Latest News: Classical
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Recording of the Week,
Berlioz's Les nuits d'été & Harold en Italie from John Nelson in Strasbourg 18th November 2022Vocal shape-shifter Michael Spyres tackles the song-cycle in the original orchestral keys, whilst viola-player Timothy Ridout is a warmly collegiate soloist in Harold on this clear-eyed, affectionate recording from Strasbourg.
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Interview,
John Nelson on Berlioz and Handel 18th November 2022The veteran American conductor answers some quick questions about his new live recording of Les nuits d'été & Harold en Italie - and looks forward to his performance of Messiah at Coventry Cathedral next week...
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 18th November 2022 18th November 2022Handel duets and arias from Lea Desandre and Iestyn Davies, Schubert's Schwanengesang from Andrè Schuen and Daniel Heide, Christmas concertos from Bojan Čičić and the Illyria Consort, and Couperin from Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset.
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Interview,
Anna Fedorova on Rachmaninoff concertos and the Davidsbündler Academy 16th November 2022The pianist talks about her new recording of Rachmaninoff, her upcoming recording plans, and her extensive and ongoing efforts to support Ukrainian refugees through music.
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Favourites,
Gifts for... Baroque and Early Music fans 15th November 2022From new recordings from Pygmalion, Mahan Esfahani and the Marian Consort to magnificent new editions of Tudor keyboard music, browse our selection of books and recordings for lovers of Renaissance and baroque music.
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Interview,
Owain Park on Lux Aeterna 14th November 2022The director of the Gesualdo Six talks about the group's new album, featuring music for remembrance and commemoration.
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Recording of the Week,
Signor Gaetano from Javier Camarena and Gli Originali 11th November 2022On the first of two albums devoted to the many and varied operas of Donizetti, the Mexican tenor brings fresh-faced charm to the comic heroes of L'elisir d'amore and Betly - but also excels in the darker and stormier waters of Roberto Devereux, Caterina Cornaro and Maria de Rudenz.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 11th November 2022 11th November 2022Italian Baroque gems from Adrian Chandler and La Serenissima, sacred-inspired Liszt from the Orchester Wiener Akademie, Schumann from Andrew Wan and Charles Richard-Hamelin, and a mythology-flavoured debut from Les Argonautes.
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Favourites,
Gifts for...Pianists and piano-lovers 10th November 2022From 2022's best new recordings and box sets, to informative books and deluxe sheet music, we select our top gifts for pianists and pianophiles alike.
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Interview,
Leif Ove Andsnes on Dvořák's Poetic Tone Pictures 9th November 2022The pianist talks about his new recording of Dvořák's rarely-heard contribution to the genre of pictorial piano miniatures.
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Favourites,
Gifts for... Opera-Lovers 8th November 2022In the first of our festive gift guides, we've selected some perfect presents for the opera-lover in your life, from the latest recordings to the best books about opera.
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Interview,
Lisette Oropesa on French bel canto 7th November 2022As she prepares for the opening night of Handel's Alcina at Covent Garden tomorrow, the Cuban-American soprano discusses her new album of French opera arias by Donizetti and Rossini on Pentatone.
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Recording of the Week,
Steven Isserlis explores the cello's Golden Decade 4th November 2022Steven Isserlis and Connie Shih take us on a journey to uncover some lesser-known works from an astonishingly fruitful decade for the cello - sonatas from Strauss and Le Beau, Bruch connections and more.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 4th November 2022 4th November 2022Brahms & Clara Schumann from Anne-Sophie Mutter and Pablo Ferrández, lesser-spotted Poulenc from the BBC Concert Orchestra and the late Bramwell Tovey, Cherubini's Les Abencérages from György Vashegyi, and Mozart's La clemenza di Tito with a cast headed by Nicky Spence.
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Interview,
Remembering George Walker on his centenary 3rd November 2022With a cycle of Walker's Sinfonias underway from the National Symphony Orchestra, the composer's son Gregory and conductor Gianandrea Noseda reflect on his legacy.
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Presto Editor's Choices,
Presto Editor's Choices - October 2022 1st November 2022A consummately creepy Isle of the Dead from John Wilson and Sinfonia of London, thrillingly-sung Verdi from Jonas Kaufmann and Ludovic Tézier, a celebration of the Francœur brothers from Théotime Langlois de Swarte and Justin Taylor, and Montgeroult's rich and varied études from pianist Clare Hammond.
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Presto Chart,
The Presto Chart - October 2022 1st November 2022Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for October, with Víkingur Ólafsson's 'fan-letter' to Hungarian composer and pianist György Kurtág on Deutsche Grammophon in first place...
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Interview,
Amanda Lee Falkenberg and Nicole Stott on the Moons Symphony 31st October 2022The composer and astronaut talk about their collaboration on an inspiring new work depicting seven of the Solar System's moons, and about art's role in communicating the wonders of scientific discovery.
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Recording of the Week,
Handel's Theodora from Maxim Emelyanychev and Il Pomo d'Oro 28th October 2022A starry cast headed by Lisette Oropesa and Joyce DiDonato offers a wealth of fresh insights into Handel’s oratorio about religious persecution and intolerance in ancient Rome on this new studio recording, made after a run of concert-performances across Europe.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 28th October 2022 28th October 2022Dvořák from Leif Ove Andsnes, Rachmaninoff from Sinfonia of London and John Wilson, Schubert from Paul Lewis, and a recital of baroque works for violin 'tutta sola' from Rachel Podger.