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Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suites in Building a Library with Jeremy Sams and Andrew McGregor

Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite version of Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suites; and Gillian Moore explores an exciting selection of new releases.

Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.

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Gillian Moore explores an exciting selection of new releases

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Building a Library
Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite version of Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suites

Georges Bizet composed incidental music to Alphonse Daudet's drama, L'Arlésienne, The Girl from Arles. It was first performed in 1872 at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Paris. The premiere was a failure and Daudet remarked: "It was a resounding flop amid the prettiest music in the world, silk and velvet costumes, and comic opera scenery. I came out of there discouraged, still hearing the silly laughter caused by the emotional scenes." The main pieces of the incidental music are most often heard in the form of two suites for full orchestra; and they have become some of Bizet's most popular compositions.

Recommended version:
Les Musiciens du Louvre
Chœur de l’opéra de Lyon
Marc Minkowski (conductor)
Naïve V5130

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Record of the Week: Andrew’s top pick.

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1 hour, 59 minutes

Music Played

  • Georges Bizet

    La marguerite a fermé sa corolle (Vasco de Gama)

    Singer: Mélissa Petit. Choir: Vlaams Radiokoor. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Metz. Conductor: David Reiland.
    • Georges Bizet: Djamileh, Vasco de Gama, Cantates, Musique chorale, Mélodies & Mu.
    • Bru Zane.
    • 3.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Piano concerto for the left hand in D major (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Seong-Jin Cho. Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Samuel Barber

    Violin Concerto Op.14 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Orchestra: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Conductor: Daniel Harding.
    • Warner Classics.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony no.1 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Bruno Walter.
    • Pristine.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony no.1 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Bruno Walter.
    • Pristine.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Denn alles Fleisch es ist wie Gras (Ein deutsches Requiem Op.45)

    Singer: Kate Lindsey. Singer: Jóhann Kristinsson. Choir: Chor der KlangVerwaltung. Orchestra: Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg. Conductor: Kent Nagano.
    • BIS.
  • Abel Selaocoe

    Camagu

    Performer: Abel Selaocoe. Ensemble: Manchester Collective.
    • Hymns of Bantu.
    • Warner.
    • 12.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (11 Chorale-preludes Op.122)

    Music Arranger: Ferruccio Busoni. Performer: Samson Tsoy.
    • Linn.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel Op.24

    Performer: Samson Tsoy.
    • Linn.
  • Sebastian Fagerlund

    Autumn Equinox (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Lapin kamariorkesteri.
    • BIS.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    Le Rossignol

    Singer: Sabine Devieilhe. Singer: Chantal Santon Jeffery. Singer: Lucile Richardot. Singer: Cyrille Dubois. Singer: Jean-Sébastien Bou. Singer: Laurent Naouri. Singer: Victor Sicard. Orchestra: Les Siècles. Conductor: François‐Xavier Roth.
    • Erato.

Broadcast

  • Sat 22 Feb 2025 14:00

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