Latest stories
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New Release Round-Up - 1st March 2024
1st Mar 2024
Smetana's Má Vlast from Semyon Bychkov & the Czech Philharmonic, a live recording of Wagner's Parsifal from Vienna (starring Jonas Kaufmann, Elīna Garanča & Ludovic Tézier), Saint-Saëns from Lang Lang, and Donizetti's L'esule di Roma from Carlo Rizzi on Opera Rara.
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Janáček's Katya Kabanova from Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra
23rd Feb 2024
Amanda Majeski is riveting as the doomed heroine grasping for happiness in the face of a loveless marriage (and a monstrous mother-in-law) in provincial Russia, with Rattle expertly balancing the score's elemental power and claustrophobic intensity.
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New Release Round-Up - 23rd February 2024
23rd Feb 2024
Bruckner from Domingo Hindoyan and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Stravinsky & Falla from Pablo Heras-Casado & the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Handel's Theodora from Jonathan Cohen & Arcangelo, and Gershwin from Jean-Yves Thibaudet & Michael Feinstein.
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Chopin from Yunchan Lim and other forthcoming highlights
22nd Feb 2024
The youngest-ever winner of the Van Cliburn Competition makes his debut on Decca with the complete Chopin Études, with other stand-outs for the spring including new operas based on Stephen King's The Shining and Michael Cunningham's The Hours.
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Edmund Finnis & Clare Hammond on Youth
19th Feb 2024
The composer and pianist discuss Finnis's collection of short piano pieces Youth - released as an EP on Pentatone earlier this month, alongside a touching lullaby for Hammond's young daughter.
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New Release Round-Up - 16th February 2024
16th Feb 2024
A voyage to the moon with Laura van der Heijden & Jâms Coleman, Brahms & Schumann from Christian Poltéra & Ronaldo Brautigam, a second album of film music from Renaud Capuçon, and Copland's collected recordings of his own works on Columbia.
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Handel's Alcina from Marc Minkowski
9th Feb 2024
Magdalena Kožená is at the height of her powers as a vocal actress in the title-role, with peerless performances from Anna Bonitatibus, Erin Morley and Elizabeth DeShong as Ruggiero, Morgana and Bradamante respectively.
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New Release Round-Up - 9th February 2024
9th Feb 2024
Strauss's Vier letzte Lieder from Asmik Grigorian, Puccini from Carlo Rizzi and Welsh National Opera Orchestra, sacred music by George Jeffreys from Solomon's Knot, and Ravel, Berkeley & Pounds from John Wilson & Sinfonia of London.
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Veronika Jarůšková, Peter Jarůšek and Boris Giltburg on Dvořák
8th Feb 2024
The violinist, cellist and pianist discuss their recording of the complete piano trios on Supraphon, which featured as one of our Top 10 Recordings of 2023.
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Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius from Paul McCreesh and other forthcoming highlights
7th Feb 2024
Nicky Spence, Anna Stéphany and Andrew Foster-Williams join Gabrieli for a period-instrument recording of Elgar's 1900 oratorio, with other stand-outs for the spring including new projects from Beatrice Rana, Klaus Mäkelä, and Véronique Gens.
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New Release Round-Up - 2nd February 2024
2nd Feb 2024
Handel's Alcina from Marc Minkowski, sea shanties from Bryn Terfel & friends, and Grieg's Symphonic Dances & Berlioz's La damnation de Faust from Edward Gardner.
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Presto Editor's Choices - January 2024
31st Jan 2024
A white-hot world premiere recording of Louise Bertin's 1831 opera Fausto from Christophe Rousset & Les Talens Lyriques, a dizzying spin around the dance-floor with Martin James Bartlett, and an open-hearted celebration of Tosti from Javier Camarena.
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A Lionel Tertis Celebration from Timothy Ridout
26th Jan 2024
This beautifully-performed and curated recital paints a vivid picture of the great violist in his capacities as commissioner, composer and arranger - featuring works by composers including York Bowen, Rebecca Clarke, Eric Coates, Frank Bridge and William Henry Reed.
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New Release Round-Up - 26th January 2024
26th Jan 2024
Bartók, Janáček & Szymanowski from Piotr Anderszewski, an invitation to the dance from Martin James Bartlett, Puccini songs from Angela Gheorghiu, and the world premiere recording of Louise Bertin's opera Fausto.
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Michael Spyres In The Shadows and other forthcoming releases
23rd Jan 2024
The American tenor teams up with Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques for a programme which explores the composers who influenced Wagner, with other spring highlights including Saint-Saëns from Lang Lang, Britten from Isabelle Faust & friends, and world premiere recordings of four orchestral works by Dorothy Howell.
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Ewa Podleś (1952-2024)
21st Jan 2024
The Polish coloratura contralto, whose powerful yet supremely agile voice was a force of nature, has died in Warsaw aged 71.
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New Release Round-Up - 19th January 2024
19th Jan 2024
Mendelssohn and more from Sol Gabetta & Bertrand Chamayou, Schubert from Adam Laloum, Tosti songs from Javier Camarena & Ángel Rodríguez, and Paavo Berglund's complete recordings on EMI Classics & Finlandia.
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Can Çakmur on Schubert
18th Jan 2024
Ahead of his gala concert launching the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition at Kings Place tomorrow, the Turkish pianist discusses his Schubert + project on BIS, his friendship with Fazıl Say, and why he's 'super-unpicky' about the instruments he plays in concert...
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Christophe Rousset on Lully's Atys
16th Jan 2024
As his masterly survey of Lully's complete operas with Les Talens Lyriques nears the finishing-line, the French harpsichordist and conductor reflects on the legacy of the 'incredible arriviste' who rose from humble beginnings in Florence to captivate Louis XIV and his court...
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New Release Round-Up - 12th January 2024
12th Jan 2024
A second volume of variations from Cédric Tiberghien, Charpentier's Médée from Le Concert Spirituel & Hervé Niquet, French song from Sandrine Piau, and Schumann and Grieg piano concertos from Elisabeth Leonskaja.
