Jonathan Cross with a personal recommendation for Stravinsky's second ballet Petrushka,

Stravinsky's Petrushka

William Byrd

A survey of William Byrd with Kirsten Gibson and Andrew McGregor.

The essential works by English composer William Byrd.

Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite recording of Poulenc's Piano Concerto.

Poulenc’s Piano Concerto in C sharp minor

Roger Parker's recommendation for the ultimate recording of Puccini's opera Tosca.

Puccini's Tosca

Kate Molleson chooses her favourite recording of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf

Composer John Rutter's recommendation of a recording of Brahms's A German Requiem

Brahms's A German Requiem

Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Smetana's The Bartered Bride

Smetana's The Bartered Bride

Flora Willson chooses her favourite recording of Mahler's Rückert-Lieder

Mahler's Rückert-Lieder

Mark Lowther nominates the best recording of Sibelius's sixth symphony

Sibelius's Symphony No. 6

Simon Heighes chooses his favourite recording of Handel's Coronation Anthems

Handel's Coronation Anthems

Building a Library: a guide to the best recordings of the greatest classical music. Each week an expert and enthusiast brings along a  wide range of recordings of a well-known piece. They explore the music and the different ways of performing it, ending with a recommendation for your library

Sarah Devonald chooses her favourite recording of Schubert Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D. 485.When he wrote his fifth symphony at the age of 19, Schubert was working unhappily as an assistant teacher in his father's school. But he was nevertheless on a compositional roll with songs, chamber music and four other symphonies to his name, all of which were performed by amateur and professional musicians made up from family and friends.This genial, small-scale group gave the 1816 premiere of the symphony in the home of Otto Hatwig, violinist in Vienna's Burgtheater orchestra. And the jolly music seems to echo that cheerful ensemble, Schubert picking up from the classical models of 25 years earlier, seemingly oblivious to Beethoven's decade-plus of ground-breaking musical developments that were soon to become so influential.

Sarah Devonald chooses her favourite recording of Schubert Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D. 485. When he wrote his fifth symphony at the age of 19, Schubert was working unhappily as an assistant teacher in his father's school. But he was nevertheless on a compositional roll with songs, chamber music and four other symphonies to his name, all of which were performed by amateur and professional musicians made up from family and friends. This genial, small-scale group gave the 1816 premiere of the symphony in the home of Otto Hatwig, violinist in Vienna's Burgtheater orchestra. And the jolly music seems to echo that cheerful ensemble, Schubert picking up from the classical models of 25 years earlier, seemingly oblivious to Beethoven's decade-plus of ground-breaking musical developments that were soon to become so influential.

Schubert's Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D. 485

Erik Levi chooses his favourite recording of Leoš Janáček's String Quartet No 1 'Kreutzer Sonata'Composed in only nine days in 1923, Janáček's compact, emotionally supercharged String Quartet No 1 takes its title from Leo Tolstoy’s 1889 novella where a wife and her violinist lover play Beethoven’s 'Kreutzer' Sonata together before the jealous husband murders his adulterous wife. Janáček's music roils with the conflicted passions of tormented love, desire and jealously of Tolstoy's story. But there was emotional turmoil in Janáček's life, too. Long-fed up with his wife, in 1915 Janáček had fallen deeply in love with Kamila Stösslová who, happily married and 40 years his junior, made sure that Janáček's love remained unrequited. And if that was unfortunate for Janáček, it was surely lucky for us as he poured his feelings for Stösslová into music which blazes with a truly exceptional emotional intensity.

Erik Levi chooses his favourite recording of Leoš Janáček's String Quartet No 1 'Kreutzer Sonata' Composed in only nine days in 1923, Janáček's compact, emotionally supercharged String Quartet No 1 takes its title from Leo Tolstoy’s 1889 novella where a wife and her violinist lover play Beethoven’s 'Kreutzer' Sonata together before the jealous husband murders his adulterous wife. Janáček's music roils with the conflicted passions of tormented love, desire and jealously of Tolstoy's story. But there was emotional turmoil in Janáček's life, too. Long-fed up with his wife, in 1915 Janáček had fallen deeply in love with Kamila Stösslová who, happily married and 40 years his junior, made sure that Janáček's love remained unrequited. And if that was unfortunate for Janáček, it was surely lucky for us as he poured his feelings for Stösslová into music which blazes with a truly exceptional emotional intensity.

Janáček's String Quartet No 1, 'Kreutzer Sonata'

Peter Grimes

Kate Kennedy chooses her favourite recording of Britten's Peter GrimesThe opera Peter Grimes is set in a fictional small town that bears some resemblance to Britten's home of Aldeburgh, Suffolk, on England's east coast. It is a drama about outsiders and oppression. As Britten himself said, it was "a subject very close to my heart – the struggle of the individual against the masses. The more vicious the society, the more vicious the individual". The score is full of great orchestral descriptions of the Suffolk coast and highly dramatic confrontations.

