Respighi's ballet "La Boutique Fantasque" in Building a Library with Ben Gernon and Andrew McGregor

Available for 28 days

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.