Record Review Podcast

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

Last refreshed: June 29th, 2025 at 12:59 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Haydn's The Seasons

Jeremy Summerly chooses his favourite recording of Haydn's The Seasons.

Jun 23, 2025•49 min

Mozart's Piano Concerto no.21 K.467

Joanna MacGregor picks her favourite recording of Mozart's Piano Concerto no.21 K.467

Jun 16, 2025•50 min

Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition

Marina Frolova-Walker's recommendation for Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.

Jun 09, 2025•47 min

Beethoven's Piano Trio no.7 'Archduke'

Richard Wigmore's recommendation for Beethoven's Piano Trio no.7 Op.97 'Archduke'.

Jun 02, 2025•47 min

Stravinsky's Les Noces

Jonathan Cross chooses his favourite recording of Stravinsky's Les Noces.

May 29, 2025•50 min

Schubert's Piano Sonata in C minor D.958

Allyson Devenish picks her favourite recording of Schubert's Piano Sonata in C minor.

May 19, 2025•48 min

Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor

Roger Parker chooses his favourite recording of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

May 12, 2025•50 min

Mozart's Coronation Mass

Joseph McHardy picks his favourite recording of Mozart's Coronation Mass.

May 06, 2025•42 min

Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta

Kate Molleson's recommendation for Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.

Apr 28, 2025•47 min

Handel's Acis and Galatea

Mark Lowther's personal recommendation for Handel's opera Acis and Galatea.

Apr 22, 2025•46 min

Brahms's String Sextet no.1

Tasmin Little picks her favourite recording of Brahms's String Sextet no.1.

Apr 14, 2025•49 min

Shostakovich's 10th Symphony

Edward Seckerson's personal choice of Shostakovich's 10th Symphony.

Apr 07, 2025•46 min

Schumann's Carnaval

Lucy Parham chooses her favourite recording of Schumann's Carnaval.

Mar 31, 2025•49 min

Bruckner's Symphony no.4

William Mival joins Andrew to discuss Bruckner's Symphony no.4 in Building a Library.

Mar 24, 2025•48 min

Dvořák’s 8th Symphony

Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite recording of Dvořák’s 8th Symphony.

Mar 17, 2025•43 min

Clara Schumann's lieder

Laura Tunbridge joins Andrew to discuss lieder by Clara Schumann in Building a Library.

Mar 10, 2025•52 min

Liszt'z Totentanz (Dance of Death)

Pianist Iain Burnside choses his favourite recording of Liszt's Totentanz.

Mar 04, 2025•45 min

Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suites

Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite version of Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suites.

Feb 24, 2025•48 min

Puccini's La Bohème

Flora Willson chooses her favourite version of Puccini's La Bohème.

Feb 17, 2025•51 min

Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor

Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor in Building a Library with Katy Hamilton.

Feb 10, 2025•46 min

Mozart's Piano Sonata no.15 K.533/494

Kenneth Hamilton chooses his favourite version of Mozart's Piano Sonata no.15 K.533/494

Feb 03, 2025•42 min

Brahms' Violin Concerto in D Op.77

David Owen Norris chooses his favourite version of Brahms' Violin Concerto in D Op.77.

Jan 27, 2025•49 min

Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture

Marina Frolova-Walker's recommendation for Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture.

Jan 22, 2025•47 min

Holst's The Planets

Nigel Simeone chooses his favourite version of Holst's The Planets.

Jan 13, 2025•48 min

Beethoven's 1st Piano Concerto

Joanna MacGregor chooses her favourite version of Beethoven's 1st Piano Concerto.

Jan 06, 2025•48 min

Aaron Copland's Rodeo

Conductor Ben Gernon's personal recommendation for Aaron Copland's Rodeo.

Jan 02, 2025•45 min

Britten's Ceremony of Carols

Jeremy Summerly chooses his favourite version of Britten's seasonal Ceremony of Carols.

Dec 23, 2024•49 min

Wagner's Siegfried Idyll

Gillian Moore chooses her favourite version of Wagner's orchestral piece, Siegfried Idyll.

Dec 17, 2024•44 min

Bach's Concerto for flute, violin & harpsichord in A minor BWV.1044

Simon Heighes' recommendation of Bach's Concerto for flute, violin & harpsichord BWV.1044

Dec 09, 2024•47 min

Poulenc's Stabat Mater

Jeremy Sams selects his favourite version of Poulenc's Stabat Mater.

Dec 02, 2024•45 min

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