Wednesday, March 31

11 AM

• Brahms: Naenie (Song of Lamentation). San Francisco Sym & Chorus, Blomstedt. London 430 281.
• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111. Simone Dinnerstein. Telarc 80715.
• Tavener: Lamentations and Praises (2001): Stasis III. Chanticleer, Handel & Haydn Society, Jennings. Teldec 09274 13422.

12 N

• Biber: The Carrying of the Cross (Sonata No. 9 from The Mystery Sonatas). John Holloway, Tragicomedia, Moroney. Virgin 90838.
• Victoria: The Mystery of the Cross: Lamentations for Maundy Thursday. The Sixteen, Christophers. Coro 16021.
• Perkinson: Lamentations: Black/Folk Suite for solo cello (1973). Tahirah Washington. Cedille 087.
• Svendsen: Andante Funebre. Latvian National Sym, Mikkelsen. CPO 777 372.

1 PM

• Veracini: Violin Sonata Op. 1/6 in E minor. Enrico Casazza, La Magnifica Comunita. Brilliant 93809.
• Dohnanyi: Sextet in C major for piano, strings and winds, Op. 37. Andras Schiff, members of Takacs Quartet, Berkes, Vlatkovic. London 421 423.
• Stanford: Concert Variations upon an English Theme: Finale. Margaret Fingerhut, Ulster Orch, Handley. Chandos 8736.

Tuesday, March 30

11 AM

• Palestrina: Stabat Mater a 8. Taverner Consort, Parrott. EMI 47699.
• Golijov: Tenebrae (2002-3). Kronos Quartet. DG 9069.
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466. Richard Goode, Orpheus Chamber Orch. Nonesuch 79439.

12 N

• Lawes: Harp Consorts in D major (nos. 9, 5 and 6). Maxine Eilander, Les Voix Humaines. Atma 2372.
• Bloch: Baal Shem Suite, "Three Pictures of Chassidic Life." Vadim Gluzman, Sao Paolo Sym, Neschling. BIS 1662.
• Haydn: Symphony No. 26 in D minor, "Lamentatione." English Concert, Pinnock. Archiv 427 662.

1 PM

• Bach: French Suite No. 5 in G major. Simone Dinnerstein. Telarc 80715.
• Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia. New York Phil, Bernstein. Sony 63076.
• Beethoven: String Quartet No. 6 in B-flat, Op. 18/6. Miro Quartet. Vanguard 1655.

Monday, March 29

Holy Week is starting for western Christian churches. There's no shortage of great choral music for those observances, and we'll hear some later in the week. Meanwhile, Passover also begins tonight. Today we hear three tracks from a new CD of wide-ranging Jewish music from Atlanta's Congregation Bet Haverim. Full disclosure: I play violin (and a little viola) on that disc.

11 AM

• Telemann: Recorder Concerto in F major. Daniel Rothert, Cologne Chamber Orch, Muller-Bruhl. Naxos 8.554018.
• Adolphe, B.: Couple (1998). Wu Han, David Finckel. ArtistLed 11001.
• Rosner, A.: A Sephardic Rhapsody. Altoona Sym Orch, Palmer. Albany 548.
• Biber: Mensa Sonora: Suite No. 5 in E major. Baroque Band, Clarke. Cedille 90000 116.

12 N

• Traditional Hasidic/Warschauer: Meron Niggun (Tune from Meron). Congregation Bet Haverim, Atlanta. congregationbethaverim.org/music.
• Traditional Hasidic/Robertson: Karev Yom (A Day Is Coming). Congregation Bet Haverim, Atlanta (vocal soloist Danielle Sansone). congregationbethaverim.org/music.
• Copland: Rodeo: Corral Nocturne; Hoedown. Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Delos 3163.
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major: mvts 2-4. London Sym, Haitink. LSO 0078.
• Mendelssohn Hensel: Songs without Words, Op. 8, nos. 1, 3, 4. Sylviane Deferne. CBC 1122.

