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Matthew Ash
Matthew is a solo and collaborative pianist with a passion for all music involving the piano, including solo works, lieder and song, chamber music and concertos. He also has a love for opera, orchestral and choral music, folk and jazz. He completed MMus studies at Lancaster University, writing his dissertation on recordings as evidence of changing performance practice in the music of Chopin.
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Piano Postcards from Stephen Hough
10th Jul 2026
Stephen Hough's new Hyperion album of Piano Postcards demonstrates his signature panache and joy across repertoire ranging from his Mary Poppins Suite through the glitz of early-evening Vienna to the quiet observance of red dragonflies at sunset.
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Variation[s] 3 from Cédric Tiberghien
19th Jun 2026
Cédric Tiberghien's new album brings his Variation[s] series to a close with creative programming and playing of sensitive probity, including striking Ligeti and a cohesive and stimulating account of the Diabelli Variations.
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Mike Batt on Symphony No.1, 'Ukraine'
15th Jun 2026
From conducting the furniture in Schubert's ninth symphony as a boy, to releasing his own first symphony on 1st June, there's far more to Mike Batt than you may realise. He spoke to us about the journey that brought him to write this engaging work, and his endless fascination with the orchestra.
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Behzod Abduraimov on Inferno
2nd Jun 2026
Behzod Abduraimov spoke to us about his latest album Inferno (a recent Presto Recording of The Week which demonstrates depths far beyond sheer virtuosity), his approach to both familiar and demanding music, and his summer performance plans.
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Inferno from Behzod Abduraimov
8th May 2026
Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov combines the fire and virtuosity suggested by the title and cover of his new album, with a level of poetry and communication which explores the full potential of a varied and engaging solo recital.
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Idith Meshulam Korman and Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey on Marianna Martines
27th Apr 2026
Idith Meshulam Korman and Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey talk about their new album dedicated to the complete keyboard works of Marianna Martines, and their passion for giving voice to a composer and performer of considerable talent who has been unfairly obscured by history and the conventions of her time.
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Ernst von Dohnányi
15th Apr 2026
A selection of some of the best recordings of music by the Hungarian composer, known particularly for a set of variations on a nursery tune, largely uncharacteristic of his wider musical style, which combines late Romantic influences with originality and astonishing technical accomplishment in music deserving of greater attention.
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Nocturnes and the Fascination of Night Music
14th Apr 2026
Our new monthly series of reviews continues with a look at a new book by Susan Tomes in which she takes us on a musical journey under cover of the night, bringing composers, performers and music to life against their social and historic backgrounds. From Field and Chopin, to contemporary commissions and everything in between, the musical knowledge and command of language make an immersive combination that will encourage further listening and playing.
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Pascal Rogé at 75
7th Apr 2026
The French pianist celebrates his 75th birthday this week, with a new album of Fauré and a career-spanning box set, both on Decca – the label to which he first signed at the age of eighteen. We look back on the career of a master of musical architecture who communicates affection without affectation.
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World Piano Day Round-Up
29th Mar 2026
There's much to celebrate this World Piano Day, with a plethora of exciting new releases to look forward to. After hours of listening, Matthew Ash has picked out some highlights for you to explore, including an album not to be judged by its cover, Mozart without a wasted note, Brahms with humanity, effortlessly atmospheric Ireland, propulsive Prokofiev and a box of romantic treasures.
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Walton from the CBSO and Kazuki Yamada
6th Mar 2026
Kazuki Yamada leads the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in rhythmically taut accounts of Walton's symphonies, demonstrating his firm understanding and love of the music, and the deep bond he has built with the masterful players of one of the UK's finest orchestras, captured live in superb sound by Deutsche Grammophon.
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More Chandos Titles on Presto CD
4th Mar 2026
We're delighted to add another thirty titles to our Presto CD catalogue, returning more classic Chandos albums for those who prefer to build a tangible collection with original artwork and booklets faithfully reproduced. There's something for everyone, with music ranging from Bach to MacMillan, played by an array of top artists, all here for you to explore!
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Simon Callaghan on Sterndale Bennett
23rd Feb 2026
Known for his adventurous exploration of neglected repertoire, the British pianist discusses his latest recording of concertos by William Sterndale Bennett (released last month on Lyrita).
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Alexandra Dariescu on A Child's Dream
18th Feb 2026
The Romanian pianist takes us back to the beginning of her musical journey on her new album, featuring the first piece she ever played with an orchestra (at the tender age of nine) plus music by Nadia Boulanger, Amy Beach, Missy Mazzoli and more.
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Goldberg Variations from Yunchan Lim
6th Feb 2026
Yunchan Lim brings an expressively muscular yet idiomatic approach in this live recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations, making this new album a treasurable addition to a catalogue which includes many celebrated recordings.
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Piano Round-Up, January 2026
19th Jan 2026
We piano lovers are lucky to enjoy a rich catalogue of recordings, but an abundance of fine new albums in 2025 showed there's still plenty more to say. 2026 is already looking exciting, and in this first piano roundup of the year, Matthew Ash has some highlights to share from the new albums he has been enjoying.
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Sterndale Bennett Concertos from Simon Callaghan
2nd Jan 2026
Simon Callaghan joins the Northern Sinfonia and Martin Yates to champion the music of a nineteenth-century English composer who was admired by Schumann and Mendelssohn, but whose music is played and discussed less than it deserves.
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Víkingur Ólafsson shares a new perspective on Op. 109
21st Nov 2025
Víkingur Ólafsson’s new album is built around Beethoven’s Op. 109 piano sonata, with the much-loved Icelandic pianist bringing fresh perspective to a cornerstone of the repertoire, elucidating connections with the music of Bach and Schubert, and reinforcing the fact that the composer was more than the romanticised revolutionary of popular legend.
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Raphaela Gromes on Fortissima
29th Oct 2025
The German cellist discusses her new album of music by female composers (including sonatas by Henriëtte Bosmans, Emilie Mayer and Luise Adolpha Le Beau), released earlier this month on Sony.
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Eric Lu wins the 19th Chopin International Piano Competition
21st Oct 2025
On 20th October, Eric Lu was crowned winner of the 19th Chopin Competition, out of eighty-four performers from nineteen countries, and Deutsche Grammophon has announced a digital single for 24th October, when pre-orders for a celebratory album will also begin.
