Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Debussy's Pelleas et Melisande in Building a Library with Jeremy Sams and Andrew McGregor

Jeremy Sams' personal recommendation from recordings of Debussy's only completed opera to buy, download or stream.

Jeremy Sams' personal recommendation from recordings of Debussy's only completed opera in Building a Library.

Presented by Andrew McGregor.

2.00pm
Allyson Devenish's pick of new releases this week

3.00pm
Building a Library
Jeremy Sams talks to Andrew about a huge range of performances of Debussy's opera Pelleas et Melisande, culminating in a personal recommendation for the version to buy, download or stream.

Top choice:
Henri-Bertrand Etcheverry (baritone), Ir猫ne Joachim (soprano), Germaine Cernay (mezzo-soprano), Paul Cabanel (bass), Jacques Jansen (tenor), Emile Rousseau (bass), Le茂la Ben Sedira (soprano), Armand Nar莽on (bass)
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Choeurs Yvonne Gouvern茅 / Roger D茅sormi猫re (cond.)
Warner 3457702 (1942 mono recording)

3.45pm
Record of the Week
Andrew's pick of the best of the best this week

1 hour, 59 minutes

Last on

Sat 6 Dec 2025 14:00

Music Played

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    The Human Comedy Op.37 (March)

    Orchestra: Malm枚 Operaorkester. Conductor: Mark Fitz-Gerald.
    • Shostakovich: Human Comedy, Op. 37, The Nose, Op. 15 & The Gunshot, Op. 24.
    • 122.
  • Claude Debussy

    Romance 'Silence ineffable'

    Singer: Julie Roset. Performer: Susan Manoff.
    • ALPHA.
  • Isabelle Aboulker

    L' Inconstante

    Singer: Julie Roset. Performer: Susan Manoff.
    • ALPHA.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    The Human Comedy Op.37 (Scandal. Hullabaloo)

    Orchestra: Malm枚 Operaorkester. Conductor: Mark Fitz-Gerald.
    • Shostakovich: Human Comedy, Op. 37, The Nose, Op. 15 & The Gunshot, Op. 24.
    • Naxos.
    • 139.
  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Das Mirakel (The Knight Is Knocking ... Rebellion)

    Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Steffen Tast.
    • Humperdinck: Das Mirakel, EHWV 151.
    • CapriccioNR.
    • 105.
  • Charles Gounod

    Prelude in C minor

    Performer: Warren Lee.
    • Gounod: Piano Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 108.
  • Charles Gounod

    La veneziana

    Performer: Warren Lee.
    • Gounod: Piano Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 109.
  • Rudolf Tobias

    De profundis clamavi (Joonas)

    Choir: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Orchestra: Tallinna Kammerorkester. Conductor: T玫nu Kaljuste.
    • Tobias: Joonas.
    • Ondine.
    • 209.
  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    24 Preludes Op.28 (no.23 in F major)

    Performer: Mikhail Pletnev.
    • Chopin & Scriabin: Pr茅ludes.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 23.
  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    24 Preludes Op.28 (no.24 in D minor)

    Performer: Mikhail Pletnev.
    • Chopin & Scriabin: Pr茅ludes.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 24.
  • Alexander Scriabin

    24 Preludes Op.11 (no.1 in C major)

    Performer: Mikhail Pletnev.
    • Chopin & Scriabin: Pr茅ludes.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 25.
  • Thomas Ad猫s

    Forgotten dances (Carillon de ville)

    Performer: Sean Shibe.
    • Pentatone.
  • Thomas Ad猫s

    N枚v茅nyek (Kert茅sz Leszek (I'll be a gardener)]

    Singer: Katalin K谩rolyi. Performer: Joseph Havlat. Performer: Graham Mitchell. Ensemble: Ruisi Quartet.
    • 狈枚惫茅苍测别办.
    • Platoon.
    • 101.
  • George Kiallmark

    Robin Adair

    Performer: Jeneba Kanneh鈥怣ason.
    • Sony.
  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Barcarolle in F sharp major Op.60

    Performer: Eric Lu.
    • Winner of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition Warsaw 2025 (.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Sat 6 Dec 2025 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.