Latest stories
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Jeneba Kanneh-Mason on Fantasie
19th Mar 2025
Pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason talks about making her debut solo album (released earlier this month on Sony Classical), her journey with Chopin's Piano Sonata No. 2, the attractions of Scriabin's soundworld, and the music of Margaret Bonds.
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Episode 57: James Rhodes on MANíA
16th Mar 2025
James Rhodes talks to Matthew Ash about his new album MANíA (out now on Signum), in a wide-ranging conversation that reaches deep into a shared wonder at the power and beauty of music, as well as 4AM awakenings and coffee.
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Stephen Hough plays Stephen Hough
7th Mar 2025
Sir Stephen Hough's latest release is a composer-pianist album for the 21st century, offering a colourful and virtuosic celebration of the past which encapsulates the eclecticism that is a strong feature of his musicianship and passion for life.
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Bertrand Chamayou on Ravel Fragments
6th Mar 2025
Bertrand Chamayou talks about his new album, open-minded creativity, and a piano concerto you may not have come across before.
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Episode 56: Rufus Wainwright on Dream Requiem
19th Jan 2025
The ever-eclectic Rufus Wainwright chats with Matthew Ash about his new choral work, Dream Requiem, and some of the passions and influences that continue to inspire his diverse musical creativity.
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Seong-Jin Cho in Ravel's complete solo piano works
17th Jan 2025
Seong-Jin Cho has established himself firmly as a musician and pianist who uses his fluid technique to express a carefully chosen repertoire, placing the voice of the composer as the focus of his playing. His latest release proves to be a deft and subtle exploration of Ravel.
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Alessio Bax on Forgotten Dances
15th Jan 2025
The Italian pianist discusses his latest album of dance-inspired music from Bach to Bartók on Signum Classics, splitting Bach fugues with his brother as a child, and his conviction that 'the magic is broken' if a performance simply recreates what happened in the practice-room...
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François-Xavier Poizat on Ravel
9th Dec 2024
François-Xavier Poizat offers an insight into his love for Ravel, and his recordings of the composer's Complete Works with Piano (released earlier in November on Aparté). He also shares his admiration for Henle's painstaking work on their edition of Ravel's music.
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Charles Owen on Schumann and the piano
11th Nov 2024
Charles Owen, described by Gramophone magazine as 'one of the finest pianists of his generation', has recorded a new album dedicated to the music of The Young Schumann, on Avie Records. Matthew Ash enjoyed a chat with Charles ahead of the album release on 15th November, about the new recordings, his development as a musician, the two-way nature of teaching, and pianos.
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Subtle Tchaikovsky from Bruce Liu
8th Nov 2024
Three years after winning the 18th Chopin International Piano Competition, Bruce Liu has made a leftfield choice for his second album on Deutsche Grammophon, bringing his precise and subtle playing to Tchaikovsky’s main work for the piano, The Seasons.
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Kathryn Stott - Five For The Road
22nd Oct 2024
Kathryn Stott is bringing her long performing career to an end this year, and releases her final recording with cellist Yo-Yo Ma on Sony Classical, this week. Matthew asked her to pick five highlights from her huge catalogue of recordings, and to offer a glimpse into what makes each so special to her.
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Leif Segerstam (1944-2024)
10th Oct 2024
The Finnish conductor, composer and multi-instrumentalist Leif Segerstam has died at the age of 80.
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Episode 53: Rebeca Omordia talks African Pianism
30th Sep 2024
Matthew spoke with award-winning pianist Rebeca Omordia about her latest exploration of the rich vein of African piano music, on SOMM Recordings.
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Leonskaja celebrates the Second Viennese School
27th Sep 2024
Elisabeth Leonskaja's persuasive and engaging recital of piano works that are often misunderstood is an essential listen, whether mention of the Second Viennese School excites you or normally sends you running for the hills.
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More New Presto CD titles from Chandos
23rd Sep 2024
We’re delighted to announce the addition of more Chandos titles to our Presto CD offering, focusing on the acclaimed Chaconne early music imprint. Many of these recordings have been unavailable on CD for several years.
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Bruckner's Symphony No. 4 from Anima Eterna and Pablo Heras-Casado
20th Sep 2024
Bruckner’s ‘cathedrals in sound’ have often been described as overblown, but this recording of his most popular symphony, played here in its second version of 1878-1880, offers a convincing counterargument.
Featured product
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4
Anima Eterna, Pablo Heras-Casado
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Carlos Simon on art and activism
10th Sep 2024
GRAMMY-nominated composer, activist and curator Carlos Simon has just released an album of orchestral works with the National Symphony Orchestra (where he's been Composer-in-Residence since 2021), and has a new commission being premiered at the 2024 Last Night of the Proms, on 14th September.
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Sokolov plays Purcell and Mozart
30th Aug 2024
In his new live recital Grigory Sokolov brings his unmatched musicianship and command of the piano to the music of Purcell and Mozart, followed by encores which are far more than celebratory extras. This is music-making to be treasured and another indispensable addition to the catalogue.
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Klaus Mäkelä conducts Shostakovich
16th Aug 2024
Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Oslo Philharmonic in fresh readings of three Shostakovich symphonies, demonstrating a level of insight into widely recorded music that makes this new release an indispensable addition to the catalogue.
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Isata Kanneh-Mason plays music by the Mendelssohns
9th Aug 2024
Both Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn are celebrated in glittering style on this new album from Isata Kanneh-Mason, also featuring the London Mozart Players directed by Jonathan Bloxham.
