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Latest News: Classical, Erato (label)

  • Recording of the Week, In The Shadows with Michael Spyres

    by Katherine Cooper

    The American singer teams up with Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset to explore some of the operas which influenced Wagner - including works by Méhul, Beethoven, Meyerbeer and Spontini.

  • Recording of the Week, Handel's Messiah from John Nelson

    by Katherine Cooper

    Devotion and drama work hand-in-glove on the American conductor's live recording from Coventry Cathedral with The English Concert and soloists Lucy Crowe, Alex Potter, Michael Spyres & Matthew Brook.

  • Recording of the Week, Operette from Diana Damrau

    by Katherine Cooper

    The German coloratura soprano is on sparkling form on a whistle-stop tour of seven decades of operetta history - taking in Berlin, Paris and Vienna along the way, and including classy cameos from Jonas Kaufmann and Emily Sierra.

  • Interview, Raider of the Lost Archives - Michael Spyres on Contra-Tenor

    by Katherine Cooper

    The American singer discusses becoming 'the Indiana Jones of the tenor voice' on his latest album for Erato, which charts the evolution of the Baroque tenore assoluto and features rarities by composers including Latilla, Mazzoni & Piccinni...

  • Interview, Jean Rondeau on Gradus ad Parnassum

    by Katherine Cooper

    The French harpsichordist discusses his new album on Erato, which takes its title from a 1725 treatise on counterpoint by Johann Joseph Fux and includes music by Palestrina, Haydn, Beethoven and even Debussy...

  • Recording of the Week, Christmas with Diana Damrau

    by Katherine Cooper

    The German coloratura soprano's festive album is definitely a cracker rather than a turkey, with a first half of traditional German songs and carol medleys followed by a disc of seasonally-appropriate Baroque and Classical arias.

  • Recording of the Week, Berlioz's Les nuits d'été & Harold en Italie from John Nelson in Strasbourg

    by Katherine Cooper

    Vocal shape-shifter Michael Spyres tackles the song-cycle in the original orchestral keys, whilst viola-player Timothy Ridout is a warmly collegiate soloist in Harold on this clear-eyed, affectionate recording from Strasbourg.

  • Recording of the Week, Handel's Theodora from Maxim Emelyanychev and Il Pomo d'Oro

    by Katherine Cooper

    A starry cast headed by Lisette Oropesa and Joyce DiDonato offers a wealth of fresh insights into Handel’s oratorio about religious persecution and intolerance in ancient Rome on this new studio recording, made after a run of concert-performances across Europe.

  • Interview, Bruno de Sá on Roma Travestita

    by Katherine Cooper

    The Brazilian soprano discusses his debut album on Erato (exploring the period of operatic history when women were forbidden from performing on the Roman stage) and the process of 'finding his own path' as a high-voiced male singer...

  • Interview, Laurence Equilbey on Lucio Silla

    by Katherine Cooper

    The French conductor discusses her new recording of Mozart's early opera on Erato, starring Alessandro Liberatore as the eponymous dictator and Franco Fagioli in the castrato role of Cecilio.

  • Video Interview, Joyce DiDonato on EDEN

    by Katherine Cooper

    The American mezzo talks to Katherine about her new album on Erato, and answers some questions submitted by Presto readers along the way...

  • Recording of the Week, Joyce DiDonato's EDEN

    by Katherine Cooper

    Featuring music by composers including Ives, Cavalli, Handel, Gluck and Wagner (plus a ravishing new commission by Rachel Portman), the American mezzo's eclectic new concept-album with Il Pomo d'Oro explores our relationship with 'the grammar of the earth'.

  • Interview, Michael Spyres on Baritenor

    by Katherine Cooper

    The American singer talks to Katherine about moving between tenor and baritone repertoire on his new album, and why he believes that the fach system often 'does our voices and artistry an injustice'.

  • Recording of the Week, Philippe Jaroussky & Thibaut Garcia: À sa guitare

    by Katherine Cooper

    The French countertenor and guitarist join forces for an eclectic, beguiling programme ranging from Dowland to Barbara, whilst Jaroussky's younger label-mate Jakub Józef Orliński dazzles in sacred baroque works with Il Pomo d'Oro.

  • Recording of the Week, Michael Spyres - Baritenor

    by Katherine Cooper

    The maverick American singer mixes tenor and baritone repertoire with joyful (but historically-informed) abandon, ranging from Donizetti's stratospheric Tonio to his namesake in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci.

  • Interview, Laurence Equilbey on Louise Farrenc

    by David Smith

    Following her release in early July of a recording of two symphonies by Louise Farrenc, conductor Laurence Equilbey digs further into the life and work of a unique French composer.

  • Recording of the Week, Farrenc from the Insula Orchestra and Laurence Equilbey

    by David Smith

    The French orchestra begins its planned cycle of the symphonic works of Louise Farrenc with her Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3.

  • Interview, Joyce DiDonato on Winterreise

    by Katherine Cooper

    The 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...

  • Interview, Renaud Capuçon on Elgar

    by Katherine Cooper

    The French violinist talks to Katherine about recording the Violin Concerto and Sonata with Sir Simon Rattle, the London Symphony Orchestra, and Stephen Hough.

  • Recording of the Week, Saint-Saëns from Renaud Capuçon, Edgar Moreau and Bertrand Chamayou

    by Katherine Cooper

    The French triumvirate pays early tribute to the centenary of the composer's death with lucid, affectionate accounts of the Violin Sonata No. 1, Cello Sonata No. 1, and Piano Trio No. 2.