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Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major in Building a Library with Yshani Perinpanayagam and Andrew McGregor

Ben Gernon joins Andrew McGregor to discuss his selection of the best new releases, and Building a Library on Maurice Ravel's Piano concerto in G major with Yshani Perinpanayagam.

Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.

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Ben Gernon selects his choice of the best new releases

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Yshani Perinpanayagam picks her favourite recording of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major.

Following its successful premiere at the Salle Pleyel in Paris in 1932, by the pianist Marguerite Long, Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major quickly toured across multiple European and American destinations, and became an instant hit. After attended the work's debut, the critic 脡mile Vuillermoz praised Ravel for his profound invention鈥� and 鈥榝reshness of inspiration鈥�, and yet the composer appears to have taken the concerti of Mozart and Saint-Saens as a structural model, even declaring that the concluding movement was conceived 'in accordance with the most immutable traditions'. Ravel's shimmering orchestration, deployment of instrumental effects, and jazz-inflected harmonies, nevertheless, belie the innovative spirit with which he imbued the work.

Recommended recording:
Krystian Zimerman (piano)
Cleveland Orchestra
Pierre Boulez (conductor)
Deutsche Grammophon 449 213-2

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Record of the Week: Andrew鈥檚 top pick.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 鈥渁sk 麻豆社 Sounds to play Record Review鈥�

1 hour, 59 minutes

Last on

Sat 18 Oct 2025 14:00
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    Introduction and rondo capriccioso Op.28 (ending)

    Performer: Mar铆a Due帽as. Orchestra: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Conductor: Mihhail Gerts.
    • Paganini: 24 Caprices 鈥� Caprices by Berlioz, Cervell贸, Kreisler, Ortiz, Saint-Sa.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 11.

  • Johannes Brahms

    String Quartet no.2 in A minor Op.51 no.2 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Zehetmair Quartett.
    • ECM.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto no.4 in G major (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Gli Incogniti. Director: Amandine Beyer.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony no.5 in D minor Op.47 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Alain Altinoglu.
    • Alpha.

  • Justin Hurwitz

    Mia & Sebastian's Theme (La La Land)

    Music Arranger: Randy Kerber. Performer: Lang Lang.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Ernesto Nazareth

    Brejeiro

    Performer: Lang Lang.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Jacques Offenbach

    La Boulang猫re a des 茅cus, Act I Scene 4: Ah ! Qu'elle est fi猫re

    Singer: V茅ronique Gens. Orchestra: Orchestre national des Pays de la Loire. Choir: Chorus of the Loire Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Herv茅 Niquet.
    • Alpha.

  • Jacques Offenbach

    La Diva (Monsieur Etienne, mon coiffeur)

    Singer: V茅ronique Gens. Choir: Ch艙ur Lyrique Saint-脡tienne Loire. Orchestra: Orchestre national des Pays de la Loire. Conductor: Herv茅 Niquet.
    • Alpha.

  • Franz Schubert

    Die Stadt (Schwanengesang D.957)

    Music Arranger: Franz Liszt. Performer: Alexandre Kantorow.
    • Alexandre Kantorow plays Brahms and Schubert.
    • BIS.
    • 108.

  • Franz Schreker

    Die Gezeichneten (Overture)

    Orchestra: Orchestre national des Pays de la Loire. Conductor: Sascha Goetzel.
    • Schreker 路 Korngold 路 Krenek.
    • BIS.
    • 101.

  • Mel Bonis

    Un Soir Op.77

    Singer: Hugh Cutting. Performer: Audrey Hyland.
    • Linn Records.

  • Tom Lehrer

    Poisoning Pigeons in the Park

    Singer: Hugh Cutting. Performer: Audrey Hyland.
    • Linn Records.

  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    L'Anc锚tre (Viens ! suis-moi)

    Singer: H茅l猫ne Carpentier. Singer: Ga毛lle Arquez. Singer: Jennifer Holloway. Singer: Julien Henric. Orchestra: Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Kazuki Yamada.
    • Camille Saint-Sa毛ns: L'Anc锚tre.
    • Bru Zane.
    • 20.

  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    L' Ancetre (Qu'attends-tu? Tire donc?)

    Singer: Ga毛lle Arquez. Singer: Jennifer Holloway. Orchestra: Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Kazuki Yamada.
    • Camille Saint-Sa毛ns: L'Anc锚tre.
    • Bru Zane.
    • 21.

  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    L'Anc锚tre (Quand la vue est troubl茅e)

    Singer: Jennifer Holloway. Singer: Ga毛lle Arquez. Singer: Matthieu L茅croart. Orchestra: Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Kazuki Yamada.
    • Camille Saint-Sa毛ns: L'Anc锚tre.
    • Bru Zane.
    • 22.

  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    L'Anc锚tre (Tu s猫meras de fleurs ma tombe)

    Singer: Ga毛lle Arquez. Orchestra: Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Kazuki Yamada.
    • Camille Saint-Sa毛ns: L'Anc锚tre.
    • Bru Zane.
    • 23.

Broadcast

  • Sat 18 Oct 2025 14:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3

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