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David Smith
Head of Digital
David writes as an early music specialist for Presto Music and Early Music America, and sings with the English vocal groups Ex Cathedra and Armonico Consort and as a lay clerk at St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham, UK.
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Martin Iddon on Hesperides
The composer talks about his recent album of delicate, mysterious compositions, performed by the aptly-named Quiet Music Ensemble, released in April on NMC Recordings.
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Britten from Edward Gardner and the LPO
The London Philharmonic Orchestra under Edward Gardner perform two Britten premieres, alongside a profoundly moving account of the Sinfonia da Requiem - available exclusively on Presto Music until 20th June.
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Presto Presents... Liya Petrova
In this latest episode of Presto Presents, violinist Liya Petrova and pianist Hamish Brown perform a selection of pieces inspired by Liya's latest album Momentum 2 (released in March on Mirare).
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Alon Sariel on Vienna Mandolin Stories
The Israeli mandolinist talks about his new album with the Kölner Akademie, in which he takes us on a tour of the Vienna of Haydn and Mozart - making some new discoveries along the way.
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David Watkin (1965-2025)
The British cellist, conductor and pedagogue, an influential and beloved member of the teaching staff at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and particularly acclaimed for his 2015 recording of the Bach cello suites, has died aged 60.
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Early Music Round-Up - Spring 2025
Provincial Handel-inspired instrumental works from The Corelli Orchestra, Telemann chamber music from The London Handel Players, the culmination of the Orlando Consort's Machaut series, imposing Lusitano motets from Arte Minima, and more. Plus, the final three weeks of our Early Music special offer!
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Ronald Corp (1951-2025)
The British conductor, composer and Anglican priest, who was particularly known for his championing of light music and for his inspirational work with choirs of all ages, has died aged 74.
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Cello Fantasies from Zlatomir Fung and Richard Fu
The American cellist makes his début with an album of six gorgeous opera-fantasies, including two world premieres and showing that the genre is alive and well.
Featured product
Fantasies
Zlatomir Fung (cello), Richard Fu (piano)
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New Release Round-Up - 11th April 2025
Ruth Gipps from Rumon Gamba and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Daughtery from Anne Akiko Meyers, the Albany Symphony Orchestra and David Alan Miller, Beethoven from Nicola Benedetti, the Aurora Orchestra and Nicholas Collon, and a recital of Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi from Eleonora Buratto, the Orchestra e Coro dell'Opera Carlo Felice Genova and Sesto Quatrini.
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Jeannette Sorrell on Le Tre Soprano
The founder and music director of Apollo's Fire talks about the group's new album, placing the spotlight on the all-female 'concerto delle donne' that arose in Ferrara towards the end of the 16th century.
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Brahms quartets from Krystian Zimerman and friends
The pianist joins violinist Maria Nowak, violist Katarzyna Budnik and cellist Yuya Okamoto in earnest yet refined accounts of Brahms's Piano Quartets Nos. 2 and 3.
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Harry Christophers on 'Angel of Peace'
The conductor talks about his new album of choral works, released to accompany The Sixteen's 2025 Choral Pilgrimage.
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Ravel Fragments from Bertrand Chamayou
Pianist Bertrand Chamayou presents a selection of homages to, and transcriptions of, Ravel's music to mark the composer's 150th birthday.
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Sofia Gubaidulina 1931-2025
The German-resident, Russian-born composer, who combined a profound Orthodox faith with an unrelenting musical modernism, has died aged 93.
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María Dueñas on Caprices
The violinist gives us a peek behind the scenes of how her new album centred around Paganini's legendary Caprices came to be.
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Nevermind Ensemble on recasting Bach's Goldberg Variations
The quartet talk about their new recording of the immortal Goldberg Variations, seamlessly adapted for flute, violin, gamba and continuo.
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Christian Li on Tchaikovsky
The young Australian violinist (who signed to Decca when he was just twelve) discusses his 'coming of age' recording, which is released this Friday and sees him joining forces with Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and a selection of miniatures.
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Caprices from María Dueñas
The violinist presents a sparkling double album of caprices - a dazzling rendition of Paganini's famous set of twenty-four is complemented by works by Cervelló, Ortiz, Saint-Saëns and others.
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Early Music Round-Up - February 2025
Thrilling concertos by WF Bach, CPE Bach and Georg Benda from Francesco Corti and Il Pomo d'Oro, folksy Scandinavian repertoire from The Curious Bards, a vivid Francesco Scarlatti premiere from Armonico Consort, an English solo lute recital from Elisa La Marca, and more.
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Christopher and Geoffrey in the Lions' Den
Conductor Christopher Monks and musicologist Geoffrey Webber talk about their work bringing Francesco Scarlatti's dramatic Biblical oratorio Il Daniele nel Lago de' Leoni back to life - featuring dragons, demons and more.
