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Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2 in Building a Library with Joanna MacGregor and Andrew McGregor

Andrew McGregor with the best new classical releases, joined by composer Soosan Lolavar and pianist Joanna MacGregor, who surveys recordings of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2.

Andrew McGregor with the best new classical releases, joined by composer Soosan Lolavar and pianist Joanna MacGregor, who surveys recordings of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2 and picks her favourite.

c2.10pm Composer Soosan Lolavar joins Andrew to spotlight a batch of new releases that have caught her ear.

3pm Building a Library: pianist Joanna MacGregor joins Andrew to survey recordings of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2 and make a top recommendation.
"I want to tell you that I have written a very small piano concerto with a very small and pretty scherzo", wrote Brahms to Clara Schumann of his new concerto in 1881. He was being ironic. Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat is famously one of the grandest-scale piano concertos in the canon. Following 22 years after his first concerto, the work was an immediate success and has remained popular with pianists and audiences ever since.

Top choice:
Stephen Kovacevich (piano), London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis (cond.)
Philips 4681422

c3.45pm Record of the Week: the new release that has most impressed Andrew this week.

25 days left to listen

1 hour, 59 minutes

Music Played

  • Léo Delibes

    Variation dansée [Pizzicati] (Sylvia)

    Music Arranger: Louis Emma. Performer: Raffaele La Ragione. Performer: François Dumont.
    • Mandoline. Dans les salons fin-de-siècle.
    • Arcana.
    • 4.
  • Alberto Ginastera

    String quartet no.1 Op.20 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Quatuor Voce.
    • Figures argentines.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 2.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    Duetto [Vivo] (Pulcinella Suite)

    Orchestra: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: JoAnn Falletta.
    • Fairy Tales.
    • Naxos.
    • 118.
  • Josquin des Prez

    Une mousque de Biscays

    Performer: Nils Landgren. Ensemble: O/Modernt Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Hugo Ticciati. Music Arranger: Johannes Marmén.
    • Milestones.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 13.
  • Miles Davis

    So What (extract)

    Music Arranger: Gwilym Simcock. Performer: Jordi Carrasco Hjelm. Performer: Nils Landgren. Performer: Gwilym Simcock. Performer: Robert Ikiz. Ensemble: O/Modernt Chamber Orchestra.
    • Milestones.
    • Signum.
    • 14.
  • Ryan Molloy

    Violin Concerto (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Darragh Morgan. Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: David Brophy.
    • Resonus Classics.
  • Billy Barnes

    Have I stayed too long at the fair?

    Music Arranger: Barbara Hannigan. Music Arranger: Bill Elliott. Singer: Barbara Hannigan. Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Barbara Hannigan.
    • Alpha.
  • Béla Bartók

    Hommage a J.S.B. (Mikrokosmos - volume 3 Sz.107)

    Performer: Justin Taylor.
    • Clavecin XX.
    • Alpha.
    • 1.
  • Stephane Gassot

    Bluesimium

    Performer: Justin Taylor.
    • Clavecin XX.
    • ALPHA.
    • 7.
  • Edward Elgar

    Violin Concerto in B minor Op.61 (1st mvt - extract)

    Performer: Frank Peter Zimmermann. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Elgar: Violin Concerto.
    • BIS.
    • 101.
  • Barry Douglas

    Celtic Waltz

    Performer: Barry Douglas.
    • Celtic Nocturne.
    • Chandos.
    • 120.
  • Record of the Week

    • Bohuslav Martinů

      Symphony no.4 (3rd mvt)

      Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jakub Hrůša.
      • Martinu: The Symphonies.
      • Deutsche Grammophon.
      • 14.

Broadcast

  • Saturday14:00

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