Latest News: Classical
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Obituary,
James Bowman (1941-2023) 28th March 2023
The trailblazing English countertenor, who created the role of the Voice of Apollo in Britten's Death in Venice and opened up a wealth of new possibilities for his voice-type, has died aged 81.
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Presto Music Classical Podcast,
Episode 34: Golden Oldies - The Brodsky Quartet at 50 26th March 2023
Katherine is joined by cellist Jacqueline Thomas and viola-player Paul Cassidy for a whistle-stop tour through the quartet's first fifty years - including their landmark Shostakovich cycle in the 1990s and collaborations with Issey Miyake, Sting, Elvis Costello & Sir Paul McCartney
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Recording of the Week,
Strauss and Debussy from François-Xavier Roth and the London Symphony Orchestra 24th March 2023
The LSO and their Principal Guest Conductor present sumptuous, radiant performances of two virtuosic orchestral showpieces: Richard Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra and Debussy's Jeux.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 24th March 2023 24th March 2023
Previously unreleased recordings by Jessye Norman, Stravinsky from Klaus Mäkelä in Paris, variations by Beethoven and others from Cédric Tiberghien, and Beethoven & Ravel from Martha Argerich in Israel.
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Interview,
Cyrille Dubois on So Romantique! 23rd March 2023
The French light lyric tenor explains how he found his operatic niche as a lover rather than a fighter - and discusses his new album on Alpha Classics, featuring rarities by Louis Clapisson, Charles Luce-Verlet and Théodore Dubois alongside one or two old favourites...
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Interview,
Simon Mayor on Carolan 22nd March 2023
The 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 2023
The 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 2023
Chris 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 2023
The 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 2023
A 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 2023
Mozart 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 2023
The 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 2023
Violinist 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 2023
The 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 2023
Chris 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 2023
Sondra 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 2023
Yuja 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 2023
The 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 2023
Cellist 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 2023
Mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and cellist Yo-Yo Ma feature in the latest additions to our Presto CD from Sony Classical.
