Latest News: Classical
-
Presto Chart,
The Presto Chart - April 2021 4th May 2021Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for April, with young British guitarist Alexandra Whittingham's debut recording on Delphian in first place (despite not being released until 28th May!)...
-
Obituary,
Anthony Payne (1936-2021) 3rd May 2021The British composer, whose works included an 'elaboration' of Elgar's unfinished Third Symphony and numerous compositions for his late wife Jane Manning, has died aged 84.
-
Presto Music Classical Podcast,
Episode 17 Bonus: Pierrot Lunaire with Patricia Kopatchinskaja 2nd May 2021For this special bonus episode of the podcast, Patricia Kopatchinskaja tells us about her longstanding relationship with Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire.
-
Presto Editor's Choices,
Presto Editor's Choices - April 2021 30th April 2021A beguiling recital of lieder by female composers from soprano Olena Tokar and Igor Gryshyn, a revelatory Wesendonk-Lieder from Matthias Goerne and Seong-Jin Cho, and a glittering Nutcracker from the brilliant young pianist Ivan Bessonov.
-
Recording of the Week,
Alina Ibragimova performs Paganini's Caprices 30th April 2021The violinist releases the results of a uniquely ambitious "lockdown project" – a barnstorming new account of Paganini's fiendish Caprices, recorded in the late spring of 2020.
-
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 30th April 2021 30th April 2021Zemlinsky and Schreker from Vasily Petrenko in Liverpool, Festmusik from Onyx Brass and John Wilson, Ysaÿe from James Ehnes, and Miloš Karadaglić in new guitar concertos by Joby Talbot and Howard Shore.
-
Interview,
Sabine Weyer on Miaskovsky and Bacri 29th April 2021The Luxembourger pianist talks about her recent album Mysteries, in which she juxtaposes two very different composers' approaches to pushing the limits of Romanticism.
-
Presto CD,
25 New Decca and Deutsche Grammophon titles now on Presto CD 28th April 2021Riccardo Chailly, the Takács Quartet and András Schiff are amongst the artists featured on the latest batch of Presto CDs.
-
Interview,
Joyce DiDonato on Winterreise 27th April 2021The American mezzo talks to Katherine about her new recording with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, which approaches Schubert's great song-cycle from the perspective of the woman whom the narrator leaves behind...
-
Obituary,
Christa Ludwig (1928-2021) 26th April 2021One of the most moving and versatile singers of the twentieth century, the great German mezzo-soprano has died aged 93.
-
Presto Music Classical Podcast,
Episode 16: Britain, by George! - Handel with Suzanne Aspden 25th April 2021Professor Suzanne Aspden joins Paul to trace Handel's journey from the youthful Italian cantatas & operas to his later English oratorios.
-
Recording of the Week,
François-Xavier Roth conducts Beethoven's Eroica Symphony 23rd April 2021Les Siècles and François-Xavier Roth return to the music of Beethoven with a dramatic, illuminating account of the Third Symphony, coupled with an energetic performance of an overture by Méhul.
-
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 23rd April 2021 23rd April 2021Winterreise from Joyce DiDonato and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, an homage to Humperdinck on Deutsche Grammophon, Mahler's Resurrection Symphony from Ádám Fischer, and Charles Avison's Scarlatti-inspired concerti grossi on Glossa.
-
Interview,
Colin Currie on HK Gruber 22nd April 2021The Scottish percussionist talks to Katherine about recording two concertos by his friend 'Nali' - Rough Music from 1983, and into the open… (written for and premiered by Currie in 2015).
-
Box Set Selections,
Boxed Set Selections - April 2021 21st April 2021April heavyweights include French organist Jeanne Demessieux's complete recordings on Decca, plus anthologies celebrating André Previn, Eugene Ormandy and Peter Maag.
-
Interview,
Justin Taylor on the 'famille Rameau' 20th April 2021The harpsichordist discusses his new album on Alpha, which sees him explore the music of the Rameau clan – not just the famous Jean-Philippe but also his equally distinguished descendants.
-
Gramophone Choices,
Gramophone Editor's Choices - May 2021 19th April 2021Chris introduces this month's selection, with a Proustian soirée from Théotime Langlois de Swarte and Tanguy de Williencourt on Harmonia Mundi in pride of place.
-
BBC Music Magazine Choices,
BBC Music Magazine - May 2021 19th April 2021Chris introduces this month's selection, headed by an 'outstanding recording' of Beethoven's Triple Concerto from the Freiburger Barockorchester and Pablo Heras-Casado with soloists Isabelle Faust, Jean-Guihen Queyras, and Alexander Melnikov.
-
Recording of the Week,
Vaughan Williams from Antonio Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra 16th April 2021Pappano takes on perhaps Vaughan Williams's two most challenging symphonies, in live recordings given a heightened emotional intensity by the circumstances of their performance.
-
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 16th April 2021 16th April 2021Wagner's Wesendonck-Lieder from Matthias Goerne and Seong-Jin Cho, Freddie de Tommaso's debut album Passione, Patricia Kopatchinskaja in Pierrot Lunaire, and Vivaldi bassoon concertos from Sergio Azzolini.