Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Walton's Viola Concerto in Building a Library with David Owen Norris and Andrew McGregor

David Owen Norris chooses his favourite recording of Walton's Viola Concerto in Building a Library, and celebrated trumpeter Alison Balsom shares some remarkable new releases.

Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.

9.30 am
Leading trumpeter Alison Balsom shares some new releases which have caught her ear and shares her 'On Repeat' track 鈥� a recording which she is currently listening to again and again.

10.30 am
David Owen Norris chooses his favourite recording of William Walton's Viola Concerto.

It was conductor Sir Thomas Beecham's suggestion that Walton should write a viola concerto for the virtuoso Lionel Tertis. But things did not go according to plan when Tertis sent back the music by return of post saying it was 'too modern'. So the 1929 premiere was given by Paul Hindemith (who had been sent the concerto by the 91福利社's Edward Clark) at the Queen's Hall, just around the corner from Broadcasting House. It was a success and Tertis, in the audience, relented. But although he subsequently played the concerto, Tertis continued to disparage it and was heard to say that Walton had 'murdered' the viola.

Despite its inauspicious beginning, Walton's Viola Concerto has long been recognised as one of his most important early works and is well established a cornerstone of an albeit limited repertoire. Perhaps the root of its appeal is to be found in its dedication 'to Christabel', the lyrical melancholy and poetic longing at the concerto's heart reflecting Walton's unrequited passion for Christabel, Lady Aberconway.

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 @91福利社Radio3

2 hours, 47 minutes

Last on

Sat 4 Mar 2023 09:00
91福利社 Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Messiaen's Turangal卯la Symphony in Building a Library with Gillian Moore and Andrew McGregor

Next

Saint-Sa毛ns's Carnival of the Animals in Building a Library with Sarah Devonald and Andrew McGregor

See all episodes from Record Review

Music Played

  • Christoph Graupner

    Cantata GWV1113 / 23b 'Lobet den Herrn alle Heiden': Chorus - Lobet den Herrn

    Ensemble: 脝濒产驳耻迟. Choir: Capella Jenensis.
    • Leipzig 1723 - Telemann; Graupner; Bach.
    • Accentus Music.
    • 6.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Symphony No 5 in B flat major, Op 100: II. Allegro marcato

    Performer: The Cleveland Orchestra.
    • Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5.
    • Cleveland Orchestra.
    • 2.

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Sonata No 20 in A major, D959: III. Schero: Allegra vivace

    Performer: Garrick Ohlsson.
    • Schubert: Piano Sonatas D537 & 959.
    • Hyperion.
    • 6.

  • Missy Mazzoli

    Dark with Excessive Bright (Arr. For solo violin and string quintet)

    Performer: Peter Herresthal. Orchestra: Arctic Philharmonic. Conductor: Tim Weiss.
    • Missy Mazzoli: Dark with Excessive Bright.
    • BIS.
    • 106.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Trio for piano, oboe and bassoon: III. Rondo

    Performer: Emmanuel Strosser. Performer: David Walter. Performer: Giorgio Mandolesi.
    • Poulenc: Sextuor, Trio, Abade, Suite Francaise.
    • Indesens.
    • 6.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Requiem: VII. Confutatis; VIII. Lacrimosa

    Choir: Choeur de Chambre de Namur. Orchestra: Le Concert de la Loge. Conductor: Julien Chauvin.
    • Alpha.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Apollo, 2nd tableau: II. Variation of Apollo (Apollo and the Three Muses)

    Performer: Isabelle Faust. Orchestra: Les Si猫cles. Conductor: Fran莽ois鈥怷avier Roth.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Violin Concerto in D major (1st mvt)

    Performer: Isabelle Faust. Orchestra: Les Si猫cles. Conductor: Fran莽ois鈥怷avier Roth.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Symphony No. 7 'Sinfonia antartica': III. Landscape. Lento

    Conductor: Martyn Brabbins. Orchestra: 91福利社 Symphony Orchestra.
    • Vaughan Williams: Sinfonia antartica & Symphony No 9.
    • Hyperion.
    • 3.

  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58: IV. Finale

    Performer: Rafa艂 Blechacz.
    • DG.

  • Niel Gow

    Niel Gow's lament for the death of his second wife

    Music Arranger: Bjarte Eike. Ensemble: Barokksolistene. Director: Bjarte Eike.
    • The Image Of Melancholy.
    • BIS.
    • 20.

  • Eug猫ne Reuchsel

    Promenades en Provence, Book 1: IV. Nuages ensoleill茅es sur le Cap N猫gre

    Performer: Simon Niemi艅ski.
    • PO7112.

  • Nino Rota

    Prova d'orchestra (Film Music): Galop

    Conductor: Felix Bender.
    • Film Music; Concertos.
    • CapriccioNR.
    • 503.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No 5 in C-sharp Minor: IV. Adagietto. Sehr langsam.

    Conductor: Rafael Payare. Orchestra: Orchestre symphonique de Montr茅al.
    • Mahler Symphony No. 5.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 104.

  • Gy枚rgy Ligeti

    String Quartet No 1, "metamorphoses nocturnes": VII. Tempo di Valse, moderato, con eleganza, un poco capriccioso

    Ensemble: Quatuor Diotima.
    • Metamorphosis Ligeti.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 107.

