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Boxed Set Selections - October 2019
15th Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
Pierre Monteux’s complete recordings for Decca, Philips and Westminster, a mammoth Zubin Mehta collection spanning half a century, Cécile Ousset’s early recordings for Decca France, and previously unreleased Webern and Scriabin from Maria Yudina. -
BBC Music Magazine - November 2019 Choices
14th Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
Chris introduces this month's selection, including Korngold from John Wilson and Sinfonia of London, Beethoven and more from the Danish String Quartet, and Schumann from Joseph Tong. -
New Music Book Publications - 14th October 2019
14th Oct 2019by James Longstaffe
A collection of letters by Cole Porter; guides to the American musical on both stage and screen; a new English translation of Wagner's libretto for his series of music dramas, *Der Ring des Nibelungen*; analyses of the music of Luigi Dallapiccola and Mieczysław Weinberg; an exploration of Debussy's piano music; and autobiographies by popular singers including Elton John, Julie Andrews, and Tony Christie. -
Vaughan Williams's The Song of Love
12th Oct 2019by David Smith
David talks to mezzo-soprano Kitty Whately, pianist William Vann and Albion Records' John Francis about their recently-released album of songs and duets by Vaughan Williams, including a number of works never recorded before. -
Jonas Kaufmann in Vienna
11th Oct 2019by Katherine Cooper
The German tenor sings the praises of the Austrian capital in a sumptuously-performed collection of operetta favourites and popular songs with a sting in its tail. -
New Release Round-Up - 11th October 2019
11th Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
Rachmaninov from Daniil Trifonov, Schumann from Christian Gerhaher, Liszt from Joseph Moog, and a live recording of *Tristan und Isolde* from Australia with Stuart Skelton and Gun-Brit Barkmin in the title-roles. -
Alan George on Shostakovich's String Quartets
10th Oct 2019by David Smith
Violist Alan George looks back on fifty years of the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, and remembers their unique relationship with Dmitri Shostakovich. -
La damnation de Faust from John Nelson and other forthcoming highlights
9th Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
Joyce DiDonato and Michael Spyres join forces once again for Berlioz from Strasbourg, plus Shostakovich from the Pavel Haas Quartet, Schubert from Arcadi Volodos, and recital albums from Angela Gheorghiu and Jakub Józef Orliński. -
Ning Feng on Virtuosismo
9th Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
The Chinese violinist shares his thoughts on balancing virtuosity and lyricism in two tremendously demanding concertos by Paganini and Vieuxtemps, out now on Channel Classics and one of Katherine's personal picks from the September releases. -
Presto Editor's Choices - September 2019
8th Oct 2019by Katherine Cooper
Sumptuous Elgar from Canadian contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux, fiery Falla from Pablo Heras-Casado and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, and lightly-worn virtuosity from the sweet-toned Chinese violinist Ning Feng. -
Simon Fischer: Transcriptions for Violin and Piano
8th Oct 2019by Ellena Taylor
Violinist Simon Fischer is known throughout the world for his acclaimed violin methods published by Edition Peters. Now available to buy in one volume are his brilliant and idiomatic transcriptions for violin and piano of famous works from the classical repertoire. Find out more here. -
Marcello Giordani (1963-2019)
7th Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
The Italian spinto tenor, who was particularly famed for his Verdi and Puccini roles, has died aged 56. -
O'Higgins & Luft Play Monk & Trane
4th Oct 2019by Matt Groom
Some albums are an enjoyable challenge, some are pure joy from start to finish, and Dave O'Higgins and Rob Luft's tribute to Monk and Coltrane on the Ubuntu label is firmly in the latter category. -
Handel's Brockes-Passion from Richard Egarr and the Academy of Ancient Music
4th Oct 2019by Katherine Cooper
Using a new performing edition by oboist Leo Duarte, the Academy of Ancient Music and some exceptional young soloists make a compelling case for Handel's visceral 'Passion-Oratorio' on the 300th anniversary of its premiere. -
New Release Round-Up - 4th October 2019
4th Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
A complete Beethoven cycle from Andris Nelsons and the Wiener Philharmoniker, plus new albums from Quatuor Arod, Ann Hallenberg, Lucas Debargue, and Christophe Coin. -
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 4th October 2019
4th Oct 2019by Matt Groom
A couple of this week's releases draw inspiration from classical models, and do it convincingly! There's also further proof of talent coming out of London at the moment, and Matt manages to slip some Japanese noise under the radar because it's on a jazz label. Happy days. -
Ralph Couzens on Chandos
3rd Oct 2019by Katherine Cooper
To mark their fortieth anniversary, the British independent record-label's Managing Director talks to Katherine about their evolution and plans for the future...Featured product
Landmarks: 40 Years of Chandos
Dmitri Shostakovich Jr. (piano), James Thompson (trumpet), Stephen Hough (piano), Lynne Dawson (soprano), Ian Partridge (tenor), Michael George (bass), Lydia Mordkovitch (violin), Christopher Plummer (narrator), Celia Nicklin (oboe), Ian Watson (organ), Nigel Kennedy (violin), Peter Pettinger (piano), Sarah Connolly (Dido), Gerald Finley (Aeneas), Lucy Crowe (Belinda), Patricia Bardon (Sorceress), William Purefoy (Spirit), Sarah Tynan (2nd Woman), John Mark Ainsley (Sailor), Carys Lane & Rebecca Outram (Witches), Gerald Finley (bass-baritone), Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano), Doric String Quartet, Xiayin Wang (piano), Tasmin Little (violin), Jennifer Pike (violin), Cpl Jonathan Hill (trombone), Martin Roscoe (piano), Louis Lortie (piano), Ivan Ilić (piano), Wojciech Switala (piano), Szymon Krzeszowiec (violin), Krzysztof Lasoń (violin), Małgorzata Wasiucionek (violin), Arkadiusz Kubica (violin), Federico Colli (piano) Ulster Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Borodin Trio, I Musici de Montréal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, The Philharmonia, English Chamber Orchestra, The Sixteen, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus, Choristers of Westminster Cathedral, Black Dyke Mills Band, The King's Singers, BBC Philharmonic, Collegium Musicum 90, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Choir of the Age of Enlightenment, Aquarelle Guitar Quartet, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Chorale, Brodsky Quartet, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, The Central Band of the Royal Air Force, Manchester Camerata, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Silesian Quartet, Polish Cello Quartet, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Bryden Thomson, Mariss Jansons, Maxim Shostakovich, Yuli Turovsky, Neeme Järvi, Geoffrey Simon, Harry Christophers, Sir Neville Marriner, Major Peter Parkes, Richard Hickox, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Steven Devine, Elizabeth Kenny, Charles Bruffy, Peter Oundjian, Sir Andrew Davis, Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, John Wilson, Edward Gardner, Juanjo Mena, Gábor Takács-Nagy, Kirill Karabits, Rumon Gamba
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The Presto Chart - September 2019
2nd Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for September, with John Wilson and the newly reformed Sinfonia of London's debut album of Korngold on Chandos in first place... -
Giya Alexandrovich Kancheli (1935-2019)
2nd Oct 2019by David Smith
The Georgian composer, known for his film music, sweeping orchestral laments and finely-wrought instrumental miniatures, has died at the age of 84. -
Gwilym Simcock
2nd Oct 2019by Matt Groom
Matt talks to pianist Gwilym Simcock about his latest album *Near and Now*, and the album's live London debut at King's Place.