Browse: Presto Recordings of the Year, Schumann (composer)

There’s a marble-statue nobility to his playing, a sense of his powerful technique being harnessed to expression, and a seriousness-of-purpose…To end, we hear three of Brahms’s Intermezzos: elegiac,... — BBC Music Magazine, May 2023, 4 out of 5 stars (Performance) / 5 out of 5 stars (Recording) More…

The persistent ‘Baroque specialist’ label hardly sums up this distinguished French soprano. With her distinctively radiant, secure tone and cut-crystal upper range, her repertoire has always... — BBC Music Magazine, September 2018, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Vivid detail and clear choral textures come over quite stunningly on both formats, but the Blu-ray has the edge...Sally Matthews doesn't quite catch the ethereal quality Gardiner's Barbara Bonney... — BBC Music Magazine, January 2016, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Throughout, the playing is thoughtful and full of poetry, recorded in intimate sound. There’s an elusive quality to this multifaceted programme, for sure, but on balance it repays attentive listening. — BBC Music Magazine, December 2022, 4 out of 5 stars (Performance) / 5 out of 5 stars (Recording) More…

Hough joins forces with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons for a robust, grand reading that nonetheless leaves room for lyricism and introspection…[but it's in the Dvorak]... — BBC Music Magazine, May 2016, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Hamelin has already made several fine recordings of Schumann's piano music, focusing on big virtuoso pieces. He proves to be equally adept at exploring the more intimate side of the composer's... — BBC Music Magazine, July 2014, 5 out of 5 stars More…

The playing of Maskuniitty and his three colleagues is simply superb, with exemplary balance between them and the thrilling arpeggio swoops in the last movement. — BBC Music Magazine, July 2019 More…

Degout is convincing throughout, his expressive range spanning both ferocity and vulnerability...The real stars, though, are the period orchestra Pygmalion. The instrumental colours glow and... — BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2022, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Rana throws herself into both concertos with vim, vigour and virtuosity to spare, demonstrating just what kindred spirits Robert and Clara were...It’s Clara’s Concerto that stands out above other... — BBC Music Magazine, March 2023, 4 out of 5 stars (Performance) / 5 out of 5 stars (Recording) More…

[Pires] has the enviable ability to make everything sound fresh but natural, and her tone is enchanting...The definition on [the Blu-ray] is superb and the camera work actually helps the viewer... — BBC Music Magazine, February 2015, 3 out of 5 stars/5 out of 5 stars More…