Kate Kennedy chooses her favourite recording of Britten's Peter Grimes The opera Peter Grimes is set in a fictional small town that bears some resemblance to Britten's home of Aldeburgh, Suffolk, on England's east coast. It is a drama about outsiders and oppression. As Britten himself said, it was "a subject very close to my heart – the struggle of the individual against the masses. The more vicious the society, the more vicious the individual". The score is full of great orchestral descriptions of the Suffolk coast and highly dramatic confrontations.

Britten's Peter Grimes

Hannah French has been listening to recordings - old and new - of Handel's Water Music, whittling them down until she can herald the ultimate version to buy, download or stream.

Handel's Water Music

Marina Frolova-Walker chooses her favourite recording of Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances.

Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances

Building a Library: Kenneth Hamilton chooses his favourite recording of Chopin's Piano Concerto No 2 in F minor.Frédéric Chopin composed this glorious concerto in 1829 when he was 20 and before he had finished his formal education. It was first performed in Warsaw, with the composer as soloist. It was actually the first of his two piano concertos to be written. Like all Chopin's works, it is full of haunting melodies and thrilling piano writing. The nocturnal middle movement in particular is a golden moment, inspired by Chopin's romantic idolization of Konstancja Gładkowska.

Building a Library: Kenneth Hamilton chooses his favourite recording of Chopin's Piano Concerto No 2 in F minor. Frédéric Chopin composed this glorious concerto in 1829 when he was 20 and before he had finished his formal education. It was first performed in Warsaw, with the composer as soloist. It was actually the first of his two piano concertos to be written. Like all Chopin's works, it is full of haunting melodies and thrilling piano writing. The nocturnal middle movement in particular is a golden moment, inspired by Chopin's romantic idolization of Konstancja Gładkowska.

Chopin's Piano Concerto No 2 in F minor

David Owen Norris chooses his favourite recording of William Walton's Viola Concerto.It was conductor Sir Thomas Beecham's suggestion that Walton should write a viola concerto for the virtuoso Lionel Tertis. But things did not go according to plan when Tertis sent back the music by return of post saying it was 'too modern'. So the 1929 premiere was given by Paul Hindemith (who had been sent the concerto by the BBC's Edward Clark) at the Queen's Hall, just around the corner from Broadcasting House. It was a success and Tertis, in the audience, relented. But although he subsequently played the concerto, Tertis continued to disparage it and was heard to say that Walton had 'murdered' the viola.Despite its inauspicious beginning, Walton's Viola Concerto has long been recognised as one of his most important early works and is well established a cornerstone of an albeit limited repertoire. Perhaps the root of its appeal is to be found in its dedication 'to Christabel', the lyrical melancholy and poetic longing at the concerto's heart reflecting Walton's unrequited passion for Christabel, Lady Aberconway.

David Owen Norris chooses his favourite recording of William Walton's Viola Concerto. It was conductor Sir Thomas Beecham's suggestion that Walton should write a viola concerto for the virtuoso Lionel Tertis. But things did not go according to plan when Tertis sent back the music by return of post saying it was 'too modern'. So the 1929 premiere was given by Paul Hindemith (who had been sent the concerto by the BBC's Edward Clark) at the Queen's Hall, just around the corner from Broadcasting House. It was a success and Tertis, in the audience, relented. But although he subsequently played the concerto, Tertis continued to disparage it and was heard to say that Walton had 'murdered' the viola. Despite its inauspicious beginning, Walton's Viola Concerto has long been recognised as one of his most important early works and is well established a cornerstone of an albeit limited repertoire. Perhaps the root of its appeal is to be found in its dedication 'to Christabel', the lyrical melancholy and poetic longing at the concerto's heart reflecting Walton's unrequited passion for Christabel, Lady Aberconway.

Walton's Viola Concerto

Messiaen's Turangalîla Symphony with Gillian MooreOlivier Messiaen's only symphony was written for an orchestra of enormous forces. The title comes from two Sanskrit words. "Lîla" means play in the sense of the divine action upon the cosmos. It also means love. "Turanga" is the time that runs, like a galloping horse and that flows, like sand in an hourglass; it's both movement and rhythm. The meaning of "Turangalîla" was best summed up by Messian himself as "a love song; a hymn to joy." He described the joy of Turangalîla as "superhuman, overflowing, blinding, unlimited".

