Latest News: Classical
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Interview,
Mark Simpson on Mozart and 'Geysir' 16th November 2020The British composer and clarinettist talks about his exciting new work Geysir, conceived as a musical response to Mozart's Gran Partita.
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Presto CD,
38 New Decca titles added to Presto CD 14th November 2020Including Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting Brahms & Shostakovich, Sir András Schiff playing Schubert and Herbert Blomstedt conducting Richard Strauss.
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Recording of the Week,
Amici e Rivali - Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee 13th November 2020The two American tenors trade vocal fireworks in a thrilling all-Rossini programme which pays homage to Andrea Nozzari and Giovanni David, who created major roles in several of the composer's operas for Naples.
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Interview,
Lawrence Brownlee on Rossini 13th November 2020The American tenor talks to Katherine about today's Recording of the Week Amici e Rivali, which sees him exploring friendship and rivalry in Rossini's Neapolitan operas with his compatriot Michael Spyres.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 13th November 2020 13th November 2020Sacred baroque rarities from Philippe Jaroussky and Artaserse, a Christmas album from Jonas Kaufmann, Beethoven’s Christ on the Mount of Olives from Simon Rattle, and the world premiere recording of Vladimir Martynov’s Utopia Symphony.
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Presto Music Classical Podcast,
Episode 8: The Stalin Prize with Marina Frolova-Walker 11th November 2020Paul talks to Russian-born music historian Marina Frolova-Walker about the subject of her book, the notorious (and often misunderstood) Stalin Prize, and some of the composer stories behind it.
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Favourites,
Gifts for... Pianists and piano-lovers 11th November 2020From 2020's best new recordings and box sets, to informative books and deluxe sheet music, we select our top gifts for piano players and piano lovers alike.
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Interview,
The Calidore String Quartet on Babel 10th November 2020The New York-based Calidore String Quartet talk about their latest album, which weaves together themes of communication and separation.
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Gramophone Choices,
Gramophone Editor's Choices - November 2020 9th November 2020Chris introduces this month's Choices, headed by ‘fresh, fascinating but not uncontroversial accounts’ of Nielsen’s first two symphonies from Thomas Dausgaard and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
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Recording of the Week,
Daniil Trifonov's Silver Age 6th November 2020The Russian pianist is by turns balletic, poetic and dramatic in solo works by Stravinsky and Prokofiev, whilst the Mariinsky Orchestra match his precision and imagination in concertos by the the latter composer and Scriabin.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 6th November 2020 6th November 2020Carnival of the Animals from the Kanneh-Mason family, Brahms and Schumann from Elīna Garanča and Malcolm Martineau, Beethoven from Martin Helmchen and Andrew Manze, and Thalberg from Paul Wee.
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Interview,
John Andrews on The Dancing Master 5th November 2020The British conductor talks to Katherine about recording Malcolm Arnold's one-act comic opera, written at high speed for TV in the early 1950s but rejected by the BBC for being 'too bawdy'...
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Favourites,
Gifts for... Opera Lovers 4th November 2020In 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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BBC Music Magazine Choices,
BBC Music Magazine - December 2020 Choices 3rd November 2020Katherine introduces this month's selection, with Diana Damrau's triptych of Donizetti's Tudor Queens on Erato as Recording of the Month.
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Presto Chart,
The Presto Chart - October 2020 2nd November 2020Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for October, with Light for the World from The Poor Clare Sisters Arundel in first place...
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Presto Editor's Choices,
Presto Editor's Choices - October 2020 31st October 2020Vivid, cinematic orchestral works from Anna Clyne, Reynaldo Hahn's enchanting first opera, and mesmerising musical riddles from singer-composer Stef Conner.
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Recording of the Week,
Vasily Petrenko conducts Stravinsky & Respighi 30th October 2020Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra perform two contrasting ballets from Diaghilev's Ballets Russes - Stravinsky's unnerving Petrushka and Respighi's sparkling Boutique fantasque.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 30th October 2020 30th October 2020Bach from Pavel Kolesnikov, Tavener from Steven Isserlis, Vaughan Williams from Martyn Brabbins, and the final instalment of The Tallis Scholars’s complete Josquin masses on Gimell.
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Interview,
Fatma Said on El Nour 29th October 2020The Egyptian soprano talks to Katherine about her debut solo album on Warner Classics, featuring songs by Egyptian, French and Spanish composers.
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Presto Music Classical Podcast,
Episode 7: Beethoven in Nine Pieces with Laura Tunbridge 28th October 2020Professor Laura Tunbridge offers some new perspectives on Beethoven in the year of his 250th anniversary, by walking us through the pieces she chose to represent him in her acclaimed new book Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces.