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The Presto Chart - May 2025
2nd Jun 2025
Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for May, headed by 'dazzling' accounts of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 1 and Symphonic Dances from Sinfonia of London and John Wilson on Chandos.
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Presto Team Choices - May 2025
31st May 2025
Staff favourites from May include Charles Koechlin's Symphony No. 1 from Ariane Matiakh, Madeleine Dring from Nicholas Daniel and friends, a Bruckner 9 with a difference from the Hallé and Kahchun Wong, and Lalo's Breton opera Le Roi d’Ys from György Vashegyi.
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Britten from Edward Gardner and the LPO
30th May 2025
The London Philharmonic Orchestra under Edward Gardner perform two Britten premieres, alongside a profoundly moving account of the Sinfonia da Requiem - available exclusively on Presto Music until 20th June.
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New Release Round-Up - 30th May 2025
30th May 2025
Tchaikovsky from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Alpesh Chauhan, a second helping of British orchestral anthems from Britten Sinfonia and the Choir of Merton College Oxford, Ligeti concertos from Les Siècles and François-Xavier Roth, and Anna Lapwood's eclectic new album Firedove.
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Per Nørgård (1932-2025)
30th May 2025
The influential, prolific and adventurous Danish composer (who was widely regarded as the heir to Carl Nielsen) has died aged 92.
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Boxed Set Selections - Spring 2025
29th May 2025
Heavyweight sets from the last couple of months include anthologies devoted to Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (who would have celebrated his hundredth birthday yesterday), Joan Sutherland, Walter Weller, Steve Reich and Georges Bizet.
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Presto Presents... Liya Petrova
28th May 2025
In this latest episode of Presto Presents, violinist Liya Petrova and pianist Hamish Brown perform a selection of pieces inspired by Liya's latest album Momentum 2 (released in March on Mirare).
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BBC Music Magazine - June 2025 Choices
27th May 2025
Chris introduces this month's selection, headed by a 'distinctive, individual' solo recital from viola-player Timothy Ridout on Harmonia Mundi, featuring music by Telemann, JS Bach, Britten and Shaw.
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For Dieter: Hommage à Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
23rd May 2025
Together with his regular recital-partner James Baillieu, Benjamin Appl celebrates the centenary of his mentor's birth with a beautifully-crafted recital charting the various stages of his life - including music which was written 'For Dieter' and world premiere recordings of pieces by family-members.
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For Dieter
Benjamin Appl (baritone), James Baillieu (piano)
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New Release Round-Up - 23rd May 2025
23rd May 2025
Purcell from Helen Charlston and Sounds Baroque, Chopin from Benjamin Grosvenor, Beethoven from Elisabeth Leonskaja and the Orchestre Français des Jeunes, and Madeleine Dring from Nicholas Daniel and friends.
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Esther Abrami on WOMEN
22nd May 2025
The French violinist discusses her new album of music by female composers (released on Sony last month), featuring the world premiere of Ina Boyle's Violin Concerto and works by Chiquinha Gonzaga, Ethel Smyth and Holocaust victim Ilse Weber.
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Mariam Batsashvili on Influences
21st May 2025
Mariam Batsashvili's new album, Influences, is a chronological journey through sonatas that she holds close, spiritually and musically. Ahead of her BBC Proms appearance, playing Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra on 27th July, she spoke with Matthew Ash about the new album and her connection with the music.
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Influences
Mariam Batsashvili (piano)
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Gramophone Editor's Choices - June 2025
20th May 2025
Chris introduces next month's selection, headed by a 'most distinguished' account of Richard Strauss's Salome from Edward Gardner and the Bergen Philharmonic on Chandos, recorded live at the Edinburgh Festival in 2022 with Malin Byström in the title-role.
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Alon Sariel on Vienna Mandolin Stories
19th May 2025
The Israeli mandolinist talks about his new album with the Kölner Akademie, in which he takes us on a tour of the Vienna of Haydn and Mozart - making some new discoveries along the way.
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John Wilson completes his cycle of Rachmaninoff symphonies
16th May 2025
John Wilson and Sinfonia of London present the third and final album in their survey of Rachmaninoff’s symphonies, offering a dramatic reading of the early Symphony No. 1 (notoriously a disaster at its first performance in 1895) alongside an exquisite account of the Symphonic Dances.
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Luigi Alva (1927-2025)
16th May 2025
The Peruvian light lyric tenor, who was especially acclaimed for his elegant interpretations of Mozart and Rossini, has died aged 98.
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Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia
Maria Callas (Rosina), Tito Gobbi (Figaro), Luigi Alva (Almaviva), Fritz Ollendorf (Bartolo), Nicola Zaccaria (Basilio), Gabriella Carturan (Berta), Mario Carlin (Fiorello) Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, Alceo Galliera
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New Release Round-Up - 16th May 2025
16th May 2025
Bach from Benjamin Alard, Brahms from Christian Gerhaher and Gerold Huber, Lament and Liberation from the Choir of St John's College Cambridge, and Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven & Liszt from Mariam Batsashvili.
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David Watkin (1965-2025)
15th May 2025
The British cellist, conductor and pedagogue, an influential and beloved member of the teaching staff at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and particularly acclaimed for his 2015 recording of the Bach cello suites, has died aged 60.
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Dr Susan Lim on Cosmic Rhapsody
14th May 2025
The surgeon and scientist discusses the second instalment of the ALAN Trilogy (created with composer Manu Martin and librettist Christina Teenz Tan), which was premiered at the Barbican last month and recently released on Decca with Jean-Yves Thibaudet as soloist.
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Early Music Round-Up - Spring 2025
13th May 2025
Provincial Handel-inspired instrumental works from The Corelli Orchestra, Telemann chamber music from The London Handel Players, the culmination of the Orlando Consort's Machaut series, imposing Lusitano motets from Arte Minima, and more. Plus, the final three weeks of our Early Music special offer!
