Latest stories

Stephen Hough on 'In the Night'

1st May 2014by Katherine Cooper

The great British pianist and composer talks to Katherine about his new disc 'In the Night', out now on Hyperion.

Bryan Hymel signed by Warner Classics

30th Apr 2014by Katherine Cooper

The remarkable young American tenor will make his solo recording début with a disc of his trademark French heroic repertoire.

Maometto Secondo from Garsington

23rd Apr 2014by Katherine Cooper

The Buckinghamshire-based opera festival release Rossini's Turkish-Venetian epic as their first commercial recording.

Jules Massenet

18th Apr 2014by Katherine Cooper

Katherine indulges in French Romanticism this week, with a survey of favourite Massenet recordings.

Berlin Comedian Harmonists

14th Apr 2014by Katherine Cooper

The Berlin Comedian Harmonists brighten up Katherine's Monday morning.

John Shirley-Quirk (1931-2014)

9th Apr 2014by Katherine Cooper

Much-loved singer who created major roles in operas by Britten and Tippett dies aged 82.

John Butt on Mozart's Requiem

3rd Apr 2014by Katherine Cooper

The Dunedin Consort's director discusses the challenges of recreating the first performance of Mozart's enigmatic final work.

Vivaldi's Il Pesce d'Aprile

1st Apr 2014by Katherine Cooper

Jack Liebeck plays violin music by Kreisler

31st Mar 2014by Katherine Cooper

Katherine enjoys Jack Liebeck and Katya Apekisheva’s performances of Kreisler’s flamboyant violin showpieces.

Hector Berlioz

29th Mar 2014by Katherine Cooper

Katherine takes up the 'Presto Recommends' baton this week and selects some favourite recordings of works by Hector Berlioz.

Fagioli records Porpora

27th Mar 2014by Katherine Cooper

Rare Neapolitan fireworks from the Argentinian super-countertenor.

Jonas Kaufmann sings Wagner’s Parsifal

17th Feb 2014by Katherine Cooper

The German tenor gives the performance of his career as Wagner’s ‘Holy Fool’ in François Girard’s production from the Metropolitan Opera, with René Pape as Gurnemanz and Katarina Dalayman as Kundry.

New Year's Concert 2014

3rd Feb 2014by Katherine Cooper

Daniel Barenboim conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker in the traditional New Year’s Day programme of waltzes, polkas and marches from the Strauss Family and friends.

Christmas Carols from Bob Chilcott and others

9th Dec 2013by Katherine Cooper

Commotio bring their ‘clean, unfussy sound and pristine intonation’ to the former King’s Singer’s carols - plus Music for Advent from The Choir of Clare College Cambridge.

Christmas Oratorios from Bach, Berlioz, and Britten

2nd Dec 2013by Katherine Cooper

The Christmas Oratorio from Trinity College Cambridge, Saint Nicolas from Cambridge University Music Society (with Andrew Kennedy in the title-role), and L’Enfance du Christ from the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Robin Ticciati.

Poulenc from Patricia Petibon and Paavo Järvi

25th Nov 2013by Katherine Cooper

The fiftieth anniversary of the composer’s death is marked by outstanding performances of three of his sacred works: the Gloria, Stabat mater, and Litanies à la Vierge*.

Sir John Tavener, 1944-2013

18th Nov 2013by Katherine Cooper

Sir Simon Rattle conducts Mozart's The Magic Flute

21st Oct 2013by Katherine Cooper

Pavol Breslik and Kate Royal are the young lovers put to the test in Robert Carsen’s production from Baden-Baden, with Ana Durlovski as the Queen of the Night, and Dimitry Ivashchenko as Sarastro.

Berlioz's Les Troyens from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

7th Oct 2013by Katherine Cooper

Sir David McVicar’s 2012 production packs some serious magic thanks to Es Devlin’s breathtaking sets and fiercely committed performances from Eva-Maria Westbroek, Bryan Hymel and Anna Caterina Antonacci in the three main roles.