Record Review Podcast

Gillian Moore makes a recommendation from the available recordings of Berg's opera, Wozzeck

Robert Philip makes a recommendation from the available recordings of Dvorak's American Quartet

Simon Heighes visits an unusual recording session at the Royal College of Music where students and early recording experts have teamed up to recreate Arthur Nikisch and the Berlin Philharmonic'€™s 1913 recording of Beethoven'€™s 5th Symphony. The original recording, one of the earliest one and most successful attempts to record an entire symphony using (close to) a full orchestra, used an acoustic horn to cut into a wax disc. Simon talked to participants in the 2014 re-enactment about the challenges of re-creating a recording process that pre-dated the use of electronic microphones.

Caroline Gill compares the available recordings of Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli and makes a personal recommendation.

Chris De Souza with a personal recommnedation from recordings of Schubert's 'Unfinished' Eighth Symphony

In a CD Review exclusive, Andrew McGregor talks to legendary pianist Alfred Brendel. Now retired from the concert platform, Brendel’s career stretched over six decades and saw collaborations with the leading conductors, singers and instrumentalists of the day. He shares with Andrew his memories of a fascinating career in an interview rich in insight and his characteristic dry humour

Harriet Smith recommends a recording from the available versions of Beethoven's Ghost Piano Trio.

John Deathridge recommends a version from the available recordings of Bruckner's 7th Symphony

Mark Lowther surveys the available recordings of Bach's four orchestral suites and makes his personal recommendation

Richard Wigmore with a personal recommendation from recordings of Schumann's negelected but deeply-felt Second Symphony

Simon Heighes compares recordings of Purcell's Ode Hail! Bright Cecilia and makes a personal recommendation

Richard Osborne compares recordings of Rossini's final opera and makes a personal recommendation

Martin Cotton compares recordings of Stravinsky’s ballet Petrushka, and makes a personal recommendation

Recorded live at Sage Gateshead in conversation with Andrew McGregor, Kenneth Hamilton with a personal recommendation from recordings of Chopin's set of 24 Preludes for piano, Op.28

Sarah Devonald with a personal recommendation from recordings of Strauss's joyful, autumnal Oboe Concerto

Berta Joncus with a personal recommendation from the many recordings of Mozart’s opera Singspiel 'Die Entführung aus dem Serail', the work that prompted the infamous (and now contested) complaint that there were “too many notes”!

Stephen Johnson recommends a version from the available recordings of Shostakovich's powerful 10th Symphony

Andrew talks to conductor Vasily Petrenko about completing his cycle of Shostakovich's symphonies for record label Naxos, and his other recent recordings of Russian repertoire.

Ivan Hewett with a personal recommendation from recordings of Brahms's piano quartet in G minor, Op.25

David Owen Norris compares recordings of Holst's The Planets and makes a personal recommendation