Latest News: Classical
Interview, Antonio Pappano on Bernstein
6th August 2018
Ahead of the Bernstein centenary later this month, the conductor talks to Katherine about recording his three symphonies with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (out this Friday on Warner Classics).
Recording of the Week, Rachmaninov's Études-tableaux from Steven Osborne
3rd August 2018
Katherine is mesmerised by the Scottish pianist’s introspective but evocative accounts of Rachmaninov’s two sets of ‘study-pictures’, out now on Hyperion.
New Release Round-up, New Release Round-up - 3rd August 2018
3rd August 2018
New releases from the Binchois Consort, lutenist Jakob Lindberg, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, plus Georg Solti's Tannhäuser in 5.1 surround sound and the complete Decca recordings of Alicia De Larrocha.
Awards, Gramophone Awards 2018 Shortlist
1st August 2018
The sixty shortlisted recordings (half a dozen in each of ten categories) for this year’s Awards have just been revealed…
Presto Chart, The Presto Chart - July 2018
1st August 2018
Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for July, with the third instalment of Andris Nelsons's Shostakovich cycle from Boston in first place.
Presto Editor's Choices, Presto Editor's Choices - July 2018
31st July 2018
A nocturnal English song recital from Sarah Connolly and Joseph Middleton, a compelling new opera from an octogenarian composer, and a bracing Alpine adventure from Andrés Orozco-Estrada and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Coming Soon, Benjamin Appl's Bach and other forthcoming highlights
30th July 2018
Also includes recital-albums from Thomas Hampson and Thomas Allen, Mahler from Simon Rattle, and Deborah Warner’s striking production of Billy Budd from the Teatro Real Madrid.
Recording of the Week, Wagner's Die Meistersinger from Bayreuth, directed by Barrie Kosky
27th July 2018
Katherine reviews the Australian director's complex but illuminating 2017 production, which places the composer himself at the heart of the action.
New Release Round-up, New Release Round-Up - 27th July 2018
27th July 2018
New releases from Steven Osborne and Mariss Jansons, plus the complete string quartets of James MacMillan and a newly-remastered set of Karl Böhm’s legendary recordings of the Mozart symphonies.
Interview, Allan Clayton on Brett Dean's Hamlet
26th July 2018
Following on from our interview with the composer earlier this week, Katherine talks to the English tenor about bringing this new incarnation of Shakespeare's 'sweet prince' to life.
Coming Soon, Rattle conducts Bernstein and other forthcoming highlights
26th July 2018
A live recording of The Age of Anxiety with Bernstein’s friend Krystian Zimerman at the keyboard, plus the definitive Bach boxed set and new releases from Hélène Grimaud, Viktoria Mullova and Plácido Domingo.
Hi-Res Highlights, Hi-Res Highlights - July 2018
24th July 2018
Includes new releases from The Elias Quartet, Michael Tilson Thomas, John Wilson, Sarah Connolly and Richard Boothby.
Interview, Brett Dean on Hamlet
23rd July 2018
The Australian composer talks to Katherine about the genesis of his acclaimed 2017 Shakespearean opera, filmed at Glyndebourne last summer and now available on DVD and Blu-ray from Opus Arte.
Recording of the Week, Vivaldi Double Concertos from Adrian Chandler and La Serenissima
20th July 2018
Adrian Chandler and his acclaimed team of baroque instrumentalists present a sparkling selection of Vivaldi's unique double concerti.
New Release Round-up, New Release Round-Up - 20th July 2018
20th July 2018
Strauss from Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Brahms from Mario Venzago, Shostakovich from Mikhail Pletnev, and the world premiere recording of an absorbing new opera by Aribert Reimann.
Interview, Mark Dourish on De Profundis
19th July 2018
The founder and director of Cambridge-based early music specialists De Profundis talks about the group's second album of Renaissance treasures for lower voices, released at the end of June on Hyperion.
Interview, Jan Bartoš on Beethoven
18th July 2018
The Czech pianist shares his thoughts on his new Beethoven album, out now on Supraphon.
Coming Soon, Barenboim's Brahms Symphonies and other forthcoming highlights
17th July 2018
The conductor's second complete Brahms cycle, recorded in Berlin last autumn, plus new releases from Bryn Terfel, Mischa Maisky, Leif Ove Andsnes and Vivica Genaux.
Gramophone Choices, Gramophone Editor's Choices - August 2018
16th July 2018
Chris introduces this month's selection, with the original 1863 version of Bizet's Les Pêcheurs de Perles out in front as Recording of the Month.
Recording of the Week, Mozart's La clemenza di Tito from Yannick Nézet-Séguin
13th July 2018
Marina Rebeka and Joyce DiDonato strike sparks off one another as Vitellia and Sesto in a terrific new recording of Mozart's final opera, with Rolando Villazón as the idealistic emperor against whom they conspire.