Classical Reviews
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John Eliot Gardiner concludes his cycle of Schumann symphonies with the LSO
28th Feb 2020
With sparkling, joyous performances of the Spring and Rhenish symphonies, John Eliot Gardiner and the LSO bring their Schumann cycle to an exuberant conclusion.
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Charles Hubert Parry's Judith from William Vann and the London Mozart Players
21st Feb 2020
Parry’s 1888 oratorio on the Apocryphal tale of an avenging Jewish widow emerges as a worthy successor to Mendelssohn’s Elijah in this gripping world premiere recording with Sarah Fox, Kathryn Rudge and Toby Spence.
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Paavo Järvi conducts orchestral works by Bartók
14th Feb 2020
The NHK Symphony Orchestra and Paavo Järvi perform a trio of works by Bartók: Divertimento for String Orchestra, Dance Suite, and Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.
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Cherubini from Riccardo Chailly and Filarmonica della Scala
7th Feb 2020
The Italian conductor and orchestra present nine world premiere recordings of occasional marches alongside energetic accounts of the Overture in G minor and Symphony.
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Handel's Agrippina starring Joyce DiDonato
31st Jan 2020
The American mezzo sings the title role of the scheming Roman matriarch in a starrily-cast recording of Handel's early opera with Il Pomo d'Oro, conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev.
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Liszt’s Dante Symphony plus a world-premiere recording from Kirill Karabits
24th Jan 2020
Kirill Karabits conducts the Staatskapelle Weimar in orchestral works by Liszt, including the world-premiere recording of the Künstlerfestzug zur Schillerfeier.
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Charpentier from Vox Luminis, A Nocte Temporis and Reinoud Van Mechelen
17th Jan 2020
The two Belgian early music ensembles pool their resources for two very different works depicting Orpheus's descent to the underworld, with Van Mechelen on outstanding form as the intrepid hero in each case.
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Vaughan Williams Symphonies from Martyn Brabbins and the BBC Symphony Orchestra
10th Jan 2020
Martyn Brabbins continues his Vaughan Williams cycle with the sharply-contrasted Third and Fourth symphonies, as well as the première of a newly-restored work for tenor, chorus and orchestra.
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Lines Written During a Sleepless Night: The Russian Connection
3rd Jan 2020
The young British soprano Louise Alder traces her family history through a programme of Rachmaninov, Grieg, Medtner, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky and Britten, with superb support from Joseph Middleton.
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Osmo Vänskä conducts Mahler's Fourth Symphony
27th Dec 2019
Joined by soprano Carolyn Sampson, Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra continue their Mahler cycle with an exquisitely-detailed performance of the Fourth Symphony.
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Presto Personal Favourites from 2019
20th Dec 2019
Recordings from Sandrine Piau, Igor Levit and Jakub Józef Orliński feature among the editorial team's individual picks of the year.
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Franck and Chopin from Gautier Capuçon and Yuja Wang
13th Dec 2019
The two acclaimed soloists come together in a dazzling duo, with the rich warmth of Franck's Cello Sonata in A major sharply offset against the angst-wracked soul-searching of Chopin's in G minor.
Featured product
Franck - Chopin
Gautier Capuçon (cello), Yuja Wang (piano)
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Beethoven's Leonore from René Jacobs and the Freiburger Barockorchester
6th Dec 2019
The original 1805 version of Beethoven's only opera is a high-adrenaline experience in the hands of the Belgian conductor and his period-instrument band, with Marlis Petersen in the title-role and Maximilian Schmitt as her imprisoned husband.
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2019 Christmas Selections
29th Nov 2019
David picks out three of this year's Christmas releases, featuring Septura (with guest appearance from Derek Jacobi), Stile Antico, and the late Stephen Cleobury in his valedictory service at the helm of Carols from King's.
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La damnation de Faust from John Nelson
22nd Nov 2019
Starring Michael Spyres and Joyce DiDonato, this live recording of Berlioz's légende dramatique from Strasbourg is a worthy successor to the American conductor's hugely acclaimed Les Troyens from 2017.
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La Serenissima's The Godfather
15th Nov 2019
La Serenissima explore the network of friendships and collaborations that helped bring together German and Italian styles during the Baroque, with concertos by Telemann, Pisendel, Brescianello and others.
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Bliss from Sarah Connolly, Sir Andrew Davis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra
8th Nov 2019
Davis continues his advocacy for the English composer with three relatively late works - the dramatic scena The Enchantress (written for Kathleen Ferrier), the Meditations on a Theme by John Blow, and the 1963 cantata Mary of Magdala.
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Shostakovich from the Pavel Haas Quartet
1st Nov 2019
The serial award-winners surpass even their own high standards with searing accounts of the Second, Seventh and Eighth String Quartets on Supraphon.
Featured product
Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 2, 7 and 8
Pavel Haas Quartet
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Purcell's King Arthur from Gabrieli and Paul McCreesh
25th Oct 2019
Paul McCreesh and Gabrieli give a sparkling performance of Purcell's patriotic extravaganza, from a new edition prepared by Christopher Suckling.
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Chamber music by Mieczysław Weinberg
18th Oct 2019
Gidon Kremer and friends perform three pieces of chamber music by the Polish-born Soviet composer, including an outstanding account of the Piano Trio.
