Awards,
Presto Classical Discs of the Year
This year we've decided to create our own Presto Classical 2014 Discs of the Year, and after many hours of discussion and debate we managed to produce a list of 100 finalists.
From there we went on to decide on our top 10, which are listed below (in no particular order!) – these we’ll call our 2014 Disc of the Year Winners.
Our congratulations to the performers, composers, labels and indeed everyone who has worked on making these wonderful recordings and bringing them to the widest possible public.
Please browse through our complete list of 100.
Our Top 10 - the Winners!
'This is proper seat-of-your-pants, roller-coaster stuff: it’s a live recording, and you really feel that palpable sense of excitement and adrenaline, which is hardly surprising given the amount of notes they have to play! It truly is a stunning example of amazing pianistic feats, and I recommend it very highly indeed' (James Longstaffe).
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
'The Argentine high countertenor Franco Fagioli is a true phenomenon, and this programme of arias by one of the greatest singing-teachers in history is the perfect showcase for his jaw-dropping agility, three-octave range and ability to spin long legato lines that seem to defy gravity!' (Katherine Cooper).
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
'The interludes work beautifully as palate-cleansers and serve to throw the music which surrounds them into sharper relief – I could swear I picked up on more of the ‘exotic’ elements of the rest of the work as a result, though we probably also have Goetzel’s imaginative conducting to thank for that! The Borusan forces offer some of the most vital, vivid orchestral playing I’ve heard in a long time' (Katherine Cooper).
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
'These performances simply radiate joy: you can almost see Davis's benevolent smile as he conducts Haydn's delightful slow movements, and the Allegro movements burst forth with delight. Even if you already have several recordings of these symphonies, I really can't recommend these new performances highly enough' (James Longstaffe).
Available Formats: 2 SACDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'Gardner’s speeds are pretty swift overall, especially these first two movements. If I had to pick one word to describe this recording, it would be rhythm: Gardner pays careful attention to every accent and syncopation to make the performance extremely exhilarating...a superb recording of one of my favourite symphonies' (James Longstaffe).
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Adams: The Gospel According To The Other Mary
Los Angeles Philharmonic & Los Angeles Master Chorale, Gustavo Dudamel
'I really think this is one of Adams’s most impressive recent pieces. With excellent performances from Kelley O’Connor as Mary Magdalene and Tamara Mumford as Martha, and incredible orchestral playing, I recommend it most highly!' (James Longstaffe).
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Wagner: Parsifa - DVD version
Kaufmann, Pape, Mattei; Metropolitan Opera, Daniele Gatti, Francois Girard
'Updating and special effects aside, what really struck me was how refreshingly simple and literal much of Girard's production is...The cast is magnificent. René Pape’s Gurnemanz is no one-dimensional old sage...The biggest revelation is Peter Mattei’s searing Amfortas...This is the best thing Kaufmann’s ever done...In the pit, Daniele Gatti lets everything unfold in its own time, to luminous, hypnotic effect' (Katherine Cooper).
Available Format: 2 DVD Videos
Wagner: Parsifal - Blu-ray version
Kaufmann, Pape, Mattei; Metropolitan Opera, Daniele Gatti, Francois Girard
It's even better on blu-ray!
Available Format: Blu-ray
'The punchy and agile voices of the RIAS Kammerchor bring great vitality to the faster movements while the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin play with clear textures and immaculate intonation throughout...the careful balance between expression and restraint seems very well judged throughout' (Chris O'Reilly).
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
'I don’t think you will ever hear a more spine-tingling performance of the adagio in the final sonata than this. Both performers take great care in the shaping of phrases, matching every articulation whilst being acutely aware of the relative importance of hidden themes and rhythmic figures' (Chris O'Reilly).
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Chris O'Reilly - Chief Executive
