Latest stories
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Shostakovich Concertos and Symphonies from Andris Nelsons
28th Mar 2025
For the fiftieth anniversary of Shostakovich's death, Deutsche Grammophon have gathered together all fifteen of the composer's symphonies performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and their music director, alongside new recordings of all six concertos and the opera, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District.
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New Music Book Publications - March 2025
18th Mar 2025
An exploration of the relationship between Edward Elgar and Adrian Boult, a biography of pianist Myra Hess, a memoir from Thomas W. Morris, former chief executive of major American orchestras, a primer on the liturgical traditions of early medieval Spain, a cultural history of the violin and its importance in nineteenth-century London, an examination of the impact of artificial intelligence on music, and books on jazz artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis.
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Paavo Järvi on Mahler
17th Mar 2025
As he embarks upon a cycle of Mahler’s symphonies with the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, Estonian conductor Paavo Järvi talks about his early exposure to the composer’s music listening at home to recordings with his father, and how Mahler’s own experience as a conductor helps inform interpreters of his music today.
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John Wilson and Sinfonia of London perform works by William Walton
28th Feb 2025
A characterful collection of works including a suite from Troilus and Cressida alongside the overture Portsmouth Point and a dazzling account of the Violin Concerto performed by the orchestra's leader, Charlie Lovell-Jones.
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New Music Book Publications - February 2025
19th Feb 2025
An analysis of Mahler's symphonies, a paperback reissue of a biography of Sibelius, an exploration of the role of music in the Third Reich, a limited edition book collecting press releases of records from the 1960s and 70s, a guide to cello repertoire, an introduction to the orchestra for young children, a collection of writings by Hungarian musician Ernst von Dohnányi, an exploration of how David Lynch's films engaged with musical traditions, and the history and aesthetics of the musical avant-garde.
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Simon Rattle conducts Mahler's Seventh Symphony
24th Jan 2025
The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and their Chief Conductor continue their survey of Mahler’s symphonies with this live recording of the Seventh Symphony, replete with characterful, vivid woodwind playing and gloriously majestic contributions from the trumpets.
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New Music Book Publications - January 2025
22nd Jan 2025
A biography of John Dowland, a companion to Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story, an exploration of the history of Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw on stage and screen, a guide to the 2016 film musical La La Land, the reception history of Bach's Goldberg Variations, and an examination of the importance of the therapeutic power of music as medicine.
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New Music Book Publications - 11th December 2024
11th Dec 2024
A biography of lyricist Ira Gershwin, an exploration of the relationship of Wagner's music dramas to the philosophical and cultural ideas of his time, a companion to music in Australia, a study of Robert Schumann's chamber music, and a collection of essays questioning the concept of the composer in the middle ages.
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Music Book Publications of the Year - Winners 2024
6th Dec 2024
After our awards ceremony in Leamington Spa last night, we are delighted to announce the five winners of our music book publications of 2024.
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Music Book Publications of the Year - Finalists 2024
25th Nov 2024
In anticipation of our upcoming Presto Music Awards on 5th December, we have released our shortlist of ten music book finalists in contention for an award.
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Christmas Gift Ideas for Readers
21st Nov 2024
Not sure what to get the music-loving reader in your life as a Christmas present? Here are our gift suggestions from books published within the past twelve months, including composer biographies, publications on opera and music history, and books about Christmas carols.
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Florian Sempey sings of medieval knights and legends
15th Nov 2024
The French baritone explores his family's lineage of blacksmithery to present an eclectic album centred around the theme of knights from the Middle Ages, with pieces by Wagner, Donizetti, and Carl Orff sitting alongside more unfamiliar works by Meyerbeer, Grétry, Vincent d'Indy, and Ambroise Thomas.
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New Music Book Publications - 13th November 2024
13th Nov 2024
The story behind the composition of one of the great operatic masterpieces of the nineteenth century, Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen; an appraisal of Elgar's choral work, The Music Makers; a compilation of letters between composer John McCabe and various eminent composers and performers around the world; a companion to the electric guitar; and the latest edition of The Rare Record Price Guide.
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New Music Book Publications - 16th October 2024
16th Oct 2024
A personal reflection on the music of Beethoven from John Suchet, a paperback edition of a book exploring the young Mozart's time in Italy, a new edition of the Köchel catalogue of Mozart's music from Breitkopf & Härtel, a discussion of the stories behind beloved Christmas carols, and an analysis of the soundtrack from the popular film, 'Saturday Night Fever'.
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Daniil Trifonov's (North) American Story
11th Oct 2024
The Russian pianist presents a dazzling kaleidoscope of North American music, with a variety of genres and styles covering minimalism, jazz, film music, and concertos by Gershwin and Mason Bates.
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Antonio Pappano on Mendelssohn's Elijah
3rd Oct 2024
The London Symphony Orchestra's recently-appointed Chief Conductor talks about his latest recording on LSO Live of Mendelssohn's oratorio, including how his experience as an operatic conductor helped him to bring out the drama and sense of narrative contained within the work.
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New Music Book Publications - 16th September 2024
16th Sep 2024
Boosey & Hawkes's Music Diary for 2025, biographies of Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, and Debussy, an exploration of the organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, a paperback reissue of a book exploring music during the Second World War, guides for young people to musical instruments and Christmas carols, and a handbook on music theory for beginners.
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Antonio Pappano on the London Symphony Orchestra
11th Sep 2024
Ahead of the opening concert of his first season as Chief Conductor of the LSO at the Barbican tonight, Sir Antonio Pappano talks about his history with the orchestra as well as his future plans with them, including his commitment to English music and new commissions.
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Dvořák Symphonies from the Czech Philharmonic and Semyon Bychkov
6th Sep 2024
The Czech Philharmonic and their Chief Conductor present Dvořák’s final three symphonies, showing their stylistic mastery of this repertoire with performances that are full of warmth, grace, and class.
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Episode 52: Twenty-Five Years of LSO Live
5th Sep 2024
To celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the London Symphony Orchestra's own label, Head of LSO Live Becky Lees, first violinist Maxine Kwok, and principal percussionist Neil Percy talk to James about how the label came to exist, the process of capturing live concerts for release, and their memories of some favourite recordings through the years.
