Lunchtime Concerts one stop shop

[LMcD]

Anyone heard the Jess Gilliam concert?

Yes - it was hugely enjoyable!

[doversoul1]

The Cardinall's Musick: 4 November

Gibbons, Greaves, Tomkins and more

Live from Wigmore Hall, London.
Presented by Andrew McGregor.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0009zxk

[LMcD]

I'm greatly enjoying the repeats of 4 concerts first broadcast from the John Innes Centre in Norwich last year. Today's programme featured a fine performance by the Eben Quartet of the 2nd Rasumovsky Quartet - the 2nd movement adagio was paricularly beautiful, I think. Not quite sure to make of the Dutilleux, though. Fine playing also from the Lucy Gould Trio over the week.

[LMcD]

Following yesterday's virtuoso display by Joanna MacGregor (discussed in another thread), another worthwhile musical discovery today - Schulhoff's String Quartet No. 1.

[gradus]

Lovely lunchtime recital today by James Newby, a programme of lesser-known Schumann and fairly well known English songs expertly accompanied by Simon Lepper. An hour of delight.

[Pulcinella]

Lovely lunchtime recital today by James Newby, a programme of lesser-known Schumann and fairly well known English songs expertly accompanied by Simon Lepper. An hour of delight.

Not to the BBC Playlist intern: Oliver Cromwel [sic]!

[gurnemanz]

Lovely lunchtime recital today by James Newby, a programme of lesser-known Schumann and fairly well known English songs expertly accompanied by Simon Lepper. An hour of delight.

Thanks for nudge. I normally listen to these concerts but forgot this time. I have always enjoyed the Kerner cycle which is certainly unjustifiably lesser-known. Just listened again online. Beautifully put across. James Newby has just the right voice for these songs. Schumann suggested it might be best suited to a tenor but a baritone with a strong tenor end seems ideal. I love Nathalie Stutzmann's contralto version. In Stirb, Lieb und Freud, a haunting masterpiece, I am always intrigued to hear how the singer renders the novice nun's plaintive farewell to the secular world. He did this beautifully and movingly with effective use of flexible tempo.

[doversoul1]

The Marian Consort: 25 November

The Marian Consort is one of the most sought-after early music vocal ensembles and today presents a programme focussed on their namesake, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Their programme includes Marian anthems spanning over 500 years of music history, from William Byrd and Thomas Tallis to Roxanna Panufnik, Benjamin Britten and Judith Weir.

Presented by Andrew McGregor.


The Marian Consort
Rory McCleery (director)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000bmbh

One of the best (imho) young British groups.

[Pulcinella]

Another intern let loose on the website playlist, by the looks of it: a confusing combination of composer and (I assume) conductor pictures next to the pieces, and the consort has become an orchestra (or, once, an ensemble).
Shoddy, but this now is all too frequently what we get.

[oddoneout]

Another intern let loose on the website playlist, by the looks of it: a confusing combination of composer and (I assume) conductor pictures next to the pieces, and the consort has become an orchestra (or, once, an ensemble).
Shoddy, but this now is all too frequently what we get.

Possibly the same one also responsible for the Afternoon Concert schedule listing? I have just emailed to complain about the 'Music Played' showing a piece by Ascanio Trombetti(which I suspect may be a 'filler' from the lunchtime concert slot), and the James Macmillan piece - but completely omitting the BBC SSO concert from Japan.
As you say this is all too frequent now.

[LMcD]

A remarkably intense, but still disciplined, performance of Elgar's Piano Quintet just now, followed by a fine rendition of Debussy's Violin Sonata. 2nd of 4 programmes of highlights recorded in S Korea last year.

[doversoul1]

Tuesday 17 December

Brahms
Meerfahrt Op 96/4; Anklänge Op 7/3; Verzagen Op 72/4; Über die Heide Op 86/4; An eine Äolsharfe Op 19/5; Die Kränze Op 46/1; Todessehnen Op 86/6
Christian Gerhaher, baritone
Gerold Huber, piano

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ccl9

Not something I normally pay much attention to but I thought this was a superb performance.

[gurnemanz]

Took myself off to Wigmore for Elisabeth Kulman's lunchtime recital yesterday (link). She is a one of the best mezzos around, with great charisma and powers of communication. It was a pleasingly eclectic programme, compellingly put across. I don't think I've heard "Meine Ruh ist hin" directly followed by "Du bist die Ruh" before, although it is an obvious combination. Peace shattered and peace regained. I didn't know the Britten/Auden settings which were most entertainingly done. I knew the Liszt Three Gypsies but it came across so much more vividly with accompanying facial expression and gesture, not overdone and very much adding to the experience. She even blew an imaginary smoke ring into the air. The pianist, Eduard Kutrowatz, made a stylish contribution. He even sang the word ""Madam" in Cole Porter's "Miss Otis Regrets". Very glad I made the effort - one of the most rewarding recitals I've attended for while.

I don't have a single recording of hers and checked some on Spotify when I got back home. I loved her Frauenliebe. The widow's emptiness of the last song "Nun hast du mir den ersten Schmerz getan" is done with such exquisite sadness and desolation. I know it well and at times it was almost like hearing a new song. It's on youtube.

[LMcD]

From Tuesday to Friday this week the Lunchtime Concert features performances from the 2019 Great Music In Irish Houses Festival. Yesterday's typically eclectic selection comprised works by Martinu, Lekeu and Dvorak. Upcoming treats include songs by Muriel Herbert.

[Schrödinger's Cat]

Last Friday's lunchtime cuts off just before the end of the Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence on BBC Sounds - most annoying. I've emailed lunchtime.concert@bbc.co.uk and tweeted to @BBCSounds and @BBCRadio3 to complain. Any better suggestions?