Latest News: Classical
Recording of the Week,
100 Years of Nine Lessons & Carols from King's
30th November 2018
David enjoys a retrospective recording from the choir of King's College, looking back on a century of festive music-making and forward to a new era.
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 30th November 2018
30th November 2018
Verdi from Fabio Biondi (yes, really!), Berlioz from Michael Tilson Thomas and the late Sir Colin Davis, and Debussy centenary tributes from pianists Javier Perianes and Roger Muraro.
Awards,
Recordings of the Year - Special Category Nominees
29th November 2018
In advance of the final verdicts next Friday, we reveal the shortlists for our six new special awards - including Rising Star, Conductor of the Year, and two separate categories of world premiere recordings.
Hi-Res Highlights,
Hi-Res Highlights - November 2018
27th November 2018
Includes new releases from the Chiaroscuro Quartet, Nemanja Radulović, Marina Rebeka and Nikolaj Znaider, plus two vintage re-issues from the Salzburg Festival.
Favourites,
Gifts for... Chamber and Instrumental Music enthusiasts
27th November 2018
Our top picks for fans of chamber music - including selected recordings, box sets, books and sheet music.
Interview,
Colin Currie on The Scene of the Crime
26th November 2018
Trailblazing percussionist Colin Currie talks to David about his recent duo recording with trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger.
Recording of the Week,
Vivaldi from Cecilia Bartoli and Ensemble Matheus
23rd November 2018
Nearly twenty years after her landmark album devoted to the operas of the 'Red Priest', the Italian mezzo is as dazzling as ever in arias from works including Orlando furioso, Il Giustino and Ottone in Villa.
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 23rd November 2018
23rd November 2018
Highlights from Porpora’s Christmas Oratorio, Handel from Sabine Devieilhe and Léa Desandre, Debussy and Ravel from Joseph Moog, and the final instalment of Chloë Hanslip and Danny Driver’s Beethoven Violin Sonatas.
Awards,
Recordings of the Year 2018 - Our Top 100
22nd November 2018
The first meeting of the Presto Awards committee is over, and it's time to reveal the 100 recordings which have most impressed our editorial team this year...
Box Set Selections,
Boxed Set Selections - November 2018
22nd November 2018
Jaap van Zweden’s Ring Cycle with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Colin Davis’s complete recordings of Berlioz with the London Symphony Orchestra, and collections celebrating Carlos Kleiber, Henryk Szeryng, Riccardo Chailly and Claudio Abbado.
Favourites,
Gifts for... Baroque and Early Music fans
22nd November 2018
Books and recordings for lovers of medieval, Renaissance and baroque music.
Awards,
Palmarès des Diapason d'or 2018
21st November 2018
Chris introduces the winners of this year's Awards, revealed at a ceremony last night in Paris.
Interview,
Choral Works by Owain Park
20th November 2018
The young singer, conductor and composer talks to David about his choral works as recently recorded on Hyperion by Stephen Layton and The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge.
Favourites,
Gifts for... Children (and grandchildren)
19th November 2018
A selection of recordings and books to introduce children of all ages to the delights of classical music.
Recording of the Week,
Late Debussy sonatas from Isabelle Faust, Alexander Melnikov and friends
16th November 2018
Harmonia Mundi's ten-album series commemorating the centenary of Debussy's death continues with the Violin Sonata, Cello Sonata, and Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp.
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 16th November 2018
16th November 2018
Schumann from Christian Gerhaher and Gerold Huber, Mahler from Daniel Harding, and Sir David McVicar's staging of Bellini's Norma from the Metropolitan Opera, starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Joyce DiDonato and Joseph Calleja.
Interview,
Rory McCleery on Pater Peccavi
15th November 2018
The Marian Consort's conductor talks to David about his new recording exploring a fascinating and unique corner of Iberia's musical history.
Favourites,
Gifts for... Pianists and piano fans
15th November 2018
From 2018's best new recordings and box sets, to informative books, insightful interviews and beautiful sheet music, we select our top gifts for piano players and piano lovers alike.
BBC Music Magazine Choices,
BBC Music Magazine - December 2018 Choices
14th November 2018
Chris introduces this month's selection, including albums from Vilde Frang, the Tesla Quartet, Leif Ove Andsnes, and The Tallis Scholars.
Interview,
Jaap van Zweden on the Hong Kong Philharmonic's Ring Cycle
13th November 2018
As the final instalment of the cycle on Naxos is released, the conductor talks to Katherine about the project's origins, and the challenges and rewards of tackling Wagner's epic with an orchestra whose primary home is the concert-hall rather than the opera-house.