Main content

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), Irène Joachim (soprano), Germaine Cernay (mezzo-soprano), Paul Cabanel (bass), Jacques Jansen (tenor), Emile Rousseau (bass), Leïla Ben Sedira (soprano), Armand Narçon (bass)
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Choeurs Yvonne Gouverné / Roger Désormière (cond.)
Warner 3457702 (1942 mono recording)

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

7 hours left to listen

1 hour, 59 minutes

Last on

Sat 6 Dec 2025 14:00

Music Played

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    The Human Comedy Op.37 (March)

    Orchestra: Malmö 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: Malmö 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: Tõnu Kaljuste.
    • Tobias: Joonas.
    • Ondine.
    • 209.
  • Frédéric Chopin

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

    Performer: Mikhail Pletnev.
    • Chopin & Scriabin: Préludes.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 23.
  • Frédéric Chopin

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

    Performer: Mikhail Pletnev.
    • Chopin & Scriabin: Préludes.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 24.
  • Alexander Scriabin

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

    Performer: Mikhail Pletnev.
    • Chopin & Scriabin: Préludes.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 25.
  • Thomas Adès

    Forgotten dances (Carillon de ville)

    Performer: Sean Shibe.
    • Pentatone.
  • Thomas Adès

    Növények (Kertész Leszek (I'll be a gardener)]

    Singer: Katalin Károlyi. Performer: Joseph Havlat. Performer: Graham Mitchell. Ensemble: Ruisi Quartet.
    • öéԲ.
    • Platoon.
    • 101.
  • George Kiallmark

    Robin Adair

    Performer: Jeneba Kanneh‐Mason.
    • Sony.
  • Frédéric 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.