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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.

29 days left to listen

1 hour, 59 minutes

Music Played

  • Béla Bartók

    Ruten kolmejka (44 Duos (Vol.3 [26-36]) Sz.98)

    Performer: Giovanni Antonini. Performer: Sheng-Fang Chiu.
    • Alpha.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in B flat major RV.525 for 2 violins and orchestra: 1st mvt; Allegro

    Performer: Giuliano Carmignola. Performer: Daniele Orlando. Ensemble: I Solisti Aquilani.
    • Arcana.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    Juste ciel (Le siège de Corinthe

    Performer: Felix Klieser. Music Arranger: Wolfgang Renz. 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 (Senza ironia)

    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

    Performer: Joseph Middleton. Singer: Sophie Rennert.
    • 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.
  • 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.

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