  • Gy枚rgy Ligeti

    String Quartet No 1, "m茅tamorphoses nocturnes": VIII. Subito prestissimo

    Ensemble: Quatuor Diotima.
    • Metamorphosis Ligeti.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 108.

  • Gy枚rgy Ligeti

    String Quartet No 1, "m茅tamorphoses nocturnes": IX. Allegretto, un poco giovale

    Ensemble: Quatuor Diotima.
    • Metamorphosis Ligeti.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 109.

  • William Byrd

    Arise Lord into thy rest

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • A Watchful Gaze.
    • Coro.
    • 1.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Arise Lord into thy rest

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • A Watchful Gaze.
    • Coro.
    • 6.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor, K491: I. Allegro

    Performer: Robert Levin. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Richard Egarr.
    • Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 21 & 24.
    • AAM Records.
    • 4.

Record Review

The link below each recording takes you directly to the label鈥檚 website. Please be aware that non-UK labels may be cheaper via a record store or an online retailer.

听

9.00am

听

Leipzig 1723 - Telemann; Graupner; Bach

脝濒产驳耻迟

Capella Jenensis

Accentus Music 听ACC30598

听

听

Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5

Cleveland Orchestra

Franz Welser-M枚st

Cleveland Orchestra听 TCO0006

听

听

Schubert: Piano Sonatas D537 & D959

Garrick Ohlsson (piano)

Hyperion听 CDA68398

听

听

Missy Mazzoli: Dark with Excessive Bright

Peter Herresthal (violin)

Arctic Philharmonic

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Tim Weiss

James Gaffigan

BIS听 BIS2572 (Download; Hybrid SACD on 7th April)

听

听

Poulenc: Sextuor, Trio, Abade, Suite Francaise

Quintette Moragues

Emmanuel Strosser (piano)

Indesens 听INDE167

听

听

09.30am 鈥� Alison Balsom: New Releases

听

Mozart: Requiem - Paisiello: Messe pour le sacre de Napol茅on

Sandrine Piau (soprano)

Chantal Santon Jeffery (soprano)

脡l茅onore Pancrazi (mezzo)

Mathias Vidal (tenor)

Thomas Doli茅 (baritone)

Le Concert de la Loge

Ch艙ur de Chambre de Namur

Julien Chauvin

Alpha听 ALPHA919

听

听

Stravinsky: Violin Concerto & Chamber Works

Isabelle Faust (violin)

Fran莽ois-Xavier Roth

Les Si猫cles

Harmonia Mundi听 HMM902718

听

听

Vaughan Williams: Sinfonia antartica & Symphony No 9

Elizabeth Watts (soprano)

91福利社 Symphony Chorus

91福利社 Symphony Orchestra

Martyn Brabbins

Hyperion 听CDA68405

听

听

Rafa艂 Blechacz - Chopin

Rafa艂 Blechacz (piano)

DG听 4863438

听

听

Alison Balsom: On Repeat

听

The Image of Melancholy 鈥� music by Dowland, Byrd, Niel Gow, etc.

Jon Balke (organ / soundscapes)

Berit Norbakken Solset (soprano)

Milos Valent (viola)

Barokksolistene

Bjarte Eike (artistic director & violin)

BIS 听BIS2057 (Hybrid SACD)

听

听

听

听

Listener On Repeat

听

Promenades en Provence: Organ Music of Eug猫ne Reuchsel

Simon Nieminski (organ)

Pro Organo 听PO7112

听

听

听

10.10am 鈥� New Releases

听

Metamorphosis 鈥� Ligeti

Quatuor Diotima

Pentatone听 PTC5187061

听

听

Mahler: Symphony No. 5

Orchestre symphonique de Montr茅al

Rafael Payare

Pentatone 听PTC5187067

听

听

10.30am 鈥� Building a Library: David Owen Norris on Walton鈥檚 Viola Concerto

听

Recommended recording:

听

Lawrence Power (viola)

91福利社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Ilan Volkov

Hyperion听 CDA67587

听

听

Other recommendations:

听

Frederick Riddle (viola)

London Symphony Orchestra

William Walton

Dutton Epoch听 CDAX8003

听

听

Nigel Kennedy (viola)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Andr茅 Previn

Warner Classics听 6805012 (5 CDs)

听

听

听

听

11:15 am

听

Nino Rota: War and Peace; Castel Del Monte; Orchestra Rehearsal; Harp Concerto; Concerto For Strings

Esther Peristerakis (harp)

Marcel Sobol (horn)

WDR Funkhausorchester K枚ln

Felix Bender

Michael Seal

Capriccio听 C5494

听

听

A Watchful Gaze 鈥� music by Byrd, Tabakova, Clemens, etc.

The Sixteen

Harry Christophers

Coro 听COR16195

听

听

11.25am 鈥� Record of the Week

听

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 21 & 24

Robert Levin (fortepiano)

Academy of Ancient Music

Richard Egarr

AAM Records听 AAM041

听

听

听

Broadcast

  • Sat 4 Mar 2023 09:00
    91福利社 Radio 3

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.