BBC Radio 3 - Building a Library
BBC Radio 3's Building a Library offers an expert comparison of the available recordings of some of the cornerstones of the classical repertoire, with a First Choice and other recommendations made of a particular work each week.
Below you can view their most recent recommendations, as well as browse through the full library of selected recordings.
September 2026: Building a Library Choices
July 2026: Building A Library Choices
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Mendelssohn : Symphonies Nos 3 & 4
Nikolaus Harnoncourt & Chamber Orchestra of Europe The Chamber Orchestra Of Europe, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
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Building A Library, July 2026, Top Choice - Scottish Symphony
Download from $5.00 -
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De Falla: El Sombrero de tres picos - Albeniz: Iberia Suite
Jill Gomez (soprano), Philharmonia Orchestra, Yan Pascal Tortelier
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Building A Library, July 2026, Top Choice - The Three-Cornered Hat
Download from $9.50 -
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Special offer. Bach, J S: Cello Suites Nos. 1-6, BWV1007-1012
David Watkin (cello)
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Gramophone Magazine, June 2015, Editor's Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2015
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Gramophone Awards, 2015, Winner - Baroque Instrumental
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2016, Instrumental Winner
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Building A Library, June 2026, Top Choice
2 CDs: Original price $28.50 Reduced $22.80Download from $8.00 -
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Brahms - Klavierstücke, Opp. 116 - 119
Nicholas Angelich (piano)
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BBC Music Magazine, March 2007, Instrumental Choice
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Record Review, December 2007, Critics Disc of the Year
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Building A Library, June 2026, Top Choice - Opp. 116-119
Download from $13.00 -
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Mahler: Symphony No. 5
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly
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Building A Library, June 2026, Top Choice
Download from $6.75 -
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Verdi: Rigoletto | Digitally remastered
Joan Sutherland (Gilda), Luciano Pavarotti (Il Duca), Sherrill Milnes (Rigoletto), Huguette Tourangeau (Maddalena), Martti Talvela (Sparafucile), Gillian Knight (Giovanna), Clifford Grant (Monterone) London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
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Building A Library, June 2026, Top Choice
Download from $9.25 -
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Special offer. Fauré: Requiem & Franck: Symphony in D minor
Stephan Genz & Johannette Zomer La Chapelle Royale, Collegium Vocale Gent, Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, Philippe Herreweghe
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Gramophone Magazine, June 2002, Editor's Choice
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Building A Library, May 2026, Top Choice - Fauré Requiem
Download from $7.00 -
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Special offer. Schubert - String Quintet
Belcea Quartet
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Gramophone Awards, 2010, Finalist - Chamber
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Building A Library, May 2026, Recommended Recording (String Quartet No. 15)
Download from $16.00 -
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Vivaldi 8 Volume 1: The Four Seasons & Other Concertos
Adrian Chandler (violin), La Serenissima
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Building A Library, May 2026, Top Choice (The Four Seasons)
CD: $17.25Download from $10.00 -
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Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 & 8 Piano Pieces Op. 76
Stephen Kovacevich (piano) London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
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Building a Library, March 2019, Also Recommended
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Building A Library, May 2026, Tpo Choice (Piano Concerto No. 2)
Download from $6.75 -
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Special offer. Haydn 2032, Vol. 10: Les heures du jour
Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini
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Gramophone Magazine, July 2026, Critics' Choice 2021
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Gramophone Magazine, September 2021, Editor's Choice
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Diapason d’Or, October 2021, Nouveauté
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2021
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International Classical Music Awards, 2022, Nominated - Symphonic Music
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Diapason d’Or de l’Année, 2021, Symphonie
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Building A Library, April 2026, Top Choice
CD: Original price $20.25 Reduced $15.59Download from $6.50 -
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Respighi: La Boutique Fantasque, PP120, etc.
