Latest stories

Richard Strauss

4th Apr 2014by James Longstaffe

This week James shares his thoughts on some of his favourite recordings of the works of Richard Strauss.

John Butt on Mozart's Requiem

3rd Apr 2014by Katherine Cooper

The Dunedin Consort's director discusses the challenges of recreating the first performance of Mozart's enigmatic final work.

Stuart Skelton records Gerontius

2nd Apr 2014by Chris O'Reilly

ENO's acclaimed Peter Grimes is taken to heaven by Sarah Connolly in a new recording from Sir Andrew Davis.

Vivaldi's Il Pesce d'Aprile

1st Apr 2014by Katherine Cooper

Jack Liebeck plays violin music by Kreisler

31st Mar 2014by Katherine Cooper

Katherine enjoys Jack Liebeck and Katya Apekisheva’s performances of Kreisler’s flamboyant violin showpieces.

Hector Berlioz

29th Mar 2014by Katherine Cooper

Katherine takes up the 'Presto Recommends' baton this week and selects some favourite recordings of works by Hector Berlioz.

Iestyn Davies on singing Dowland

28th Mar 2014by David Smith

British countertenor Iestyn Davies talks to Presto's David Smith about his new Dowland recording, The Art of Melancholy, out on 31st March on Hyperion Records.

Fagioli records Porpora

27th Mar 2014by Katherine Cooper

Rare Neapolitan fireworks from the Argentinian super-countertenor.

Benjamin Britten

24th Mar 2014by Maurice Millward

Presto’s founder Maurice Millward sifts through a treasure-chest of Britten recordings and offers his thoughts on which paint the best portrait of this influential genius.

Pablo Heras-Casado conducts Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 2

24th Mar 2014by David Smith

David rediscovers Mendelssohn's Lobgesang thanks to Pablo Heras-Casado and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks in this week's newsletter.

Gustavo Dudamel conducts a new oratorio by John Adams

10th Mar 2014by James Longstaffe

James explores The Gospel According to the Other Mary, excellent performances from Kelley O’Connor as Mary Magdalene and Tamara Mumford as Martha.

Gil Shaham plays Violin Concertos from the 1930s

3rd Mar 2014by Chris O'Reilly

The American violinist kicks off a new project exploring the decade with concertos by Barber, Hartmann, Berg, Stravinsky and Britten.

Miloš plays guitar works by Rodrigo and de Falla

24th Feb 2014by Chris O'Reilly

The Montenegrin guitarist performs Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez and Fantasia para un Gentilhombre and Falla’s Homenaje a Debussy with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Jonas Kaufmann sings Wagner’s Parsifal

17th Feb 2014by Katherine Cooper

The German tenor gives the performance of his career as Wagner’s ‘Holy Fool’ in François Girard’s production from the Metropolitan Opera, with René Pape as Gurnemanz and Katarina Dalayman as Kundry.

CPE Bach Magnificat

10th Feb 2014by Chris O'Reilly

To mark the tercentenary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach’s fifth (and most prolific) child, Hans-Christoph Rademann directs the RIAS Kammerchor and Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin in a ‘punchy and agile’ account of his first large-scale choral work.

New Year's Concert 2014

3rd Feb 2014by Katherine Cooper

Daniel Barenboim conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker in the traditional New Year’s Day programme of waltzes, polkas and marches from the Strauss Family and friends.

20th-Century Wind Quintets from Les Vents Français

27th Jan 2014by James Longstaffe

Emmanuel Pahud and company are on ‘beautifully burnished’ form in a 2-CD album of music by Paul Taffanel, Ligeti, Milhaud, Ibert, Ravel, Jolivet, Zemlinsky and more.

Claudio Abbado, 1933-2014

20th Jan 2014by James Longstaffe

Russian Choral Music from Tenebrae

13th Jan 2014by Chris O'Reilly

Nigel Short directs his award-winning British vocal ensemble in a programme of ‘Russian Treasures’, including excerpts from Rachmaninov’s Vespers and little-known gems which are rarely performed outside Russia.