Help
Skip to main content

The Presto Chart - May 2025

Presto Chart

About the author

Chris O'Reilly
More about Chris

Classical chart logo - white text on blueSinfonia of London and John Wilson once again topped the bestsellers chart last month, with beautifully-paced accounts of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 1 and Symphonic Dances on Chandos; the album featured as Recording of the Week in the middle of the month, and was later given 'the strongest recommendation' by David Gutman in the June edition of Gramophone.

Other popular titles included Benjamin Appl's affectionate homage to his late teacher Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau on Alpha Classics, a four-movement version of Bruckner's Symphony No. 9 from the Hallé and its Principal Conductor Kahchun Wong on the orchestra's own label, and the live recording of Yunchan Lim’s award-winning performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 at the 2022 Van Cliburn Competition.

No. 1 (new entry)

Sinfonia of London, John Wilson

Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 2 (new entry)

For Dieter

Hommage à Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Benjamin Appl (baritone), James Baillieu (piano)

Available formats: Book + CD, Download & Streaming (up to 48 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 3 (new entry)

Yuja Wang (piano), Thomas Rolfs (trumpet), Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons

Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 4 (new entry)

Yunchan Lim (piano), Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop

Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 48 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 5 (new entry)

The Hallé, Kahchun Wong

Available formats: 2 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 48 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 6 (new entry)

No. 7 (new entry)

Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello), Sinfonia of London, John Wilson, Isata Kanneh-Mason (piano)

Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 8 (No. 12 last month)

Yunchan Lim (piano)

Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 9 (new entry)

Agneta Eichenholz (Jenůfa), Katarina Karnéus (Kostelnička), Aleš Briscein (Laca), Nicky Spence (Števa), Jan Martiník (Stárek, the Foreman/Mayor), Carole Wilson (Grandmother Buryjovka)

London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Simon Rattle

Available formats: 2 SACDs, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 10 (No. 3 last month)

Julie Roset (soprano), Beth Taylor (mezzo-soprano). Lucile Richardot (alto), Emiliano Gonzalez Toro (tenor), Christian Immler (bass)

Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon

Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 11 (No. 1 last month)

Lise Davidsen (Senta), Gerald Finley (The Dutchman), Brindley Sherratt (Daland), Stanislas de Barbeyrac (Erik), Anna Kissjudit (Mary), Eirik Grøtvedt (Steersman)

Orchestra and Chorus of Norwegian National Opera, Edward Gardner

Available formats: 2 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 12 (new entry)

Francesca Chiejina (soprano), Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo), Benjamin Hulett (tenor), Ashley Riches (bass-baritone)

London Mozart Players, Crouch End Festival Chorus, David Temple

Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 13 (new entry)

Forgotten Symphonies

Schumann & Bruckner

Le Concert des Nations, Jordi Savall

Available format: Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 14 (new entry)

Benjamin Grosvenor (piano)

Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 15 (new entry)

Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano)

Available formats: 2 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 16 (new entry)

Barbara Hannigan (soprano), Katia Labèque (piano), Marielle Labèque (piano), David Chalmin (synths and electronics)

Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 48 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 17 (No. 2 last month)

Krystian Zimerman (piano), Maria Nowak (violin), Katarzyna Budnik (viola), Yuya Okamoto (cello)

Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 18 (new entry)

Judith van Wanroij (Rozenn), Kate Aldrich (Margared), Cyrille Dubois (Mylio), Jérôme Boutillier (Karnak), Nicolas Courjal (Le Roi d’Ys), Christian Helmer (Saint Corentin/Jahel)

Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Hungarian National Choir, György Vashegyi

Available formats: CD + Book, Download & Streaming (up to 48 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 19 (re-entry)

Fenella Humphreys (violin), BBC Philharmonic, Michael Seal

Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 20 (new entry)

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Sir John Eliot Gardiner

Available formats: 3 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 21 (new entry)

Nicky Spence (tenor), London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 22 (No. 8 last month)

Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sir Simon Rattle

Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 23 (new entry)

Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Gerold Huber (piano)

Available format: CD

No. 24 (new entry)

Yuja Wang (piano), Baiba Skride (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Boston Symphony Orchestra, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, New England Conservatory Symphonic Choir, Andris Nelsons

Available formats: 19 CDs, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

No. 25 (back catalogue)

Ravel: Orchestral Works

Ma Mère l’oye, Boléro, Valses nobles et sentimentales, Pavane pour une infante défunte, Alborada del gracioso & La valse

Sinfonia of London, John Wilson

Available formats: SACD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)

View download progress