1 PM

• Mendelssohn: Elijah: Lift Thine Eyes. Bonney, Schellenberg, Simpson. Telarc 80389.
• Paganini: Moses Fantasy (Variation on the G string on a theme from Rossini's Moses in Egypt). Vadim Repin, Alexander Markovich. Erato 39845487.
• Dvorak: Symphony No. 7 in D minor. Royal Concertgebouw Orch, Harnoncourt. Teldec 3984 21278.
• Keki, J.J.: Psalm 136, sung in Ugandan and Hebrew. Congregation Bet Haverim, Atlanta (vocal soloist Brad Davidorf). congregationbethaverim.org/music.

Wednesday, March 24

11 AM

• Biber: Mensa Sonora: Suite No. 1 in D major. Baroque Band, Clarke. Cedille 116.
• Schubert: Twelve German Dances, Op. post. 171, D. 790. Stephen Kovacevich. EMI 55359.
• Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor. Janos Starker, Philharmonia Orch, Slatkin. BMG RCA 61695.
• Blumenfeld: Etude for the Left Hand Alone. Marc-Andre Hamelin. Hyperion 67275.

12 N

• Barber: School for Scandal, Overture. Saint Louis Sym, Slatkin. EMI 49463.
• Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, "The Four Temperaments." San Francisco Sym, Blomstedt. London 430 280.
• Vivaldi: Concerto in C major for oboe and two violins, RV 554. Collegium Musicum 90, Standage. Chandos 0528.

1 PM

• Sarasate: Introduction and Tarantella, Op. 43. Sergiu Schwartz, Tao Lin. Romeo 7246.
• Napravnik: Piano Concerto in A minor (Concerto Symphonique), Op. 27. Evgeny Soifertis, BBC Scottish Sym, Titov. Hyperion 67511.
• Handel: Sonata in D minor, HWV 367. Amarillis. Ambroisie 9910.

Tuesday, March 23

11 AM

• Bach: Solo Cello Suite No. 6 in D major. Zuill Bailey. Telarc 31978.
• Elgar: Mauresque, from Three Characteristic Pieces, Op. 10. New Zealand Sym, Judd. Naxos 8.557577.
• Faure/Klaveren: Pelleas and Melisande, Op. 80, arr. saxophones and piano. Amstel Quartet, Wijland van Klaveren. Concert Artsts Guild 102.
• Elgar: Bavarian Dance No. 3. New Zealand Sym, Judd. Naxos 8.557577.

12 N

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat, "Eroica." Vienna Philharmonic, Solti (1959, remastered). Decca 289 467 679.

1 PM

• Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat, Op. 18. Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble. Chandos 9151.
• Selections from the CD Istanbul (tracks 6-8). Hesperion XXI, Savall. Alia Vox 9870.

Monday, March 22

Thanks to Russell Wells and Eric Nauert for hosting Midday Music all last week. And on with today's show:

11 AM

• Williams, John: Air and Simple Gifts. Perlman, McGill, Ma, Montero. Sony Classical.
• Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66. Emanuel Ax, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma. Sony 88697 52192.
• Albeniz: Iberia, Book 1. Cincinnati Sym, Lopez-Cobos. Telarc 80470.

12 N

• Dvorak: Rusalka: Song to the Moon, arr. cello and orch. Ophelie Gaillard, Royal Phil, Redmond. Atlas AP001.
• Tyson, Blake: A Ceiling Full of Stars. TCU Percussion Ensemble, West. Albany 1159.
• Biber: Mensa Sonora, No. 4 in B-flat. Baroque Band. Cedille 116.
• Schumann: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 11. Evgeny Kissin. RCA 63885.

1 PM

• Elgar: Romance for bassoon and orchestra. Preman Tilson, New Zealand Sym, Judd. Naxos 8.557577.
• Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major. Andrew Manze, English Concert. Harmonia Mundi 907385.
• Tchaikovsky: Marche Slave. Israel Phil, Mehta. Teldec 4509-90201.
• Rameau/Godowsky: Elegy (Two Gigues); Albeniz/Godowsky: Tango, Op. 165/2. Dmitry Paperno. Cedille 074.

Wednesday, March 10

(Playlists for Midday Music March 11-19 with hosts Russell Wells and Eric Nauert can be found here. I'm back on the 22nd. -SZ)

11 AM

• Faure: Sicilienne from Pelleas and Melisande. Marc Grauwels, Belgian Radio and Television Sym, Vandernoot. Naxos 8.555977.
• Bach: Concerto for Oboe and Violin in D minor, BWV 1060. Nigel Kennedy, Albrecht Mayer, Berlin Phil. EMI 57091.
• Guarnieri: Four Pieces for Guitar Quartet. Brazilian Guitar Quartet. Delos 3245.
• Glinka: Nocturne. Elizabeth Hainen: Naxos 8.555791.
• Wagner: Siegfried Idyll. Northern Sinfonia, Hickox. Chandos 9354.