BBC Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda
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Gramophone Magazine, October 2003, Editor's Choice
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Building A Library, April 2026, Top Choice (La Boutique Fantasque)
CD: $20.00Download from $10.00 -
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Special offer. Shostakovich - Complete Symphonies
WDR Sinfonieorchester, Rudolf Barshai
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Building a Library, May 2008, Budget Choice
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Building A Library, April 2026, Top Choice (Symphony No. 9)
11 CDs: Original price $39.50 Reduced $25.67Download from $7.75 -
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Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana
James Levine
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Building A Library, April 2026, Top Choice
Download from $10.00 -
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Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas
Igor Levit (piano)
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Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2019, Editor's Choice
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BBC Music Magazine, December 2019, Instrumental Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2019
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International Classical Music Awards, 2019, Nominee - Best Collection
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The Times Records of the Year, 2019, Classical Album of the Year
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Presto Recording of the Week, 20th December 2019
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The New York Times, Recordings of the Year 2019
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2020, Best-Seller of the Year
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Gramophone Awards, 2020, Winner - Instrumental
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Grammy Awards, 63rd Awards (2021), Nominee - Best Classical Instrumental Solo
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Building a Library, February 2023, Also Recommended - ‘Appassionata’
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Building A Library, March 2026, Top Choice (Waldstein Sonata)
Download from $50.00 -
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Special offer. Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony | & other works
Elizabeth Watts (soprano), Mary Bevan (soprano), Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano) BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal College of Music Brass Band, Martyn Brabbins
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Gramophone Magazine, November 2017, Editor's Choice
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Building A Library, March 2026, Top Choice
CD: Original price $17.50 Reduced $14.00Download from $8.25 -
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The Sixteen sing Handel & Steffani
Elin Manahan Thomas & Grace Davidson (soprano), Ruth Massey (alto), Jeremy Budd & Mark Dobell (tenor) & Eamonn Dougan & Rob Macdonald (bass) The Sixteen, Harry Christophers
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Building A Library, March 2026, Top Choice (Dixit Dominus)
CD: $17.75Download from $10.00 -
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Special offer. Janacek: Sinfonietta & Taras Bulba
Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Charles Mackerras
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Building A Library, March 2026, Top Choice - Sinfonietta
Presto CD: Original price $17.00 Reduced $13.60 -
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Special offer. Dvorak: Quintets Op. 81 & 97
Boris Giltburg (piano), Pavel Nikl (viola) Pavel Haas Quartet
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BBC Music Magazine, November 2017, Recording of the month
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Gramophone Magazine, November 2017, Editor's Choice
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Presto Recording of the Week, 20th October 2017
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2017
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Building a Library, April 2018, Recommended Recording
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Gramophone Awards, 2018, Winner - Chamber
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Building A Library, February 2026, Top Choice (Op. 97)
CD: Original price $22.00 Reduced $17.60Download from $10.00 -
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Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1-7 | Recorded from December 2014 to February 2015 at the Philharmonie Berlin
Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle
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International Classical Music Awards, 2016, Winner - Symphonic Music
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Building A Library, February 2026, Top Choice (Symphony No. 5)
4 CDs + Blu-ray Audio + Blu-ray Video: $92.50Download from $27.50 -
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Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, etc.