Messiaen's Turangalîla Symphony with Gillian Moore Olivier Messiaen's only symphony was written for an orchestra of enormous forces. The title comes from two Sanskrit words. "Lîla" means play in the sense of the divine action upon the cosmos. It also means love. "Turanga" is the time that runs, like a galloping horse and that flows, like sand in an hourglass; it's both movement and rhythm. The meaning of "Turangalîla" was best summed up by Messian himself as "a love song; a hymn to joy." He described the joy of Turangalîla as "superhuman, overflowing, blinding, unlimited".

Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony

Mozart's 'Dissonance' Quartet is the last of a set of six famously dedicated by Mozart to his 'very dear friend' Joseph Haydn. Soon after he arrived in Vienna in 1781, Mozart came to know Haydn's recently published Op. 33 set of innovatory string quartets which, said Haydn, had been composed in ‘a new and special way'. It was no idle boast. Not only more concentrated and sophisticated than any previous string quartet, the Op. 33s also employed all four instruments in a more equal, conversational style than ever before.For Mozart, responding to the Op. 33s with his own set of quartets became a longer and more arduous compositional challenge than any other he ever undertook. The 'Dissonance' got its nickname in the 19th-century, well after Mozart's death, on account of its mysterious slow introduction, with its complex and unsettling harmonies. It caps the set of six which impressed its dedicatee so much that, shortly after the 1785 premiere, Haydn declared to Leopold Mozart that 'Before God and as an honest man, I tell you that your son is the greatest composer known to me either in person or by name.'

Mozart's 'Dissonance' Quartet is the last of a set of six famously dedicated by Mozart to his 'very dear friend' Joseph Haydn. Soon after he arrived in Vienna in 1781, Mozart came to know Haydn's recently published Op. 33 set of innovatory string quartets which, said Haydn, had been composed in ‘a new and special way'. It was no idle boast. Not only more concentrated and sophisticated than any previous string quartet, the Op. 33s also employed all four instruments in a more equal, conversational style than ever before. For Mozart, responding to the Op. 33s with his own set of quartets became a longer and more arduous compositional challenge than any other he ever undertook. The 'Dissonance' got its nickname in the 19th-century, well after Mozart's death, on account of its mysterious slow introduction, with its complex and unsettling harmonies. It caps the set of six which impressed its dedicatee so much that, shortly after the 1785 premiere, Haydn declared to Leopold Mozart that 'Before God and as an honest man, I tell you that your son is the greatest composer known to me either in person or by name.'

Record Review

Beethoven's 23rd piano sonata is stormy and intense, so earned the nickname "Appassionata" or "Passionate". Pianist Iain Burnside has been listening to a wide range of recordings, old and new, to pick the ultimate version to buy, download or stream.

Beethoven's Piano Sonata No 23 ' Appassionata

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Record Review Podcast

William Mival's live traversal of recordings of Mahler's 5th Symphony

Mahler Symphony 5

Flora Willson pans for gold in available recordings of Puccini's California-based opera

Building a Library: Puccini's La fanciulla del West

Mozart's final instrumental work was written for his friend, clarinettist Anton Stadler.

Building a Library: Mozart's Clarinet Concerto

William Mival assesses recordings of Mahler's epic Symphony No. 2 'Resurrection' and makes a recommendation.A journey from the darkness of a funeral march via the terror of the Last Judgement through to the light of redemption and, finally, resurrection is not to be undertaken lightly.Andrew McGregor celebrates Record Store Day 2017 and 60 years of Record Review with a special programme broadcast live from Spiritland, a listening café just north of King's Cross in London.

William Mival assesses recordings of Mahler's epic Symphony No. 2 'Resurrection' and makes a recommendation. A journey from the darkness of a funeral march via the terror of the Last Judgement through to the light of redemption and, finally, resurrection is not to be undertaken lightly. Andrew McGregor celebrates Record Store Day 2017 and 60 years of Record Review with a special programme broadcast live from Spiritland, a listening café just north of King's Cross in London.

Building a Library: Mahler's Second Symphony

Sara Mohr-Pietsch recommends a recorded version of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos

Bach Brandenburg Concertos

Sarah Walker recommends recordings of Mozart's Concerto for Two Pianos in E-flat major

Mozart: Concerto for two pianos E-flat major

Iain Burnside recommends the best recording of Beethoven's Diabelli Variations.

Building a Library: Beethoven's Diabelli Variations

Iain Burnside recommends recordings of Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs

Strauss: Four Last Songs

Richard Wigmore recommends recordings of Mozart's Clarinet Quintet in A major

Mozart: Clarinet Quintet

Sarah Lenton recommends the best recording of The Mikado by Sir Arthur Sullivan.

Building a Library: The Mikado by Sir Arthur Sullivan

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