Respighi's ballet "La Boutique Fantasque" in Building a Library with Ben Gernon and Andrew McGregor
In Building a Library, conductor Ben Gernon picks his favourite recordings of Respighi's "La Boutique Fantasque" whilst Fiona Maddocks casts an ear over the week's new releases.
Andrew McGregor with the week's best new classical releases.
2.10pm
Andrew is joined by guest reviewer Emily McGregor, who picks four new releases that have caught her ear.
3pm
Building a Library: conductor Ben Gernon picks his favourite recordings of Respighi's balled "La Boutique Fantasque" (sometimes called "The Magic Toyshop"), a piece based on piano music by Rossini. The world premiere, at the Alhambra Theatre in London on 5 June 1919, was danced by Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, with a host of famous artists in the audience, including Pablo Picasso who sketched the final scene from the ballet.
Top choice:
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)
CHANDOS CHAN10081
3.50pm
Record of the Week: Andrew picks a new release that has most impressed him this week.
Last on
Music Played
![]()
Béla Bartók
Ruten kolmejka (44 Duos (Vol.3 [26-36]) Sz.98)
Performer: Giovanni Antonini. Performer: Sheng-Fang Chiu.- Alpha.
![]()
Antonio Vivaldi
Double violin concerto in B flat major RV.525 (1st mvt)
Performer: Giuliano Carmignola. Performer: Daniele Orlando. Ensemble: I Solisti Aquilani.- Arcana.
![]()
Gioachino Rossini
Juste ciel (Le siège de Corinthe
Music Arranger: Wolfgang Renz. Performer: Felix Klieser. Orchestra: I Solisti di Pavia.- Berlin Classics.
![]()
Henri Büsser
Appassionato Op.34
Performer: Timothy Ridout. Performer: Jonathan Ware.- HARMONIA MUNDI.
![]()
Pedro de Escobar
Missa Pro Defunctis (Sanctus & Benedictus)
Choir: La Tempête. Conductor: Simon‐Pierre Bestion.- ALPHA.
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano concerto no.3 in C minor Op.37 (1st mvt - excerpt)
Performer: Jonathan Biss. Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Malin Broman.- ORCHID.
![]()
Ralph Vaughan Williams
O Who Is That That Raps at My Window? (Folksongs from Sussex)
Music Arranger: Roderick Williams. Singer: Roderick Williams. Ensemble: Sacconi Quartet.- ALBION RECORDS.
![]()
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Captain Grant ( Folk Songs from Sussex)
Music Arranger: Roderick Williams. Singer: Roderick Williams. Ensemble: Sacconi Quartet.- ALBION RECORDS.
![]()
William Mival
Vale (opening)
Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.- Vale - A pastoral symphony, Tristan - still, Pluen (feather).
- Signum Classics.
- 101.
![]()
Franz Schubert
String quintet in C major D.956, Op.163 (3rd mvt)
Performer: Emmanuelle Bertrand. Ensemble: Quatuor Parisii.- Schubert: String Quintet - Arpeggione Sonata - Lieder.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 3.
![]()
Franz Schubert
Gretchen am Spinnrade D.118
Singer: Sophie Rennert. Performer: Joseph Middleton.- Irrlichter - Songs by Franz Schubert.
- BIS.
- 106.
![]()
Benjamin Britten
Sonnet (Serenade Op.31)
Singer: Nick Pritchard. Ensemble: London Choral Sinfonia. Conductor: Michael Waldron.- Mentor: Britten & Oldham.
- Orchid Classics.
- 8.
Record of the Week
![]()
Thomas de Hartmann
N'avez-vous point au roi confié vos ennuis? (Esther)
Singer: Corinne Winters. Singer: Olga Bezsmertna. Choir: The Grange Festival Chorus. Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kirill Karabits.- Esther.
- Pentatone.
- 6.
![]()
Thomas de Hartmann
Quand verrai-je, ô Sion! (Esther)
Choir: The Grange Festival Chorus. Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kirill Karabits.- Esther.
- Pentatone.
- 7.
Broadcast
- Last Saturday14:00BBC Radio 3
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
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.
