Simon Mayo's Essential Albums

Every Saturday afternoon between 3 and 5pm, Scala Radio's Simon Mayo explores some of the best classical music albums to have in your collection. Discover what albums he's played on this page. We've listed each album selection in date order.

Amadeus (4th April)

Each of Simon Mayo's Essential Album shows features selections from presenters, Mozart, and anniversary-inspired picks. And for the first episode in the run up to All Movies Easter Monday, Simon picked his favourite film soundtrack - Amadeus. recorded by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

Leonard Bernstein plays Gershwin with Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (4th April)

Jack Pepper chose his ultimate piano recording, seeing as it was World Piano Day on 29th March. Jack selected Leonard Bernstein playing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Anniversary Pick - Beethoven Symphony No. 1 from the London Symphony Orchestra and Bernard Haitink (4th April)

Beethoven’s Symphony No.1 premiered in Vienna on 2nd April 1800. Simon played the first movement performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bernard Haitink.

Anniversary Pick - Smetana's Vltava from Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Herbert von Karajan

Smetana’s Vltava premiered in Prague on 4th April 1875. Simon will play the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan

Mozart Refreshed (4th April)

Barbirolli conducts the Halle Orchestra in Sibelius' Finlandia (10th April)

Philip Glass' Akhnaten (10th April)

Mozart's Clarinet Concerto played by Jack Brymer with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Colin Davis (10th April)

Pavarotti singing 'Ah mes amis' from Donizetti's La Fill du Regiment starring Dame Joan Sutherland (17th April)

Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture performed by the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antal Dorati (10th April)

Vladimir Horowitz playing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 with Orchestra of La Scala Milan (17th April)

Leopold Stokowski conducting Dukas Sorcerer's Apprentice from Disney's Fantasia (17 April)

Bach's Lute Suite No. 1 played by John Williams (24th April)

Original Cast Recording of Bernstein's West Side Story (24th April)

Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 4 played by Barry Tuckwell with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (24th April)

Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 with Evegny Kissin and the London Symphony Orchestra (24 April)

Rodrigo Concierto de Arunjuez (24 April)

Leonard Bernstein narrating Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf (24 April)

When is Simon Mayo's Essential Albums on Scala Radio?

Listen to Simon Mayo's Essential Albums on Scala Radio 3-5pm on Saturdays.

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