Record Review Podcast

Rob Cowan's live discussion of recordings of Bartok's Music for Strings Percussion & Celesta

Gillian Moore makes a recommendation from the available recordings of Berg's opera, Wozzeck

Robert Philip makes a recommendation from the available recordings of Dvorak's American Quartet

Simon Heighes visits an unusual recording session at the Royal College of Music where students and early recording experts have teamed up to recreate Arthur Nikisch and the Berlin Philharmonic'€™s 1913 recording of Beethoven'€™s 5th Symphony. The original recording, one of the earliest one and most successful attempts to record an entire symphony using (close to) a full orchestra, used an acoustic horn to cut into a wax disc. Simon talked to participants in the 2014 re-enactment about the challenges of re-creating a recording process that pre-dated the use of electronic microphones.

Caroline Gill compares the available recordings of Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli and makes a personal recommendation.

Chris De Souza with a personal recommnedation from recordings of Schubert's 'Unfinished' Eighth Symphony

In a CD Review exclusive, Andrew McGregor talks to legendary pianist Alfred Brendel. Now retired from the concert platform, Brendel’s career stretched over six decades and saw collaborations with the leading conductors, singers and instrumentalists of the day. He shares with Andrew his memories of a fascinating career in an interview rich in insight and his characteristic dry humour

Harriet Smith recommends a recording from the available versions of Beethoven's Ghost Piano Trio.

John Deathridge recommends a version from the available recordings of Bruckner's 7th Symphony

Mark Lowther surveys the available recordings of Bach's four orchestral suites and makes his personal recommendation