Classical Interviews
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Ophélie Gaillard on Cello Tango
The French cellist discusses her new album of music by Piazzolla, Ginastera, Gardel and others (released on Aparté in April), falling in love with tango during a tour to Buenos Aires, and why the milonga is the perfect place to let off steam after a concert...
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Aziz Shokhakimov in Strasbourg
Ahead of a performance of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring earlier this spring, the Music Director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg sat down with Presto to discuss his pre- and post-concert routines, building a relationship with the city and its orchestra, and their new recording of Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé on Warner Classics.
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Magdalena Kožená on L'extase
Ahead of the release of her new album with Mitsuko Uchida on Pentatone tomorrow, the Czech mezzo discusses their shared passion for Debussy - and how she fell in love with French song behind the Iron Curtain as a teenager.
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Martin Iddon on Hesperides
The composer talks about his recent album of delicate, mysterious compositions, performed by the aptly-named Quiet Music Ensemble, released in April on NMC Recordings.
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Alexandre Dratwicki on Bizet and Bru Zane
On the 150th anniversary of Bizet's death, Bru Zane's Artistic Director discusses a new anthology exploring the French composer's lesser-known works - and outlines the label's plans to shine a light on some of his near-forgotten compatriots from the early twentieth century...
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Esther Abrami on WOMEN
The French violinist discusses her new album of music by female composers (released on Sony last month), featuring the world premiere of Ina Boyle's Violin Concerto and works by Chiquinha Gonzaga, Ethel Smyth and Holocaust victim Ilse Weber.
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Mariam Batsashvili on Influences
Mariam Batsashvili's new album, Influences, is a chronological journey through sonatas that she holds close, spiritually and musically. Ahead of her BBC Proms appearance, playing Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra on 27th July, she spoke with Matthew Ash about the new album and her connection with the music.
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Influences
Mariam Batsashvili (piano)
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Alon Sariel on Vienna Mandolin Stories
The Israeli mandolinist talks about his new album with the Kölner Akademie, in which he takes us on a tour of the Vienna of Haydn and Mozart - making some new discoveries along the way.
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Dr Susan Lim on Cosmic Rhapsody
The surgeon and scientist discusses the second instalment of the ALAN Trilogy (created with composer Manu Martin and librettist Christina Teenz Tan), which was premiered at the Barbican last month and recently released on Decca with Jean-Yves Thibaudet as soloist.
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Germán Enrique Alcántara on Simon Boccanegra
The rising Argentinian baritone discusses his recent recording debut on Opera Rara (which saw him stepping in to sing Verdi's troubled Doge at very short notice), his two transformative years on the Jette Parker Artists Programme at Covent Garden, and why it 'takes a village' to raise an opera-singer...
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James Ehnes on Bach
The violinist discusses his new recording of a selection of Bach concertos with Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra - an organisation which 'played a pivotal part' in his early life through tours, radio broadcasts and competitions for young artists.
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Aulis Sallinen at 90
In the wake of his ninetieth birthday earlier this month, the Finnish composer talks to Ben Hogwood about how his style has changed over the decades - and why he's enjoying life at ‘tempo molto sostenuto’ in semi-retirement.
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Holy Week with The Bevan Family Consort
Four members of the British choir of cousins and siblings discuss their new album of music for Lent and Passiontide Attende Domine, released on Signum Classics earlier this month and featuring works by composers including Alfonso Ferrabosco, Girolamo Giacobbi, Mel Bonis and family friend Neil Wright.
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Rosa Feola on Niccolò Piccinni
The Italian soprano discusses her new album of opera arias by the Bari-born composer (1728-1800), who enjoyed enormous early success in Rome before relocating to Paris at the invitation of Marie Antoinette.
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Sean Hickey on Sapiens
The American composer (and Managing Director of Netherlands-based label PENTATONE) discusses his dual career and the genesis of his new solo piano work Sapiens, released on Dorian Sono Luminus earlier this month.
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Jeannette Sorrell on Le Tre Soprano
The founder and music director of Apollo's Fire talks about the group's new album, placing the spotlight on the all-female 'concerto delle donne' that arose in Ferrara towards the end of the 16th century.
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Samantha Ege on Maestra
The pianist and musicologist discusses her new recording of piano concertos by Julia Perry (the eponymous 'maestra') and Doreen Carwithen, released on Lorelt at the end of last month with Lontano and Odaline de la Martinez.
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Nobuyuki Tsujii on Beethoven
Coinciding with the release of his Deutsche Grammophon debut album, and the reissue by DG of his earlier recordings, pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii spoke to Matthew Ash about his experiences, approaching Beethoven and learning new repertoire as a blind musician.
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Beethoven
Nobuyuki Tsujii (piano)
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Harry Christophers on 'Angel of Peace'
The conductor talks about his new album of choral works, released to accompany The Sixteen's 2025 Choral Pilgrimage.
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Jeneba Kanneh-Mason on Fantasie
Pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason talks about making her debut solo album (released earlier this month on Sony Classical), her journey with Chopin's Piano Sonata No. 2, the attractions of Scriabin's soundworld, and the music of Margaret Bonds.