Vladimir Ashkenazy Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Kondrashin, Anatole Fistoulari
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Building a Library, October 2004, First Choice
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Presto Greatest Recordings of the 1960s
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Building A Library, February 2026, Top Choice
Download from $6.75 -
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Weber: Der Freischütz, J. 277
Hans Jörn Weber (speaker), Günther Leib (bass), Horst Neumann (chorusmaster), Gerd Biewer (speaker), Peter Hölzel (speaker), Gerhard Paul (speaker), Alfred Woronetzki (speaker), Monika Hildebrand (speaker), Use Rainer (speaker), Gerlind Schulze (speaker), Peter Schreier (tenor), Siegfried Vogel (bass), Theo Adam (bass), Kurt W. Franke (speaker), Edith Mathis (soprano), Gundula Janowitz (soprano), Ingrid Hille (speaker), Regina Jeske (speaker), Friedrich Wilhelm Junge (speaker), August Hütten (speaker), Achim Schmidtchen (speaker), Renate Hoff (soprano), Renate Krahmer (soprano), Ingeborg Springer (mezzo-soprano), Brigitte Pfretzschner (alto), Otto Mellies (speaker), Bernd Weikl (baritone), Franz Crass (bass), Staatskapelle Dresden, Leipzig Radio Choir, Carlos Kleiber
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Building A Library, February 2026, Top Choice
Download from $10.00 -
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Copland: Orchestral Works Volume 4 | Symphony No. 3, Letter from Home, Down a Country Lane & Connotations
BBC Philharmonic, John Wilson
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Presto Recording of the Week, 9th November 2018
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2018
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Building A Library, January 2026, Top Choice - Symphony No. 3
SACD: $20.00Download from $10.00 -
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Jacqueline du Pré
Jacqueline du Pré (cello) BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli
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Gramophone Magazine, February 2006, Disc of the Month
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Building A Library, January 2026, Top Choice (Elgar Cello Concerto)
CD: $16.25 -
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J S Bach: Cantatas 21 'Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis' & 147 'Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben'
Gaechinger Cantorey, Hans-Christoph Rademann
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Gramophone Awards, 2022, Shortlisted - Choral
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Building A Library, January 2026, Recommended Recording
CD: $19.50Download from $10.00 -
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Mozart: Works for Violin & Orchestra
Augustin Dumay & Veronika Hagen Camerata Academica Salzburg
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Building A Library, January 2026, Top Choice - Sinfonia Concertante K364
Presto CD: $17.00Download from $6.75 -
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Monteverdi: L'Orfeo
Monica Piccinini, Anna Simboli (soprano), Sara Mingardo (contralto), Furio Zanasi, Luca Dordoli (tenor) & Sergio Foresti, Antonio Abete (bass) Concerto Italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini
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BBC Music Magazine, November 2007, Opera Choice
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Building A Library, December 2025, Top Choice
Download from $20.00 -
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Vladimir Horowitz plays Schumann
Vladimir Horowitz (piano)
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Building a Library, May 2014, Second Choice (available as a single CD)
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Building A Library, December 2025, Top Choice (Kreisleriana)
Download from $10.00 -
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Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 13 'Winter Daydreams', etc.
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas
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Building A Library, December 2025, Top Choice
Download from $6.75 -
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Horowitz plays Schumann
Vladimir Horowitz (piano)
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Building A Library, December 2025, Top Choice (Kreisleriana)
Download from $10.00 -
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Special offer. Rachmaninov: Études-Tableaux - 3 Pieces
Nikolai Lugansky (piano)
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Gramophone Magazine, March 2023, Editor's Choice
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BBC Music Magazine, April 2023, Instrumental Choice
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International Classical Music Awards, 2024, Nominated - Solo Instrument
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Building A Library, November 2025, Top Choice (Études-Tableaux)
CD: Original price $21.00 Reduced $15.75Download from $9.00 -
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Bartók: Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 2 & 3
Géza Anda (piano) Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay
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Building A Library, November 2025, Top Choice (Piano Concerto No. 2)
Download from $6.75 -
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Berlioz Odyssey | The Complete Sir Colin Davis Recordings
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
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International Classical Music Awards, 2019, Nominee - Best Collection
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Building A Library, November 2025, Recommended Recording (Harold en Italie)
Download from $48.75 -
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Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue (Les indispensables de Diapason)
