Moira showcases some of the pieces that were best-in-show in the Classic FM Hall of Fame 2021. The programme begins with Mozart’s overture to The Magic Flute, which was the highest ranking opera, before Leif Ove Andsnes is the soloist in Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2, which maintained its title of the highest ranking concerto, and Itzhak Perlman plays John Williams’ iconic theme to Schindler’s List, the top film score.
There’s also a suite of music from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, heard in a 2020 recording from the Philharmonia Orchestra, and a work by Vivaldi that climbed 145 places in this year’s chart.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The Magic Flute – Overture
Yehudi Menuhin conducts Sinfonia Varsovia
Ralph Vaughan Williams
The Lark Ascending
Violin: Nicola Benedetti
Andrew Litton conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor Op. 18
Piano: Leif Ove Andsnes
Antonio Pappano conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
John Williams
Schindler’s List – Theme
Violin: Itzhak Perlman
Kirill Karabits conducts the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake: Suite
Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra
Arturo Marquez
Conga del Fuego
Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela
Antonio Vivaldi
Four Seasons Op. 8 – Spring
Rachel Podger directs Brecon Baroque from the violin
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Requiem K.626 – Lacrimosa
Harry Christophers conducts the Handel and Haydn Society
Yoko Shimomura
Kingdom Hearts – Dearly Beloved
Kaoru Wada conducts the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
Antonin Dvořák
Symphony No.8 in G major Op. 88
Libor Pesek conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Moira marks 130 years since the birth of Sergei Prokofiev, one of the most significant composers of the 20th century. An early prodigy, he was encouraged in his early years by Glazunov, before going on to work with other major names from Diaghilev to Matisse, whilst also finding time to become a chess master. Moira selects a superb recording of one of his most beloved works, the Dance of the Knights from Romeo & Juliet.
Elsewhere, young talent Jan Lisiecki is the soloist in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.4, Ennio Morricone conducts his own work, and there’s a musical depiction of spring by Copland.
Sergei Prokofiev
Romeo & Juliet – Dance of the Knights
Vladimir Ashkenazy conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No.4 in G major Op 58
Jan Lisiecki directs the Academy oof St Martin in the Fields
Dmitri Shostakovich
The Galdfly - Romance
Violin: Chloe Hanslip
Paul Mann conducts the London Symphony Orchestra
Ennio Morricone
Cinema Paradiso – Main Theme
Ennio Morricone conducts the Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Sergei Rachmaninov
Symphony No.2 in E minor Op. 27
Mariss Jansons conducts the Philharmonic Orchestra
Stuart Mitchell
Seven Wonders: Suite for Orchestra – Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Mario Klemens conducts the Prague Symphony Orchestra
George Gershwin
Rhapsody in Blue
Piano: Benjamin Grosvenor
James Judd conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Aaron Copland
Appalachian Spring
Zubin Mehta conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Moira celebrates May Day with a programme of beautiful pastoral music, perfect for a spring afternoon.
Vaughan Williams’ 5 Variants of ‘Dives & Lazarus’ opens the programme, before a brand-new recording of Tarrega’s sunny Recuerdos de la Alhambra from young guitarist Alexandra Whittingham.
Elsewhere, the Staatskapelle Dresden play Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ symphony in full, and there are favourites by Butterworth and Schubert.
Ralph Vaughan Williams
5 Variants of ‘Dives & Lazarus’
Andrew Manze conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Francisco Tarrega
Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Guitar: Alexandra Whittingham
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto No.21 in C major K.467
Daniel Barenboim directs the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from the keyboard
John Wiliams
Jurassic Park – Theme
Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Ronald Binge
Sailing By
Ronald Corp conducts the New London Orchestra
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.6 in F major Op. 68
(‘Pastoral’)
Colin Davis conducts the Staatskapelle Dresden
John Rutter
A Gaelic Blessing
Robert Prizeman conducts Libera and a studio orchestra
George Butterworth
The Banks of Green Willow
Richard Hickox conducts the London Symphony Orchestra
Franz Schubert
Piano Quintet in A major D.667
(‘Trout’)
Zuckerman Chamber Players
Joseph Canteloube
Songs of the Auvergne – Bailero
Soprano: Renée Fleming
Jeffrey Tate conducts the English Chamber Orchestra
