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

Pianist Joanna MacGregor chooses her favourite recording of Bartok's Piano Concerto No 2, and Andrew Matthews-Owen picks some of the week's best new classical releases.

Andrew McGregor presents some of the week's best new classical releases.

2.10pm
Andrew Matthews-Owen joins Andrew to discuss four new releases that have caught his attention, ranging from a new piano concerto by Polish pianist, composer and singer Hania Rani to Piano Trios by Faur茅 and Shostakovich.

3pm
Building a Library. Pianist Joanna MacGregor assesses recordings of Bartok's Piano Concerto No 2 and makes a top recommendation.
Composed in 1930-31, Bartok's Piano Concerto No 2 is one of the most notoriously difficult pieces for piano and orchestra. Responding to criticism that his first piano concerto had been too hard for pianists and audiences alike, Bartok attempted to simplify his musical style in his second concerto. But the virtuosity demanded of the soloist in the second is very high. Fellow Hungarian Andr谩s Schiff has said that, "For the piano player, it's a finger-breaking piece ... probably the single most difficult piece that I have ever played, and I usually end up with a keyboard covered by blood."

Top choice:
Bartok
Piano concerto no.2 Sz.95
Geza Anda (piano)
Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin
Ferenc Fricsay (conductor)
Deutsche Grammophon 4473992

3.45pm
Record of the Week. Andrew picks the new recording that has most impressed him this week.

1 hour, 59 minutes

Last on

Sat 15 Nov 2025 14:00
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony no.31 in D major K.297 'Paris' (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Christopher George. Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Sir Charles Mackerras Conducts Mozart.
    • Linn Records.
    • 8.

  • B茅la Bart贸k

    Violin Sonata no.1 Sz.75 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Frank Peter Zimmermann. Performer: Dmytro Choni.
    • Frank Peter Zimmermann plays Bart贸k & Szymanowski.
    • BIS.
    • 2.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Piano Trio no.1 Op.8 (opening)

    Ensemble: Corda Piano Trio.
    • Azure Sky.
    • 5.

  • Gabriel Faur茅

    Piano Trio in D minor Op.120 (opening)

    Ensemble: Corda Piano Trio.
    • Azure Sky.

  • Cl谩udio Santoro

    Viola Concerto (opening)

    Performer: Gabriel Marin. Orchestra: Orquestra Filarm么nica de Goi谩s. Conductor: Neil Thomson.
    • Naxos.

  • Cl谩udio Santoro

    Piano Sonata no.2 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Alessandro Santoro.
    • Naxos.

  • Hania Rani

    Non Fiction [Piano Concerto no.1] (1st mvt - extract)

    Performer: Hania Rani. Performer: Jack Wyllie. Performer: Valentina Magaletti. Ensemble: Manchester Collective. Conductor: Hugh Brunt.
    • Decca.

  • Hania Rani

    Non Fiction [Piano Concerto no.1] (4th mvt - extract)

    Performer: Hania Rani. Performer: Jack Wyllie. Performer: Valentina Magaletti. Ensemble: Manchester Collective. Conductor: Hugh Brunt.
    • Decca.

  • Edward Gregson

    A Vision in a Dream (Epilogue)

    Performer: Jennifer Galloway. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Gernon.
    • Chandos.

  • Edward Gregson

    Tuba Concerto (3rd mvt - extract)

    Performer: Ross Knight. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Gernon.
    • Chandos.

  • Johann Ludwig Bach

    Overture in G major (4th, 5th & 6th mvts)

    Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Gottfried von der Goltz.
    • Grand Tour.
    • 础辫补谤迟茅.
    • 18-30.

  • Richard Strauss

    Ruhe, meine Seele (4 Lieder Op.27)

    Singer: Louise Alder. Orchestra: Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.
    • R. Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, TrV 233 & 4 Lieder, Op. 27, TrV 170.
    • Ondine.
    • 101.

  • Grace Williams

    Violin Concerto (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Geneva Lewis. Orchestra: 麻豆社 National Orchestra of Wales. Orchestra: Jaime Mart铆n.
    • Lyrita.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Ich ruf' zu dir - chorale-prelude BWV.639

    Music Arranger: Ferruccio Busoni. Performer: David Fray.
    • Erato.

  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    The Makropulos Affair (Act 3 ending)

    Singer: Marie Collier. Singer: Gregory Dempsey. Singer: Raimund Herincx. Singer: Eric Shilling. Choir: Sadler鈥檚 Wells Opera Chorus. Orchestra: Sadler鈥檚 Wells Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Jan谩膷ek: V臎c Makropulos, JW I/10 & Z谩pisn铆k zmizel茅ho, JW V/12 (Sung in English).
    • SOMM Recordings.

Broadcast

  • Sat 15 Nov 2025 14:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3

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