12 N

• Schubert: Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat, Op. 99. Wu Han, Philip Setzer, Finckel. ArtistLed 10802.
• Schumann: Abends am Strand. Gerald Finley, Julius Drake. Hyperion 67676.
• Irish traditional: Slip Jigs; Reels. Patrick Street. Loftus LM002.
• Irish traditional, arr. Farber: Medley of Hornpipes; Medley of Reels. John O'Connor, Irish Chamber Orch, Farber. Warren Schatz CD-14.

1 PM

• Rachmaninoff: Melodie; Corelli Variations. Kirill Gerstein. (Noncommercial recording from Verbier Festival 2009.)
• Dvorak: Czech Suite, Op. 39. Czech Philhamonic Orch, Pesek. Virgin 90769.

Tuesday, March 9

American composer Samuel Barber was born 100 years ago today, March 9, 1910. In honor of his centennial, a bit of Barber in every hour of Midday Music.

11 AM

• Barber: Canzone, Op. 38. Gil Shaham, Andre Previn. DG 289 453 470.
• Feuillet, ed.; Angelbert, arr.: A l'espagnole. Andrew Lawrence-King. Harmonia Mundi 907335.
• Stravinsky: Petrushka (1947 version). Israel Phil, Boris Berman, Bernstein. DG 445 538.

12 N

• Mozart: Symphony No. 14 in A major, K. 114. Prague Chamber Orch, Mackerras. Telarc 80242.
• De la Barre: Suite in G major, "L'inconnue." Stallman, Swanborn, Bennion. Bogner's Cafe 104.
• Barber: Adagio for Strings. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel. Telarc 80474.
• Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme. Misha Maisky, Orpheus Chamber Orch. DG 453 460.

1 PM

• Gaubert: Sonatine Quasi Fantasia. Fenwick Smith, Sally Pinkas. Naxos 8.557306.
• Barber: Serenade for Strings, Op. 1; Music for a Scene from Shelley. Royal Scottish National Orch, Alsop. Naxos 8.559044.
• Janacek: String Quartet No. 2, "Intimate Letters": finale. Pacifica Quartet. Cedille 092.
• Josquin: Agnus Dei, from Missa Ave Maris Stella. A Sei Voci, Fabre-Garrus. Naive 8892.

Monday, March 8

11 AM

• Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet, Suite No. 1. Cincinnati Sym, Jarvi. Telarc 80597.
• Schubert/Liszt: Der Erlkonig. Kirill Gerstein. Verbier Festival, July 2009 (not commercially available).
• Bach: English Suite in A minor. Kirill Gerstein. Verbier Festival, July 2009 (not commercially available).

12 N

• York: Tuba Concerto. Timothy Buzbee, Iceland Sym, Bairos. Albany 1133.
• Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 1 in F major, Op. 5/1. Zuill Bailey, Simone Dinnerstein. Telarc 80740.
• Raff: La Fileuse. Philip Martin. Hyperion 67379.

1 PM

• Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat for violin and viola, K. 364. Julia Fischer, Gordan Nikolic, Netherlands Phil, Kreizberg. PentaTone 5186 098.
• Debussy: First Rhapsody for clarinet and piano. David Shifrin, Andre Watts. Delos 3167.
• Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in C minor. Adrian Chandler, La Serenissima. Avie 2178.

Thursday-Friday, March 4-5

Midday Music playlists for days not hosted by Sarah Zaslaw are found here.

Wednesday, March 3

11 AM

• Chopin: Waltz in A minor, Op. post.; Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64/2. Alexandre Tharaud. Harmonia Mundi 901927.
• Strauss: Oboe Concerto in D major. Ray Still, Academy of Longon, Stamp. Virgin 90813.
• Debussy: La Mer. Cleveland Orch, Boulez. DG 439 896.

