Walton's Belshazzar's Feast in Building a Library with David Owen Norris and Andrew McGregor

Andrew McGregor with the best of the week's new classical releases, joined by Allyson Devenish and David Owen Norris, who surveys recordings of Walton's Belshazzar's Feast.

c. 2.10pm Pianist Allyson Devenish joins Andrew to review a batch of new releases that have caught her ear.

c. 3pm Building a Library: pianist and composer David Owen Norris joins Andrew to survey recordings of Willam Walton's Belshazzar's Feast and pick a top recommendation.

Walton wrote his Biblical cantata Belshazzar's Feast, depicting the collapse of the Babylonian kingdom, for the 1931 Leeds Triennial Festival. The festival's director, conductor Thomas Beecham, told Walton "as you will probably never hear this work again, you might as well chuck in a couple of brass bands". Walton was happy to do so, and the antiphonal off-stage brass became an important part of the work's dramatic excitement. Beecham's prophecy turned out to be entirely incorrect - the work has been a firm favourite of choirs and audiences ever since.

Top choice:
Thomas Hampson (baritone), Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle (conductor)
Warner Classics 5565922

c.3.45pm Record of the Week. Andrew's top pick of the week's new releases.