Latest News: Classical
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Recording of the Week,
Daniil Trifonov's (North) American Story 11th October 2024
The Russian pianist presents a dazzling kaleidoscope of North American music, with a variety of genres and styles covering minimalism, jazz, film music, and concertos by Gershwin and Mason Bates.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 11th October 2024 11th October 2024
Schoenberg from Rafael Payare in Montreal, Elgar and Walton from Gautier Capuçon, the LSO and Antonio Pappano, zarzuela from Juan Diego Flórez, & Chopin, Ravel and Ligeti from Jaeden Izik-Dzurko (winner of this year's Leeds Piano Competition).
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Obituary,
Leif Segerstam (1944-2024) 10th October 2024
The Finnish conductor, composer and multi-instrumentalist Leif Segerstam has died at the age of 80.
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Interview,
Lawrence Brownlee on Donizetti's songs 9th October 2024
The American tenor introduces the inaugural volume of Opera Rara's mammoth Donizetti Song Project, which sees him joining forces with Carlo Rizzi to revive unpublished and previously-unrecorded songs - several of them written for the composer's friends to sing at parties...
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Gramophone Choices,
Gramophone Editor's Choices - Awards Issue 2024 8th October 2024
Chris introduces the latest selection, headed by a 'magnificent addition' to the Elgar Violin Concerto discography courtesy of Vilde Frang, Robin Ticciati and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin on Warner Classics.
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Interview,
Kateřina Kněžíková on Strauss and Janáček 7th October 2024
The Czech soprano discusses her new recording of the Vier letzte Lieder with her friend Jakub Hrůša, and reflects on her recent transition into more dramatic repertoire - beginning with Káťa Kabanová at Glyndebourne in 2021.
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Recording of the Week,
A Mozart Requiem with a twist from Pygmalion and Raphaël Pichon 4th October 2024
The French conductor and his dynamic ensemble shed new light on the score (given here in Süssmayr's familiar completion) by weaving in material from Mozart's youth which foreshadows ideas later developed in the Mass - including an early Miserere and music from Thamos, König in Ägypten.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 4th October 2024 4th October 2024
Brahms from Igor Levit, the Wiener Philharmoniker and Christian Thielemann, Beethoven's 'Hammerklavier' Sonata from Marc-André Hamelin, an all-American programme from Daniil Trifonov, and a live recording of Mendelssohn's Elijah from the London Symphony Orchestra and Antonio Pappano (with Gerald Finley in the title-role).
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Interview,
Antonio Pappano on Mendelssohn's Elijah 3rd October 2024
The London Symphony Orchestra's recently-appointed Chief Conductor talks about his latest recording on LSO Live of Mendelssohn's oratorio, including how his experience as an operatic conductor helped him to bring out the drama and sense of narrative contained within the work.
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Awards,
Gramophone Awards 2024 - The Winners! 2nd October 2024
Chris reports back from tonight's ceremony in London, with full details of the Recording of the Year, Artist of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and other special awards.
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Presto Chart,
The Presto Chart - September 2024 1st October 2024
Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for September, with John Wilson and Sinfonia of London's complete recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel in first place...
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Presto Music Classical Podcast,
Episode 53: Rebeca Omordia talks African Pianism 30th September 2024
Matthew spoke with award-winning pianist Rebeca Omordia about her latest exploration of the rich vein of African piano music, on SOMM Recordings.
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Recording of the Week,
Leonskaja celebrates the Second Viennese School 27th September 2024
Elisabeth Leonskaja's persuasive and engaging recital of piano works that are often misunderstood is an essential listen, whether mention of the Second Viennese School excites you or normally sends you running for the hills.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 27th September 2024 27th September 2024
Robert Schumann recitals from Kian Soltani and Maxim Rysanov, portraits of Pierrot from Claire Booth and Ensemble 360, and baroque favourites with a twist from Jakub Józef Orliński.
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Interview,
Dalia Stasevska on her Mixtape 26th September 2024
The Finnish conductor discusses her first project on Platoon, featuring orchestral music by contemporary composers including Anna Meredith, Caroline Shaw, Noriko Koide and SØS Gunver Ryberg - and explains her mission 'to become the Koussevitzky of my generation'...
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Interview,
Michael Spyres on In The Shadows 25th September 2024
Ahead of next week's Gramophone Awards and International Opera Awards, the baritenor discusses his shortlisted album (released on Erato in March) exploring early Wagner and the composers who influenced his writing.
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Box Set Selections,
Boxed Set Selections - September 2024 24th September 2024This month's heavyweights include Roberto Alagna's collected opera recordings on Warner Classics, a celebration of Christoph von Dohnányi's time in Cleveland, Markus Poschner's complete Bruckner symphonies from Vienna/Linz, and an anthology of live recordings from the International Festival Martha Argerich in Hamburg.
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Presto CD,
More New Presto CD titles from Chandos 23rd September 2024
We’re delighted to announce the addition of more Chandos titles to our Presto CD offering, focusing on the acclaimed Chaconne early music imprint. Many of these recordings have been unavailable on CD for several years.
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Recording of the Week,
Bruckner's Symphony No. 4 from Anima Eterna and Pablo Heras-Casado 20th September 2024
Bruckner’s ‘cathedrals in sound’ have often been described as overblown, but this recording of his most popular symphony, played here in its second version of 1878-1880, offers a convincing counterargument.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 20th September 2024 20th September 2024
Bach's Cello Suites from Jean-Guihen Queyras, late Schubert from Ronald Brautigam, Strauss Lieder from Kateřina Kněžíková and Jakub Hrůša, and a sixtieth-birthday celebration from Roberto Alagna.
