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Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana in Building a Library with Iain Burnside and Andrew McGregor

Andrew McGregor with the week's best new classical releases, plus news and recommendations.

Andrew McGregor with the week's best new classical releases.

2.10pm
Andrew is joined by guest reviewer Flora Willson, who picks four new releases that have caught her ear.

3pm
Building a Library: Iain Burnside surveys some of the many recordings of Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana, and makes a personal top recommendation. Widely considered to be one of the classic verismo operas, Cavalleria rusticana premiered in Rome in 1890 to rapturous applause. Taking place in a Sicilian village on Easter Sunday, the one-act opera is a passionate tale of love and betrayal.

Top choice:
Renata Scotto (soprano)
Placido Domingo (tenor)
Pablo Elvira (baritone)
National Philharmonic Orchestra
James Levine (conductor)
RCA 74321395002

3.50pm
Record of the Week: Andrew picks a new release that has most impressed him this week.

1 hour, 59 minutes

Last on

Sat 4 Apr 2026 14:00
Â鶹Éç Radio 3

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Beethoven's Waldstein Sonata in Building a Library with Allyson Devenish and Andrew McGregor

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Haydn's Matin, Midi and Soir Symphonies in Building a Library with Nicholas Kenyon and Sarah Walker

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Music Played

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    The little girl Juliet (Romeo and Juliet Op.64)

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

  • Joseph Haydn

    The Seven last words of our Saviour on the Cross H.20.2 (Consummatum est)

    Singer: Kateryna Kasper. Choir: RIAS Chamber Choir. Orchestra: Konzerthausorchester Berlin. Conductor: Justin Doyle.
    • Haydn: Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze, Hob. XX:2.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 8.

  • Paul Büttner

    Symphony no.4 in B minor (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Christopher Ward.
    • Capriccio.

  • Amy Beach

    Extase (3 Songs Op.21)

    Singer: Elsa Dreisig. Orchestra: Orchestra del teatro Carlo Felice di Genova. Conductor: Massimo Zanetti.
    • Invocation.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 10.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    O mio babbino caro (Gianni Schicchi)

    Singer: Elsa Dreisig. Orchestra: Orchestra del teatro Carlo Felice di Genova. Conductor: Massimo Zanetti.
    • Invocation.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 3.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Barcarolle no.12 in E flat major Op.106b

    Performer: Pascal Rogé.
    • DECCA.

  • Jonathan Dove

    Accordion Concerto 'Northern Lights' (1st mvt)

    Performer: Owen Murray. Orchestra: Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra. Conductor: James MacMillan.
    • Three British Accordion Concertos.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 108.

  • William Walton

    Symphony no.2 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kazuki Yamada.
    • Walton: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2; Orb and Sceptre (Live).
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 6.

  • Lodovico Agostini

    Chiudi gli orrechi (Le lagrime del peccatore)

    Ensemble: Doulce Mémoire. Conductor: Denis Raisin-Dadre.
    • Lasso & Agostini: Lagrime di San Pietro.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 13.

  • Orlande de Lassus

    Come falde di neve (Lagrime di S Pietro)

    Ensemble: Doulce Mémoire. Conductor: Denis Raisin-Dadre.
    • Lasso & Agostini: Lagrime di San Pietro.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 14.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony no.9 in E flat major Op.70 (4th & 5th mvts)

    Orchestra: St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Arvīds Jansons.
    • Shostakovich: Symphonies 5 & 9.
    • ICA Classics.
    • 9.

  • Vyacheslav Gryaznov

    Rhapsody in Black on themes from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess (The Night Bar)

    Performer: Vyacheslav Gryaznov. Orchestra: Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Wayne Marshall.
    • Rhapsody in Black.
    • ´¡±è²¹°ù³Ùé.
    • 8.

  • Vyacheslav Gryaznov

    Rhapsody in Black on themes from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess (Bess appears)

    Performer: Vyacheslav Gryaznov. Orchestra: Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Wayne Marshall.
    • Rhapsody in Black.
    • ´¡±è²¹°ù³Ùé.
    • 9.

  • Record of the Week

    • Leonardo García Alarcón

      La Passione di Gesù (Canto AΩ - La Crocifissione; Il pianto della Maddalena)

      Singer: Mariana Flores. Ensemble: Cappella Mediterranea. Conductor: Leonardo García Alarcón. Conductor: Leonardo García Alarcón.
      • García-Alarcón: La Passione di Gesù, Overo il vangelo di Giuda.
      • Alpha Classics.
      • 16.

    • Leonardo García Alarcón

      La Passione di Gesù (Canto I - Il caos; Il luogo secreto)

      Singer: Julie Roset. Ensemble: Cappella Mediterranea. Conductor: Leonardo García Alarcón.
      • García-Alarcón: La Passione di Gesù, Overo il vangelo di Giuda.
      • Alpha Classics.
      • 17.

    • Leonardo García Alarcón

      La Passione di Gesù (Canto I - Il caos; La colpevolezza degli apostoli)

      Singer: Victor Sicard. Ensemble: Cappella Mediterranea. Conductor: Leonardo García Alarcón.
      • García-Alarcón: La Passione di Gesù, Overo il vangelo di Giuda.
      • Alpha Classics.
      • 18.

    • Leonardo García Alarcón

      La Passione di Gesù (Canto I - Il caos; Il pianto della madonna)

      Singer: Ana Quintans. Ensemble: Cappella Mediterranea. Conductor: Leonardo García Alarcón.
      • García-Alarcón: La Passione di Gesù, Overo il vangelo di Giuda.
      • Alpha Classics.
      • 19.

Broadcast

  • Sat 4 Apr 2026 14:00
    Â鶹Éç Radio 3

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