Jesus Maria Sanroma, Earl Wild, Leonard Pennario, Felix Slatkin, The Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, Arthur Fiedler, Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra, Alfred Newman
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Building A Library, November 2025, Top Choice (An American in Paris)
Download from $7.00 -
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Ravel - Piano Concertos
Krystian Zimerman (piano) Cleveland Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez
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Building a Library, May 2005, First Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 1999, Winner - 20th-Century Concerto
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Building A Library, May 2024, Recommended Recording (Ravel)
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Building A Library, October 2025, Top Choice (Piano Concerto in G)
CD: $14.75Download from $8.25 -
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Brahms: Symphony No.4 & MacMillan: Larghetto for Orchestra
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck
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International Classical Music Awards, 2022, Nominated - Symphonic Music
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Building A Library, October 2025, Top Choice (Brahms)
SACD: $20.00Download from $10.00 -
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Henry Purcell: Choral Works
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and The English Concert, Simon Preston
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Building A Library, October 2025, Top Choice
Download from $16.75 -
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Mozart: Così fan tutte, K588
Stuart Burrows (Ferrando), Thomas Allen (Guglielmo), Richard Van Allan (Don Alfonso), Kiri Te Kanawa (Fiordiligi), Agnes Baltsa (Dorabella), Daniela Mazzucato (Despina) Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Colin Davis
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Building A Library, October 2025, Top Choice
Download from $30.00 -
September 2025: Building A Library Choices
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Beethoven: Piano Trios, Vol. 2
Alexander Sitkovetsky, Isang Enders, Wu Qian
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BBC Music Magazine, November 2023, Chamber Choice
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Gramophone Magazine, November 2023, Editor's Choice
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Building A Library, May 2025, Recommended Recording
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Building A Library, September 2025, Recommended Recording (Archduke)
SACD: $17.75 -
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Strauss: Ariadne on Naxos | Sung in English: translation by Christopher Cowell
Christine Brewer (Ariadne/Prima Donna), Robert Dean Smith (Bacchus/The Tenor), Alice Coote (Composer), Gillian Keith (Zerbinetta), Stephen Fry (Major-Domo), Alan Opie (Music Master), John Graham-Hall (Dancing Master/Scaramuccio), Roderick Williams (Harlequin), Matthew Rose (Truffaldino), Wynne Evans (Brighella), Paul Keohone (Wig-Maker), Dean Robinson (Footman), Declan McCusker (An Officer) Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Sir Richard Armstrong
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Sunday Times, 2010, Albums of the Year
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Gramophone Awards, 2011, Shortlisted - Opera
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BBC Music Magazine, December 2010, Opera Choice
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Building A Library, September 2025, Recommended Recording
Download from $20.00 -
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Mozart & Nielsen: Clarinet Concertos
Julian Bliss (clarinet) Royal Northern Sinfonia, Mario Venzago
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Building a Library, March 2017, First Choice
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Building A Library, September 2025, Recommended Recording (Mozart)
CD: $17.25Download from $10.00 -
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Special offer. Sibelius: Complete Symphonies
BBC Philharmonic, John Storgårds
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Building a Library, December 2015, First Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2015, Finalist - Orchestral
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Building A Library, August 2025, Recommended Recording - Symphony No. 1
3 CDs: Original price $40.50 Reduced $34.42Download from $19.00 -
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Johannes Brahms: The Symphonies
Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Yannick Nézet-Séguin
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Gramophone Magazine, September 2024, Editor's Choice
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Building A Library, October 2024, Recommended Recording (Symphony No. 1)
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International Classical Music Awards, 2025, Nominated - Symphonic Music
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Building A Library, August 2025, Recommended Recording (Symphony No. 1)
3 CDs: $28.50Download from $10.00 -
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Strauss, R: Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64
Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan
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Building a Library, January 2011, First Choice
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Building A Library, November 2021, Recommended Recording
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Building A Library, August 2025, Recommended Recording
Download from $6.75 -
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Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Alice Coote (mezzo), Burkhard Fritz (tenor) Netherlands Philharmonic, Marc Albrecht
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Building A Library, June 2021, Recommended Recording
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Building A Library, August 2025, Recommended Recording
