Presto Editor's Choices,
Presto Editor's Choices - January 2022
Personal favourites from January's releases include a powerful pasticcio requiem (featuring music by composers including Isaac, Manchicourt, Scelsi and Tavener) from La Tempête and Simon-Pierre Bestion, an appropriately spellbinding gallery of Handelian enchantresses from Sandrine Piau and Les Paladins, a superb survey of George Walker's piano sonatas from Steven Beck, and a thoroughly beguiling French song recital from Roderick Williams and Roger Vignoles.
On paper, this composite requiem looks like an outlandishly eclectic prospect: a movement by Olivier Greif (1950–2000) nestles between contributions from Isaac and Senfl, and nigh-on five centuries separate the Libera me (Juan de Anchieta) from the ensuing Song for Athene by John Tavener. In practice it all feels entirely of a piece, with the singers of La Tempête taking every shift in style entirely in their stride.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Dreisig might not step quite so audaciously outside the box as her label-mate Michael Spyres did on his recent album mixing tenor and baritone repertoire, but it's fascinating to hear her plush, agile lyric soprano in roles which are now more often assigned to soubrettes and mezzos, as well as on 'home' territory; I love the creamy sensuality which she brings to Susanna's 'Deh, vieni' and Cherubino's 'Voi che sapete', and her Donnas Anna and Elvira are brilliantly differentiated.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Piau works plenty of magic of her own across this gallery of sorceresses, sirens and seductresses, with highlights including a heart-stopping 'Ah, mio cor' from Alcina, a brilliantly-ornamented 'Da tempeste' from Giulio Cesare and a bleak and beautiful excerpt from La Lucrezia (I'd love to hear her in the entire cantata at some point). Les Paladins are on alert, characterful form throughout, with some dazzling work from the trumpets in Melissa's 'Desterò dall'empia Dite' from Amadigi di Gaula.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Composed between 1953 and 2003, these five sonatas provide fascinating insight into how Walker's relationship with the medium shifted over the course of his long career, incorporating elements of late Romanticism, minimalism and spirituals. Though Walker was himself a formidable pianist, there's very little virtuosity for its own sake, and his supremely imaginative approach to variation-form (notably in the central 'Bell' movement of Sonata No. 3) is a joy, as is the clarity and palpable affection of Beck's playing throughout.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
This celebration of 'The Art of French Song' is a real box of delights, with plenty of variety of mood and numerous relative rarities (including Honegger's Petit Cours de Morale and Saluste du Bartas) sitting cheek-by jowl with much-loved songs by Ravel, Fauré and Debussy. Williams brings plenty of swagger and humour to the more extrovert numbers, particularly Honegger's quirky morality-tales and Don Quichotte's drinking-song (which incidentally brought the house down when he performed it at Presto's dual-anniversary celebrations in October!).
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC, Hi-Res+ FLAC
This second album from the London-based string ensemble is a real winner on all counts - the individual players are hugely impressive when required to step into the spotlight, and the intensity of the collective sound in tutti passages is overwhelming in the best possible way. Azkoul's adroit upscaling of Mendelssohn's final string quartet is incredibly effective, choral works by Caroline Shaw and Joanna Marsh translate gorgeously to this medium, and Ruby Hughes is achingly expressive in three songs by Golijov.
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC, Hi-Res+ FLAC
Brahms marks the first movement of his A major violin sonata 'Allegro amabile', and Hough and Collins extend the sentiment throughout this lively, ever-amiable recital - the two artists' long-standing relationship with one another and with this repertoire is evident in every phrase. Collins's own transcription of that violin sonata works a treat, showcasing the sweetness and security of his extreme upper register, and with a hint of welcome bite in the tone replicating the effects of the original's double-stopped octaves.
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Katherine Cooper - Head of Editorial
