Latest stories
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Hideko Udagawa on Nostalgic Russia
6th Jul 2021
The violinist talks about her new release of Russian rarities for violin and piano with Petr Limonov, and reflects on her relationship with music from Russia.
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Louis Andriessen (1939-2021)
5th Jul 2021
The Dutch composer and pianist, whose major works include the Dante-inspired opera La Commedia and Theatre of the World, has died aged 82.
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New Music Book Publications - 5th July 2021
5th Jul 2021
Books on composers including Benjamin Britten and Ernest Moeran; a re-evaluation of how to write music history; an exploration of the importance of operettas in early twentieth-century Viennese life; analyses of musicals including Spamalot and The Music Man; and collections of essays on the drum kit and music in video games.
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Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo's Cubano-Bop
5th Jul 2021
The combination of Dizzy Gillespie's bebop with Chano Pozo's Cuban rhythms made for some of the most exciting big band music ever recorded. Matt looks into the story behind these classic cuts.
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Episode 19: Classical Comedy with Rainer Hersch
4th Jul 2021
Comedian Rainer Hersch joins Paul for a potted history of the art of cocking a snook at the strait-laced world of classical music.
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The Presto Chart - June 2021
3rd Jul 2021
Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for June, with András Schiff's Brahms Piano Concertos with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment on ECM in first place...
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Alex Western-King on bandleading and inspirations
3rd Jul 2021
The UK-based saxophonist talks to Joshua about his early influences, inspirations, and what he's learned from releasing his own music.
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Sibelius from Edward Gardner, the Bergen Philharmonic, and Lise Davidsen
2nd Jul 2021
The Norwegian soprano combines drama and delicacy in the tone-poem Luonnotar, whilst the Bergen string sound in Tapiola, Rakastava and Pelléas & Mélisande is a thing to marvel at.
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New Release Round-Up - 2nd July 2021
2nd Jul 2021
Love songs from Angela Hewitt, Beethoven's Hammerklavier and Eroica Variations from Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Satie from Noriko Ogawa, and Schnittke and Pärt from the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.
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Daniel Herskedal - Harbour
2nd Jul 2021
The Norwegian tubist's latest record is his most varied, evocative and creative to date; a concept album inspired by the Norwegian coastline, Harbour beautifully marries his jazz trio work with his more composed, cinematic style.
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Randall Goosby on Roots
1st Jul 2021
The violinist talks to Katherine about his debut album on Decca, celebrating the influence which Black composers and performers have had on American music from the late nineteenth century to the present day.
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Jazz New Release Round-Up - 1st July 2021
1st Jul 2021
This week’s pick of new jazz releases includes soul-jazz from Matti Klein, new music from multi-instrumentalist Alex Ward, and historical live tapes from Etta James and Nina Simone.
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Presto Editor's Choices - June 2021
30th Jun 2021
A hugely enjoyable and thought-provoking debut from US violinist Randall Goosby, an illuminating musical tour of Vienna with pianist Alasdair Beatson, and a superb introduction to the orchestral music of Vítězslava Kaprálová.
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Kate Lindsey on Tiranno
29th Jun 2021
The American mezzo talks to Katherine about her recent album exploring baroque depictions of Nero (and the women surrounding him), which features music by Monteverdi, Handel, Alessandro Scarlatti and Bartolomeo Monari.
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Frederic Rzewski (1938-2021)
28th Jun 2021
The American composer and pianist, best known for his set of variations on The People United Will Never Be Defeated, has died 83.
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The Blues and the Abstract Truth
28th Jun 2021
One of the unsung trailblazers of 60s jazz, Oliver Nelson's The Blues and the Abstract Truth is some of his most widely-remembered work, and just so happens to feature a killer line-up including Eric Dolphy and Freddie Hubbard. We take a look back at Nelson's unique, contemporary interpretation of the blues.
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Roxanna Panufnik on Heartfelt
26th Jun 2021
The composer talks about her new album, with works inspired by sources ranging from the trenches of World War I to contemporary Myanmar and even new milestones in veterinary science.
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Andris Nelsons conducts symphonies by Shostakovich
25th Jun 2021
The latest instalment in the Boston Symphony Orchestra's cycle of Shostakovich symphonies juxtaposes the First and Fifteenth Symphonies, alongside expressive performances of the Fourteenth Symphony and the Chamber Symphony in C minor.
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New Release Round-Up - 25th June 2021
25th Jun 2021
Debut recordings from violinist Randall Goosby and pianist Elena Fischer-Dieskau, a Viennese-themed recital from Alasdair Beatson, and a collection of orchestral works by Vítězslava Kaprálová.
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Julian Siegel Jazz Orchestra - Tales from the Jacquard
25th Jun 2021
The Nottingham-based saxophonist, composer and bandleader debuts his ambitious Jazz Orchestra project with an excellent full-length debut, including a three-part jazz suite inspired by the East Midlands lace industry.
