Record Review

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Music: Classical

A thorough look at the week's classical music releases, plus news and recommendations.

A thorough look at the week's classical music releases, plus news and the Radio 3 Disc of the Week recommendation.

Record Review: Andrew McGregor with Edward Seckerson and Alexandra Coghlan

Andrew McGregor with Edward Seckerson and Alexandra Coghlan

BBC Radio 3 - Record Review, Andrew McGregor with Edward Seckerson and Alexandra Coghlan

Building a Library on Tchaikovsky's ballet music, The Nutcracker

The best new classical releases. In Building a Library, Edward Seckerson compares recordings of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and picks a favourite. Plus a round-up of Christmas discs.

9.30 
Building a Library: Edward Seckerson compares recordings of Tchaikovsky's ballet music, The Nutcracker - and picks a favourite.

Tchaikovsky's ballet music, The Nutcracker, has become an annual Christmas crowd-pleaser around the World,.  Particularly popular is the Suite that Tchaikovsky created from the second act of the ballet, which includes many of his most-loved tunes like the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers. The ballet is based on a highly simplified version of ETA Hoffmann's story 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King', adapted for the ballet stage by Alexandre Dumas.  

The ballet was originally premiered on 18th December 1892 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, and it was choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.  Despite its popularity today, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker was received with mixed views at its premiere, not least because critics didn't believe the libretto to be faithful to the Hoffmann tale.  Whilst the dancing was criticised, Tchaikovsky's score was praised for its richness and melodic ingenuity throughout.  


10.50
Music journalist and critic, and author of 'Carols from Kings', Alexandra Coghlan reviews this year's crop of new Christmas releases.

11.25
Andrew chooses an outstanding new release as his Recording of the Week.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

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Andrew McGregor with Edward Seckerson and Alexandra Coghlan

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