Download from $10.00 -
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Vaughan Williams: Valiant for Truth, Symphony No. 5, The Pilgrim Pavement & other works
Carys Lane (soprano) London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox Singers, Richard Hickox
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Building a Library, April 2003, First Choice
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Building A Library, July 2025, Top Choice - Symphony No. 5
CD: $20.00Download from $10.00 -
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Special offer. Bach, J S: English Suites Nos. 1-6, BWV806-811
András Schiff (piano)
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Grammy Awards, 32nd Awards (1989), Best Classical Instrumental Solo Recording
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Building A Library, September 2024, Recommended Recording
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Building A Library, July 2025, Recommended Recording (English Suite No. 4)
2 Presto CDs: Original price $24.75 Reduced $19.80Download from $16.75 -
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Special offer. Berlioz: Les nuits d'été & Ravel: Shéhérazade
Jessye Norman (soprano) London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
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Building A Library, November 2024, Recommended Recording (Les nuits d'été)
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Building A Library, July 2025, Recommended Recording (Les nuits d'été)
Presto CD: Original price $17.00 Reduced $13.60Download from $10.00 -
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Corelli: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6
Accademia Bizantina (early music ensemble), Ottavio Dantone (early keyboard instruments), Alessandro Tampieri
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International Classical Music Awards, 2024, Nominated - Baroque Instrumental
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Building A Library, July 2025, Recommended Recording
Download from $20.00 -
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Haydn: The Seasons, Hob.XXI:3
Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Jeremy Ovenden (tenor), Andrew Foster-Williams (bass) Wrocław Baroque Orchestra, Wrocław Philharmonic Choir, Gabrieli Consort & Players, Paul McCreesh
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Presto Recording of the Week, 24th March 2017
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Gramophone Magazine, May 2017, Editor's Choice
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BBC Music Magazine, June 2017, Choral & Song Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2017, Finalist - Choral
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2017
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Record Review, 29th April 2017, Recording of the Week
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Building A Library, June 2025, Recommended Recording
2 CDs: $31.25Download from $10.00 -
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Mozart - The Piano Concertos
Mitsuko Uchida (piano) English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate
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Building a Library, December 2022, Recommended recording - K467
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Building A Library, June 2025, Recommended Recording - K467
Download from $40.00 -
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Special offer. Satie: Gymnopédies, Gnossiennes, Sports et Divertissements
Anne Queffélec (piano), Catherine Collard (piano)
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Building A Library, June 2025, Recommended Recording (Sports et divertissements)
Download from $10.00 -
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Satie: Gymnopédies, Gnossiennes & Other Piano Works
Anne Queffélec (piano)
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Building A Library, June 2025, Recommended Recording (Sports et divertissements)
Download from $6.00 -
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Beethoven: Piano Trios, Vol. 2
Alexander Sitkovetsky, Isang Enders, Wu Qian
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BBC Music Magazine, November 2023, Chamber Choice
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Gramophone Magazine, November 2023, Editor's Choice
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Building A Library, May 2025, Recommended Recording
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Building A Library, September 2025, Recommended Recording (Archduke)
SACD: $17.75 -
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Stravinsky: Les Noces (1919) - Ravel: Bolero
Amélie Raison, Pauline Leroy, Martial Pauliat, Renaud Delaigue, Ensemble Aedes, Les Siècles, Mathieu Romano
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BBC Music Magazine, March 2023, Recording of the Month
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2023
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Building A Library, May 2025, Recommended Recording
CD: $22.00Download from $10.25 -
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Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor
Maria Callas, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Raffaele Arié, Valiano Natali, Anna Maria Canali, Gino Sarri Chorus and Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Tullio Serafin
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Building a Library, October 2008, First Choice
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Building A Library, May 2025, Recommended Recording
Download from $16.00 -
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Mozart: Vesperae solennes de confessore & Coronation Mass
Sandrine Piau (soprano), Renata Pokupić (alto), Benjamin Bruns (tenor) & Andreas Wolf (bass) Accentus & Insula Orchestra, Laurence Equilbey
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Building A Library, May 2025, Recommended Recording
Download from $10.00 -
