Latest News: Classical
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Presto Music Classical Podcast,
Episode 45: Tudor Wild Child - Thomas Weelkes with Dr Katie Bank 2nd December 2023Music historian and 'choir geek extraordinaire' Dr Katie Bank sorts fact from fiction in a look at the life of notorious Tudor troublemaker Thomas Weelkes, who along with William Byrd sees the four hundredth anniversary of his death fall this year.
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Recording of the Week,
Bob Chilcott's Christmas Oratorio 1st December 2023Benjamin Nicholas and the choir of Merton College, Oxford perform Bob Chilcott's new Christmas Oratorio - filled with lyrical solo writing, beautiful choral numbers and sweeping congregational tunes.
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Interview,
Bob Chilcott on his Christmas Oratorio 1st December 2023The composer talks about his new choral work, setting a range of traditional texts to re-tell the Christmas story and just released by the choir of Merton College, Oxford on Delphian Records.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 1st December 2023 1st December 2023Mahler's Symphony No. 8 from Osmo Vänskä in Minnesota, Bach's Die Kunst der Fuge from Christophe Rousset, Granados from Javier Perianes, and Franz Schmidt's complete symphonies from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales & Jonathan Berman.
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Awards,
Recordings of the Year 2023 - Special Category Nominees 30th November 2023In advance of the final verdicts next Thursday evening, we reveal the shortlists for our six special awards - including Technical Achievement, Debut Solo Album, and two separate categories of world premiere recordings.
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Box Set Selections,
Boxed Set Selections - November 2023 29th November 2023American countertenor Russell Oberlin's complete recordings on American Decca, the complete Monteverdi madrigals from Concerto Italiano & Rinaldo Alessandrini, and the late Lars Vogt's collected recordings on Warner Classics.
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Favourites,
Gifts for...Pianists and piano-lovers 28th November 2023From 2023's best new recordings and box sets to recent books and deluxe sheet music, we select our top gifts for pianists and pianophiles alike.
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BBC Music Magazine Choices,
BBC Music Magazine - December 2023 Choices 27th November 2023Chris introduces next month's selection, headed by 'a timely showcase of an exceptionally talented composer' - namely a quartet of orchestral works by Dobrinka Tabakova, released on The Hallé's own label in October.
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Recording of the Week,
Delius's A Mass of Life from Sir Mark Elder and the Bergen Philharmonic 24th November 2023Elder's beautifully-judged approach to pacing and balance makes the strongest case possible for a score which he describes as 'Delius's magnum opus', aided by Roderick Williams on typically eloquent form in the huge central role of Zarathustra.
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Announcement,
Give Back Friday 2023 24th November 2023For four days we will be donating 5% of all the revenue we receive to three local charities whose aims are closely aligned with our own: Help Musicians, Leamington Music and Gabrieli Roar.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 24th November 2023 24th November 2023A new arrangement of Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin from Thomas Guthrie & Barokksolistene, Beethoven's Missa solemnis from Jordi Savall & Le Concert des Nations, a comprehensive version of Handel's Messiah from John Nelson & The English Concert, and Schumann from Isabelle Faust & friends.
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Awards,
Classical Recordings of the Year - Finalists 2023 23rd November 2023The first meeting of the Presto Awards committee is over, and it's time to reveal the 100 recordings which have most impressed our editorial team this year...
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Interview,
Sean Shibe on Profesión - Barrios, Villa-Lobos and Ginastera 22nd November 2023The guitarist talks about his album of Latin American guitar music, inspired by the artistic manifesto by Barrios from which it takes its name.
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Awards,
Grammy Nominations 2024 21st November 2023The shortlist for next year's Awards was revealed last week - read on for full details of the contenders in the nine classical categories.
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Announcement,
New Streaming Service Features! 20th November 2023Read on to find out about our new streaming service features, including curated playlists, pre-release content and a recently played albums section!
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Presto Music Classical Podcast,
Episode 44: Take me to your Lieder - Schubert in English with Roderick Williams, Rowan Pierce and Christopher Glynn 18th November 2023Baritone, soprano and pianist offer their perspectives on the latest instalment in Signum Classics's series, which features Jeremy Sams's translations of Schubert Lieder.
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Recording of the Week,
Saint-Saëns symphonic poems from François-Xavier Roth and Les Siècles 17th November 2023A selection of Saint-Saëns's luscious orchestral pieces - familiar and less-known, and including a real treasure from the very dawn of the cinematic era - get the Les Siècles treatment, leaping off the page thanks to intelligent and sensitive performances on period instruments.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 17th November 2023 17th November 2023Satie and Cage from Bertrand Chamayou, South American guitar music from Sean Shibe, Grażyna Bacewicz's Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 from Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Carolyn Sampson's hundredth recording...
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Interview,
The King's Singers on Wonderland 16th November 2023Patrick Dunachie and Jonathan Howard talk about the King's Singers' new album - including an unexpected change of direction for Joe Hisaishi and some revealing observations about the group's members...!
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Favourites,
Gifts for... Opera-Lovers 15th November 2023In the first of our festive gift guides, we've selected some perfect presents for the opera-lover in your life, from the latest complete recordings and recital-albums to the best recent books about opera.