quartet in G major D.887
Jeremy Sams picks his favourite recording of Schubert's String Quartet in G major D.887.
Brahms' Piano Concerto no.2
Joanna MacGregor's picks her top recording of Brahms' Piano Concerto no.2.
Fauré's Requiem
Samir Savant surveys recordings of Fauré's Requiem and makes a top recommendation.
Liszt's Transcendental Studies
Pianist Keelan Carew picks his favourite recording of Liszt's Transcendental Studies.
Vivaldi's The Four Seasons
Charlotte Gardner's personal recommendation from recordings of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons
Respighi's La Boutique Fantasque
Conductor Ben Gernon picks his favourite recordings of Respighi's La Boutique Fantasque.
Shostakovich's Symphony no.9
Yshani Perinpanayagam chooses her favourite recording of Shostakovich's Symphony no.9.
Haydn's Matin, Midi and Soir Symphonies
Sir Nicholas Kenyon recommends a top recording of Haydn's 6th, 7th and 8th Symphonies.
Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana
Iain Burnside's personal recommendation for Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana.
Beethoven's Waldstein Sonata
Allyson Devenish picks her favourite recording of Beethoven's Waldstein Sonata Op.53.
Vaughan Williams' 'A London Symphony'
Kate Kennedy picks her top recording of Vaughan Williams' 'A London Symphony'.
Janacek's Sinfonietta
Nigel Simeone surveys recordings of Janacek's Sinfonietta and makes a top recommendation.
Handel's Dixit Dominus HWV.232
Mark Lowther surveys recordings of Handel's Dixit Dominus, and makes a recommendation.
Dvorak's String Quintet Op.97
Professor Laura Tunbridge surveys recordings of Dvorak's String Quintet Op.97.
Weber's Der Freischutz
Marina Frolova-Walker recommends her favourite recording of Weber's opera Der Freischutz.
Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2
Pianist Kathryn Stott picks her favourite recording of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2.
Sibelius's Symphony no.5
William Mival recommends his favorite recording of Sibelius's Symphony no.5.
Brahms's Paganini Variations
Kenneth Hamilton picks his favourite of Brahms's Paganini Variations.
J. S. Bach's Cantata 'Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben' BWV.147
Jeremy Summerly chooses his favourite recording of J. S. Bach's Cantata BWV.147.
Elgar's Cello Concerto
David Owen Norris picks his favourite recording of Elgar's Cello Concerto.
Copland's Symphony no.3
Conductor Alice Farnham's personal recommendation for Copland's Symphony no.3.
Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante K.364
Tasmin Little makes a top recommendation of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E flat K.364
Schumann's Kreisleriana
Pianist Lucy Parham with a personal recommendation for Schumann's Kreisleriana.
Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.1 'Winter Daydreams'
Jonathan Cross picks his top recording of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.1 'Winter Daydreams'
Monteverdi's L'Orfeo
Joseph McHardy chooses his favourite recording of Monteverdi's L'Orfeo.
Debussy's Pelleas et Melisande
Jeremy Sams' personal recommendation from recordings of Debussy's Pelleas et Melisande.
Berlioz's Harold in Italy
Flora Willson picks her top recording of Berlioz's Harold in Italy.
Beethoven's String Quartet Op.132
Katy Hamilton's personal recommendation of Beethoven's String Quartet no.15 in A minor.
Bartok's Piano Concerto no. 2
Joanna MacGregor's top recommendation of Bartok's Piano Concerto no.2.
Gershwin's An American in Paris
Ben Gernon picks his favourite recording of Gershwin's An American in Paris.
Rachmaninov's Etudes Tableaux
Keelan Carew makes his top pick of recordings of Rachmaninov's Etudes Tableaux.
Brahms' Symphony no.4
William Mival with his personal choice of the best recording of Brahms' Symphony no.4.
Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major
Yshani Perinpanayagam picks her favourite recording of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major.
Purcell's Anthems
Nicholas Kenyon with his personal recommendation from Purcell's numerous anthems.
Mozart's Cosi fan tutte
Sarah Lenton chooses her favourite recording of Mozart's opera Cosi fan tutte.
Strauss's Le bourgeois gentilhomme
Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Strauss's Le bourgeois gentilhomme.
Corelli's Concerti grossi
Kirsten Gibson's personal recommendation of the Concerti grossi by Arcangelo Corelli.
Vaughan Williams's Symphony No.5
Kate Kennedy picks her favourite recording of Vaughan Williams's Symphony No.5.
Satie's Sports et divertissements
Kathryn Stott's personal recommendation of Satie's Sports et divertissements.
Haydn's The Seasons
Jeremy Summerly chooses his favourite recording of Haydn's The Seasons.
Mozart's Piano Concerto no.21 K.467
Joanna MacGregor picks her favourite recording of Mozart's Piano Concerto no.21 K.467
Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition
Marina Frolova-Walker's recommendation for Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
Beethoven's Piano Trio no.7 'Archduke'
Richard Wigmore's recommendation for Beethoven's Piano Trio no.7 Op.97 'Archduke'.
Stravinsky's Les Noces
Jonathan Cross chooses his favourite recording of Stravinsky's Les Noces.
Schubert's Piano Sonata in C minor D.958
Allyson Devenish picks her favourite recording of Schubert's Piano Sonata in C minor.
Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor
Roger Parker chooses his favourite recording of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.
Mozart's Coronation Mass
Joseph McHardy picks his favourite recording of Mozart's Coronation Mass.
Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta
Kate Molleson's recommendation for Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.
Handel's Acis and Galatea
Mark Lowther's personal recommendation for Handel's opera Acis and Galatea.
Brahms's String Sextet no.1
Tasmin Little picks her favourite recording of Brahms's String Sextet no.1.
Shostakovich's 10th Symphony
Edward Seckerson's personal choice of Shostakovich's 10th Symphony.
Schumann's Carnaval
Lucy Parham chooses her favourite recording of Schumann's Carnaval.
Bruckner's Symphony no.4
William Mival joins Andrew to discuss Bruckner's Symphony no.4 in Building a Library.
Dvořák’s 8th Symphony
Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Dvořák’s 8th Symphony.
Clara Schumann's lieder
Laura Tunbridge joins Andrew to discuss lieder by Clara Schumann in Building a Library.
Liszt'z Totentanz (Dance of Death)
Pianist Iain Burnside choses his favourite recording of Liszt's Totentanz.
Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suites
Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite version of Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suites.
Puccini's La Bohème
Flora Willson chooses her favourite version of Puccini's La Bohème.
Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor
Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor in Building a Library with Katy Hamilton.
Mozart's Piano Sonata no.15 K.533/494
Kenneth Hamilton chooses his favourite version of Mozart's Piano Sonata no.15 K.533/494
Brahms' Violin Concerto in D Op.77
David Owen Norris chooses his favourite version of Brahms' Violin Concerto in D Op.77.
Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture
Marina Frolova-Walker's recommendation for Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture.
Holst's The Planets
Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite version of Holst's The Planets.
Beethoven's 1st Piano Concerto
Joanna MacGregor chooses her favourite version of Beethoven's 1st Piano Concerto.
Aaron Copland's Rodeo
Conductor Ben Gernon's personal recommendation for Aaron Copland's Rodeo.
Britten's Ceremony of Carols
Jeremy Summerly chooses his favourite version of Britten's seasonal Ceremony of Carols.
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