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Latest News: Classical

  • Interview, Antonio Pappano on the London Symphony Orchestra

    by James Longstaffe

    Ahead of the opening concert of his first season as Chief Conductor of the LSO at the Barbican tonight, Sir Antonio Pappano talks about his history with the orchestra as well as his future plans with them, including his commitment to English music and new commissions.

  • Interview, Carlos Simon on art and activism

    by Matthew Ash

    GRAMMY-nominated composer, activist and curator Carlos Simon has just released an album of orchestral works with the National Symphony Orchestra (where he's been Composer-in-Residence since 2021), and has a new commission being premiered at the 2024 Last Night of the Proms, on 14th September.

  • Gramophone Choices, Gramophone Editor's Choices - October 2024

    by Chris O'Reilly

    Chris introduces next month's selection, headed by 'Beethoven-playing of rare vividness and technical aplomb' from the Calidore Quartet on Signum.

  • Recording of the Week, Dvořák Symphonies from the Czech Philharmonic and Semyon Bychkov

    by James Longstaffe

    The Czech Philharmonic and their Chief Conductor present Dvořák’s final three symphonies, showing their stylistic mastery of this repertoire with performances that are full of warmth, grace, and class.

  • Awards, Gramophone Awards 2024 - The Finalists

    by Chris O'Reilly

    The three finalists in each of the eleven categories for this year's Awards (presented in partnership with Presto Music) were revealed this morning, with Jonathan Tetelman, Hilary Hahn, Yunchan Lim and Timothy Ridout among those in the running...

  • New Release Round-up, New Release Round-Up - 6th September 2024

    by Katherine Cooper

    Orchestral works by Imogen Holst, the Elgar Violin Concerto from Vilde Frang, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and Robin Ticciati, baritone Huw Montague Rendall's debut solo album, and Lars Vogt's final recordings.

  • Presto Music Classical Podcast, Episode 52: Twenty-Five Years of LSO Live

    by James Longstaffe

    To celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the London Symphony Orchestra's own label, Head of LSO Live Becky Lees, first violinist Maxine Kwok, and principal percussionist Neil Percy talk to James about how the label came to exist, the process of capturing live concerts for release, and their memories of some favourite recordings through the years.

  • Awards, International Opera Awards 2024 - The Shortlisted Recordings

    Golda Schultz, Aigul Akhmetshina and Michael Spyres are among the artists in the running for the solo recital category, whilst rarities by Louise Bertin, Rued Langgaard and Giacomo Meyerbeer go head-to-head in the complete recording stakes...

  • Presto Chart, The Presto Chart - August 2024

    by Chris O'Reilly

    Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for August, with Shostakovich's Symphonies Nos. 4, 5 & 6 from the Oslo Philharmonic and Klaus Mäkelä in first place...

  • Recording of the Week, Sokolov plays Purcell and Mozart

    by Matthew Ash

    In his new live recital Grigory Sokolov brings his unmatched musicianship and command of the piano to the music of Purcell and Mozart, followed by encores which are far more than celebratory extras. This is music-making to be treasured and another indispensable addition to the catalogue.

  • New Release Round-up, New Release Round-Up - 30th August 2024

    by Katherine Cooper

    Dvořák from Nathalie Stutzmann in Atlanta, a French song recital from Benjamin Bernheim & Carrie-Ann Matheson, a contemporary orchestral mix-tape curated and conducted by Dalia Stasevska, and a voyage across the North Sea with the Danish String Quartet.

  • Box Set Selections, Boxed Set Selections - August 2024

    This month's heavyweights include the complete recordings which Lang Lang made in the first decade of his career, Catherine Collard's collected recordings for Erato/EMI and Virgin Classics, an anthology celebrating Alfredo Campoli, and two sets marking the centenary of Georges Prêtre's birth.

  • Interview, James Heather on Pulse Music

    Ahead of his performance at Presto Music tonight, the British composer-pianist talks to us about forging his own creative path, how a near-death experience affected his relationship with the piano, and his musical inspirations (ranging from Nirvana to Michael Nyman).

  • Awards, Gramophone Awards 2024 - The Shortlist

    by Chris O'Reilly

    The six contenders in each of the eleven categories for this year's Awards (presented in partnership with Presto Music) were revealed on Friday.

  • Recording of the Week, Smetana and Schubert from Trio Bohémo

    by Katherine Cooper

    The award-winning young Czech piano trio makes an assured, eloquent debut on Supraphon with Smetana's sole work in the genre and Schubert's late Piano Trio No. 2 in E flat.

  • New Release Round-up, New Release Round-Up - 23rd August 2024

    by Katherine Cooper

    American albums from Augustin Hadelich and Lara Downes, four symphonic works by Carlos Simon from the National Symphony Orchestra and Gianandrea Noseda, and Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin from Julian Prégardien and Kristian Bezuidenhout.

  • Interview, Lahav Shani on Prokofiev, Bruckner and Rotterdam

    by Katherine Cooper

    Ahead of his performance of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Rotterdam Philharmonic at the BBC Proms tomorrow, the conductor and pianist discusses his dual career, musical upbringing and mentors.

  • Coming Soon, Beethoven's Hammerklavier Sonata from Marc-André Hamelin and other forthcoming highlights

    The Canadian pianist tackles one of the most daunting peaks of the keyboard repertoire, with other stand-outs for October including the first two volumes of Opera Rara's Donizetti Song Project and the Elgar & Walton cello concertos from Gautier Capuçon, the London Symphony Orchestra and Antonio Pappano.

  • Gramophone Choices, Gramophone Editor's Choices - September 2024

    by Chris O'Reilly

    Chris introduces next month's selection, headed by a 'polished but never slick' Kurt Weill triptych from Konzerthausorchester Berlin and its Chief Conductor and Artistic Director Joana Mallwitz.

  • Recording of the Week, Klaus Mäkelä conducts Shostakovich

    by Matthew Ash

    Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Oslo Philharmonic in fresh readings of three Shostakovich symphonies, demonstrating a level of insight into widely recorded music that makes this new release an indispensable addition to the catalogue.