Record Review

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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

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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: Mendelssohn's Octet, with Katy Hamilton and Andrew McGregor

Mendelssohn's Octet, with Katy Hamilton and Andrew McGregor

BBC Radio 3 - Record Review, Mendelssohn's Octet, with Katy Hamilton and Andrew McGregor

Katy Hamilton chooses her favourite recording of Mendelssohn's Octet.

Katy Hamilton chooses her favourite recording of Mendelssohn's joyous Octet for strings, plus a reviews of the best new and recent releases.

9.30 Building a Library
Katy Hamilton compares recordings of Felix Mendelssohn's Octet for strings in E flat major and chooses her favourite.

There has never been a more prodigiously talented child composer than Felix Mendelssohn and proof of that is his Octet. Written in 1825 when he was 16 years old, it was unprecedented in form: there had been double quartets but nothing like this where all the instruments are combined with unique brilliance and clarity of texture. Above all, though, it's the Octet's sheer lyrical joyousness and exuberant energy that set it apart, the teen Mendelssohn's generosity of spirit thrillingly combined with his compositional genius.

10.45
Tom Service has been listening to new orchestral releases, including Bruckner from Bamberg and Vienna.

11.20
Record of the Week
Andrew recommends an outstanding new release.

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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Mendelssohn's Octet, with Katy Hamilton and Andrew McGregor

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