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Matthew Ash
Matthew is a solo and collaborative pianist with a passion for all music involving the piano, including solo works, lieder and song, chamber music and concertos. He also has a love for opera, orchestral and choral music, folk and jazz. He completed MMus studies at Lancaster University, writing his dissertation on recordings as evidence of changing performance practice in the music of Chopin.
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Yulianna Avdeeva on Metanoia
22nd Sep 2026
Yulianna Avdeeva's new album explores the depths of Liszt's transformation in engaging performances which have earned her the Recording of the Month accolade in BBC Music Magazine. Here, she shares her lifelong passion for the composer and his music.
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Brahms from Francesco Piemontesi
11th Sep 2026
The Swiss pianist's strongly anticipated new album fulfils high expectations in a symbiotic partnership with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and Manfred Honeck which explores the symphonic depths and scale of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1.
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Piano Round-Up, August 2026
26th Aug 2026
Late Liszt from Yulianna Avdeeva, the Brahms follow-up we've been waiting for from Francesco Piemontesi, an ode to German post-Romanticism from Juliette Journaux, a truly complete collection of Julius Katchen's Brahms recordings, and much more.
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Bruce Liu on Lunaris
20th Aug 2026
The Canadian pianist discusses his new album Lunaris, a recent Presto Recording of the Week, and the unique path he has been carving since winning the Chopin competition in 2021.
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George Xiaoyuan Fu on Solitude With Schubert
13th Aug 2026
The ever-creative American pianist discusses his musical passions and his new album with Australian mezzo Lotte Betts-Dean (released last month on Platoon).
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Lunaris from Bruce Liu
7th Aug 2026
The Canadian pianist continues to carve his own path in an engaging album which brings together well-known and unexpected repertoire in an exploration of the nocturnal world that reaches beyond moonlit reflections.
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Late Beethoven from Mitsuko Uchida
24th Jul 2026
Mitsuko Uchida's new album captures live performances of the late Beethoven sonatas, in which the spark of the moment and all the qualities with which she has become synonymous combine to create magic.
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Piano Postcards from Stephen Hough
10th Jul 2026
Stephen Hough's new Hyperion album of Piano Postcards demonstrates his signature panache and joy across repertoire ranging from his Mary Poppins Suite through the glitz of early-evening Vienna to the quiet observance of red dragonflies at sunset.
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Variation[s] 3 from Cédric Tiberghien
19th Jun 2026
Cédric Tiberghien's new album brings his Variation[s] series to a close with creative programming and playing of sensitive probity, including striking Ligeti and a cohesive and stimulating account of the Diabelli Variations.
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Mike Batt on Symphony No.1, 'Ukraine'
15th Jun 2026
From conducting the furniture in Schubert's ninth symphony as a boy, to releasing his own first symphony on 1st June, there's far more to Mike Batt than you may realise. He spoke to us about the journey that brought him to write this engaging work, and his endless fascination with the orchestra.
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Behzod Abduraimov on Inferno
2nd Jun 2026
Behzod Abduraimov spoke to us about his latest album Inferno (a recent Presto Recording of The Week which demonstrates depths far beyond sheer virtuosity), his approach to both familiar and demanding music, and his summer performance plans.
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Inferno from Behzod Abduraimov
8th May 2026
Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov combines the fire and virtuosity suggested by the title and cover of his new album, with a level of poetry and communication which explores the full potential of a varied and engaging solo recital.
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Idith Meshulam Korman and Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey on Marianna Martines
27th Apr 2026
Idith Meshulam Korman and Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey talk about their new album dedicated to the complete keyboard works of Marianna Martines, and their passion for giving voice to a composer and performer of considerable talent who has been unfairly obscured by history and the conventions of her time.
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Ernst von Dohnányi
15th Apr 2026
A selection of some of the best recordings of music by the Hungarian composer, known particularly for a set of variations on a nursery tune, largely uncharacteristic of his wider musical style, which combines late Romantic influences with originality and astonishing technical accomplishment in music deserving of greater attention.
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Nocturnes and the Fascination of Night Music
14th Apr 2026
Our new monthly series of reviews continues with a look at a new book by Susan Tomes in which she takes us on a musical journey under cover of the night, bringing composers, performers and music to life against their social and historic backgrounds. From Field and Chopin, to contemporary commissions and everything in between, the musical knowledge and command of language make an immersive combination that will encourage further listening and playing.
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Pascal Rogé at 75
7th Apr 2026
The French pianist celebrates his 75th birthday this week, with a new album of Fauré and a career-spanning box set, both on Decca – the label to which he first signed at the age of eighteen. We look back on the career of a master of musical architecture who communicates affection without affectation.
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World Piano Day Round-Up
29th Mar 2026
There's much to celebrate this World Piano Day, with a plethora of exciting new releases to look forward to. After hours of listening, Matthew Ash has picked out some highlights for you to explore, including an album not to be judged by its cover, Mozart without a wasted note, Brahms with humanity, effortlessly atmospheric Ireland, propulsive Prokofiev and a box of romantic treasures.
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Walton from the CBSO and Kazuki Yamada
6th Mar 2026
Kazuki Yamada leads the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in rhythmically taut accounts of Walton's symphonies, demonstrating his firm understanding and love of the music, and the deep bond he has built with the masterful players of one of the UK's finest orchestras, captured live in superb sound by Deutsche Grammophon.
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More Chandos Titles on Presto CD
4th Mar 2026
We're delighted to add another thirty titles to our Presto CD catalogue, returning more classic Chandos albums for those who prefer to build a tangible collection with original artwork and booklets faithfully reproduced. There's something for everyone, with music ranging from Bach to MacMillan, played by an array of top artists, all here for you to explore!
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Simon Callaghan on Sterndale Bennett
23rd Feb 2026
Known for his adventurous exploration of neglected repertoire, the British pianist discusses his latest recording of concertos by William Sterndale Bennett (released last month on Lyrita).
