Essential Classics seems to have wholly lost its R3 Forum audience, given that the last post on the dedicated thread was mine ages ago about guest Nicholas Bratza.
Still, if I like the look of the person who is the guest, I make a point of hearing it.
This week I was glad I did: John Bird was I thought a wonderful guest. Humorous (of course) and sage, his tastes in and insights about music were revelatory in a quiet way.
From Berio and Boulez via Sibelius to LvB and Haydn, it's very good radio I think (and the recording of his late wife playing Brahms v moving).
The main discoveries for me:
Berio's own recording of 4 parts of 'Sinfonia' with the NYPO (just after the première) - the 'Mahler's Resurrection' movement absolutely brilliant;
Maazel's Sibelius 4 which has for some reason passed me by: the last movement fabulous.
Two purchases.
Worth a listen - the last 30 minutes of each programme last week http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode..._Sarah_Walker/
Still, if I like the look of the person who is the guest, I make a point of hearing it.
This week I was glad I did: John Bird was I thought a wonderful guest. Humorous (of course) and sage, his tastes in and insights about music were revelatory in a quiet way.
From Berio and Boulez via Sibelius to LvB and Haydn, it's very good radio I think (and the recording of his late wife playing Brahms v moving).
The main discoveries for me:
Berio's own recording of 4 parts of 'Sinfonia' with the NYPO (just after the première) - the 'Mahler's Resurrection' movement absolutely brilliant;
Maazel's Sibelius 4 which has for some reason passed me by: the last movement fabulous.
Two purchases.
Worth a listen - the last 30 minutes of each programme last week http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode..._Sarah_Walker/
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