12 N

• Bernstein: On the Town: Three Dance Episodes. Bournemouth Sym, Alsop. Naxos 8.559177.
• Chopin: Waltz in B minor, Op. 69/2; Waltz in D-flat, Op. 64/1 ("Minute"). Alexandre Tharaud. Harmonia Mundi 901927.
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat ("Emperor"). Till Fellner, Montreal Sym, Nagano. ECM 2114.

1 PM

• Vivaldi: Oboe Concerto in D minor, Op. 8/9, RV 454. Alfredo Bernardini, Zefiro Baroque Orch. Naive 30409.
• Mozart: String Quintet in C major, K. 515. Artis Quartet, Michael Schnitzler. Sony 46483.
• Chopin: Waltz in E-flat, Op. post; Waltz in E-flat, Op. 18, "Valse brillante." Alexandre Tharaud. Harmonia Mundi 901927.

Tuesday, March 2

Chopin festivities continue! Today's featured recording introduces Polish pianist Rafal Blechacz, winner of the 2005 Warsaw Chopin Competition, in Chopin preludes and nocturnes. As it happens, Rafal Blechacz performs in Georgia this Saturday, March 6. He'll be playing Chopin and more at Spivey Hall, Clayton State campus, Morrow.

11 AM

• Chopin: Preludes, Op. 28, Nos. 1-9. Rafal Blechacz. DG 10870.
• Dopper: Symphony No. 7, "Zuider Zee." Netherlands Radio Sym Orch, Bakels. NM 92060.
• Chopin: Preludes in C-sharp minor, Op. 45. Rafal Blechacz. DG 10870.

12 N

• Chopin: Preludes, Op. 28, Nos. 10-17. Rafal Blechacz. DG 10870.
• Corelli: Violin Sonata in D major, Op. 5/1. Andrew Manze, Richard Egarr. Harmonia Mundi 907298.99.
• Poulenc: Concerto in D minor for Two Pianos and Orchestra. Guher & Suher Pekinel, French Radio Phil Orch, Jarowski. Teldec 2292-46155.
• Chopin: Nocturne in B major, Op. 62/1. Rafal Blechacz. DG 10870.

1 PM

• Chopin: Preludes, Op. 28, Nos. 18-24. Rafal Blechacz. DG 10870.
• Ravel: String Quartet in F major. Avalon String Quartet. Channel 14898.
• Chopin: Nocturne in E major, Op. 62/2. Rafal Blechacz. DG 10870.

Monday, March 1

It's Frederic Chopin's 200th birthday. Happy Chopin bicentennial! Where would piano music be without him? Romantic music? Music altogether? Even his etudes ("studies") have the power to move. The Chopin celebration kicks off today - with Garrick Ohlsson playing etudes, Nelson Freire playing a sonata and Emanuel Ax in a piece for piano and orchestra - and continues all week on GPB.

11 AM

• Chopin: Etude in C major, Op. 10/1. Garrick Ohlsson. Arabesque 6718.
• Chopin: Etude in C-sharp minor, Op. 25/7. Garrick Ohlsson. Arabesque 6718.
• Chopin/Glazunov: Chopiniana, Op. 46. Moscow Sym Orch, Ziva. Naxos 8.555048.
• Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58. Nelson Freire. Decca 289 470 288.
• Chopin: "Black Key" Etude in G-flat major, Op. 10/5. Garrick Ohlsson. Arabesque 6718.

12 N

• Chopin: "Aeolian Harp" Etude in A-flat, Op. 25/1. Garrick Ohlsson. Arabesque 6718.
• Chopin: Variations on Mozart's "La ci darem la mano." Emanuel Ax, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Mackerras. Sony 60771.
• Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581. Stanley Drucker, Elysium String Quartet. Elysium 716.
• Chopin: "Revolutionary" Etude in C minor, Op. 10/12. Garrick Ohlsson. Arabesque 6718.

1 PM

• Chopin: Etude in F major, Op. 10/8. Garrick Ohlsson. Arabesque 6718.
• Chopin: Bolero in C major, Op. 19. Roland Pontinen. BIS 673.
• Szymanowski: Symphony No. 2 in B-flat. Warsaw Phil, Ewa Marczyk, Wit. Naxos 8.570721.
• Chopin: Etude in C minor, Op. 25/12. Garrick Ohlsson. Arabesque 6718.