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Mendelssohn's 'Scottish' Symphony in Building a Library with Katy Hamilton and Andrew McGregor

Music critic Richard Bratby's pick of the week's new releases, and Dr Katy Hamilton recommends a top recording of Mendelssohn's 'Scottish' Symphony in Building a Library.

2.10 The Spectator's Chief Classical Music Critic Richard Bratby talks presenter Andrew McGregor through his pick of the week's new releases.

3.00 Building a Library: Dr Katy Hamilton recommends a top recording of Mendelssohn's Third Symphony, known as the 'Scottish'. The sombre opening theme came to him after he visited the chapel in the ruins of Holyrood Abbey in 1829 although his love of the Scottish landscape was also an inspiration for movements in the symphony. Mendelssohn didn't complete the symphony until 1842.

Top choice:
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor)
Teldec 9031723086

3.50 Record of the Week: Andrew McGregor chooses the recording that has impressed him the most this week.

1 hour, 59 minutes

Last on

Sat 11 Jul 2026 14:00
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Carl Heinrich Biber

    Partita - 1712 no. 3 in A major (Praeludium)

    Performer: Florian Deuter. Performer: M贸nica Waisman. Performer: James Johnstone. Ensemble: Harmonie Universelle.
    • Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Harmonia artificioso-ariosa.
    • Accent.
    • 11.

  • Carl Heinrich Biber

    Partita - 1712 no. 3 in A major (Amener)

    Performer: Florian Deuter. Performer: M贸nica Waisman. Performer: James Johnstone. Ensemble: Harmonie Universelle.
    • Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Harmonia artificioso-ariosa.
    • Accent.
    • 13.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Fantasia (Sonate ecossaise) in F sharp minor Op.28 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Jorge Bolet.
    • Jorge Bolet. The Ambassador Auditorium Recitals.
    • First Hand Records.
    • 1.

  • Ignace Joseph Pleyel

    String Quintet in G minor (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Pettman Ensemble.
    • NAXOS.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Zu Strassburg auf der Schanz (Lieder und Ges盲nge)

    Singer: Mauro Peter. Performer: Joseph Middleton.
    • Mahler: Lieder der Jugend. Songs of Youth and Awakening.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS.
    • 6.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Suite Op.117 (Evening in Spring / In the Summer)

    Performer: Sueye Park. Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Valentin Egel.
    • BIS.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano trio in A major (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: E.T.A. Trio.
    • Trio E.T.A. plays un /// known.
    • SWR MUSIC.

  • Edvard Grieg

    March of the trolls/dwarfs (Lyric pieces, bk.5 Op.54)

    Performer: Peter Donohoe.
    • Grieg: Lyric Pieces, Vol. 2.
    • Chandos.
    • 116.

  • Marc鈥怉ntoine Charpentier

    Act茅on (Allons, allons, marchons, courons)

    Performer: Nicolas Achten. Singer: Wei-Lian Huang. Singer: Morgane Heyse. Singer: Sojeong Im. Singer: Andrea Gavagnin. Singer: Emanuele Petracco. Singer: Andres Soler Castano. Ensemble: Scherzi Musicali.
    • Charpentier: Act茅on.
    • Ricercar.
    • 21.

  • Marc鈥怉ntoine Charpentier

    Act茅on (D茅esse par qui je respire)

    Performer: Nicolas Achten. Singer: Wei-Lian Huang. Ensemble: Scherzi Musicali.
    • Charpentier: Act茅on.
    • Ricercar.
    • 22.

  • Marc鈥怉ntoine Charpentier

    Act茅on (Vos voeux sont exaucez)

    Performer: Nicolas Achten. Singer: Wei-Lian Huang. Singer: Morgane Heyse. Singer: Sojeong Im. Singer: Andrea Gavagnin. Singer: Emmanuele Petracco. Singer: Andres Soler Castano. Ensemble: Scherzi Musicali.
    • Charpentier: Act茅on.
    • Ricercar.
    • 23.

  • Marc鈥怉ntoine Charpentier

    Acteon (Sc.1 Air)

    Performer: Nicolas Achten. Singer: Wei-Lian Huang. Ensemble: Scherzi Musicali.
    • Charpentier: Act茅on.
    • Ricercar.
    • 24.

  • Jane Mary Guest

    Violin sonata in B flat major Op.1 no.3 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Yi-heng Yang. Performer: Aisslinn Nosky.
    • A Richness of Fancy: The Complete Sonatas Op. 1 of Jane Mary Guest.
    • Deux-Elles.
    • 6.

  • Record of the Week

    • Antonio Vivaldi

      Violin concerto in D major RV.213a 'per Signora Anna Maria' (3rd mvt)

      Performer: Andr茅s Gabetta. Performer: Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi. Ensemble: Gabetta Consort.
      • From Venice to Buenos Aires.
      • Pentatone.
      • 3.

    • Astor Piazzolla

      Allegro dell'alba tangabile

      Performer: Andr茅s Gabetta. Performer: Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi. Music Arranger: Roberto Molinelli. Ensemble: Gabetta Consort.
      • From Venice to Buenos Aires.
      • Pentatone.
      • 4.

    • Luca Salvadori

      Ouverture Tango-Baroque

      Performer: Andr茅s Gabetta. Performer: Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi. Ensemble: Gabetta Consort.
      • From Venice to Buenos Aires.
      • Pentatone.
      • 5.

Broadcast

  • Sat 11 Jul 2026 14:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3

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