Latest News: Classical
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Interview,
Simon Mayor on Carolan 22nd March 2023The mandolinist talks about his new album of music by the eighteenth-century Irish harpist Turlough O'Carolan, featuring his own arrangements that meld together Baroque, folk and chamber styles.
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Obituary,
Virginia Zeani (1925-2023) 21st March 2023The Romanian-born soprano, who created the role of Blanche de la Force in Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmélites and later enjoyed a distinguished teaching career, has died aged 97.
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BBC Music Magazine Choices,
BBC Music Magazine - March 2023 Choices 20th March 2023Chris introduces this month's selection, headed by a 'compellingly realised' world premiere recording of Stravinsky's Les Noces in its 1919 version from Ensemble Aedes and Mathieu Romano.
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Recording of the Week,
Benjamin Grosvenor plays music by the Schumanns and Brahms 17th March 2023The British pianist is on typically eloquent, empathetic form in a programme which includes Robert's Kreisleriana and Blumenstück, Clara's variations on a theme from his Bunte Blätter, and their friend Brahms's autumnal Intermezzi Op. 117.
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Favourites,
St Patrick's Day - Music from Ireland 17th March 2023A selection of music from Ireland - Baroque odes, piano concertos, chamber music, art songs, opera and more.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 17th March 2023 17th March 2023Mozart from Quatuor Ebène and Antoine Tamestit, Haydn's Stabat Mater from René Jacobs, a golden anniversary compilation from the Brodsky Quartet, and the world premiere recording of Porpora's Carlo il Calvo (starring Franco Fagioli and Max Cencic).
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Interview,
Jean Rondeau on Gradus ad Parnassum 16th March 2023The French harpsichordist discusses his new album on Erato, which takes its title from a 1725 treatise on counterpoint by Johann Joseph Fux and includes music by Palestrina, Haydn, Beethoven and even Debussy...
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Interview,
The Calidore String Quartet record late Beethoven 15th March 2023Violinist Ryan Meehan talks about the quartet's new album, which builds on their earlier more exploratory releases with an all-Beethoven programme.
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Interview,
Michael Repper on New York Youth Symphony 14th March 2023The American conductor discusses the orchestra's debut recording of music by Florence Price, Valerie Coleman and Jessie Montgomery, which won the Best Orchestral Performance prize at this year's Grammys.
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Gramophone Choices,
Gramophone Editor's Choices - March 2023 13th March 2023Chris introduces this month's selection, headed by Antonio Pappano's 'magnificently recorded' account of Puccini's Turandot (using Alfano's original, uncut completion and starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Jonas Kaufmann and Ermonela Jaho) on Warner Classics.
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Recording of the Week,
Antonio Pappano conducts Puccini's Turandot 10th March 2023Sondra Radvanovsky and Jonas Kaufmann lead a stellar cast in a sumptuous account from Antonio Pappano and the Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia of Puccini's final opera.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 10th March 2023 10th March 2023Yuja Wang's 'American Project', plus Strauss from Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Andris Nelsons, French Romantic rarities from Cyrille Dubois, and symphonic reflections on mortality from Jakub Hrůša in Bamberg.
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Coming Soon,
Michael Spyres's Contra-Tenor and other forthcoming highlights 9th March 2023The sequel to Baritenor sees the American singer exploring the Baroque tradition of the 'tenore assoluto', with other late spring highlights including Shostakovich from the Berliner Philharmoniker & Kirill Petrenko, CPE Bach sonatas from Rachel Podger and Kristian Bezuidenhout, and music by Roberto Sierra from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Domingo Hindoyan.
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Interview,
The Dudok Quartet on Shostakovich and Bacewicz 8th March 2023Cellist David Faber talks about the quartet's recent album of intense chamber music by two composers who grappled with Soviet oppression - Dmitri Shostakovich and Grażyna Bacewicz.
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Presto CD,
New Sony Classical titles added to our Presto CD range 7th March 2023Mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and cellist Yo-Yo Ma feature in the latest additions to our Presto CD from Sony Classical.
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Announcement,
Presto Music's Streaming Service is finally here! 6th March 2023We’re so excited to announce that the Presto Music Streaming Service, created specifically for classical and jazz lovers, is now live and the new apps are available for download!
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Interview,
Johannes Moser on being Alone Together 6th March 2023The cellist talks about his new album that blends the artistry of the solo cello with the technology of sequencing and spatial audio - conceived well before the pandemic, but brought into focus by the enforced isolation that characterised 2020 for so many people.
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Presto Music Classical Podcast,
Episode 33: Four with Scores - Quartet with Leah Broad 5th March 2023Paul is guided through the lives, times and music of four extraordinary female composers by the author of a new music biography 'Quartet', Dr Leah Broad.
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Recording of the Week,
Stravinsky from Isabelle Faust, François-Xavier Roth and Les Siècles 3rd March 2023Violinist Isabelle Faust's relationship with the music of Stravinsky continues, with François-Xavier Roth and his period-instruments orchestra Les Siècles joining her in an album built around the chamber-inspired Violin Concerto.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 3rd March 2023 3rd March 2023Tchaikovsky transcriptions by Yevgeny Sudbin, Silvestrov from Hélène Grimaud & Konstantin Krimmel, Mozart keyboard concertos from Robert Levin, the Academy of Ancient Music and Richard Egarr, and Haydn, Locke and Leith from the Ruisi Quartet.