Latest stories
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New Music Book Publications - 5th August 2019
5th Aug 2019
Reflections on life as a musician from pianist Stephen Hough; the history of Chopin's Preludes traced through the instruments on which they were played; a discussion of Beethoven's role as a revolutionary; an introduction to dance choreography; a handbook of research into music and the brain; and a collection of photographs of David Bowie.
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Mahan Esfahani plays Bach Toccatas
2nd Aug 2019
David enjoys Mahan Esfahani's exhilarating recording of Bach's seven keyboard toccatas, BWV910-916.
Featured product
JS Bach: The Toccatas
Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord)
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Mahan Esfahani on Bach's Toccatas
2nd Aug 2019
The Iranian-American harpsichordist talks to David about his new album, featuring lively accounts of the seven keyboard toccatas by JS Bach.
Featured product
JS Bach: The Toccatas
Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord)
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New Release Round-Up - 2nd August 2019
2nd Aug 2019
New releases from Andrew Litton and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Ivan Ilić, and Van Cliburn competition-winner Haochen Zhang, plus the penultimate instalment of Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Rolando Villazón’s Mozart opera project on Deutsche Grammophon.
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Jazz New Release Round-Up - 2nd August 2019
2nd Aug 2019
It's Friday again, so lets take a stroll around the latest jazz new releases. From Evan Parker Avenue (easy to get lost here) head south down Steve Herring Cul-de-Sac, find the footpath sign-posted towards the Monkey House, then take a left with Jon Batiste when you get to the Village Vanguard, and if you're lucky get a lift home in Andy Fusco's Punto.
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The Presto Chart - July 2019
1st Aug 2019
Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for July, with Isata Kanneh-Mason's bicentenary celebration of Clara Schumann in first place...
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Presto Editor's Choices - July 2019
31st Jul 2019
An utterly enthralling debut recital from American soprano Melody Moore, a pacey period-instrument account of Weber’s Oberon from the Stadttheater Gießen, and eclectic new concertos for violin and clarinet from Wynton Marsalis and Joseph Phibbs.
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Tubby Hayes Quartet - Grits, Beans And Greens
30th Jul 2019
One of the most exciting archive discoveries of recent times, after 50 years on the shelf Grits, Beans And Greens is everything Tubby Hayes worshippers had hoped for, and it already sounds like a classic.
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Film Music Publications from 2019
30th Jul 2019
This year the film industry has produced an abundance of box office successes, as well as providing us with some great soundtracks. Many of the sheet music albums for the latest popular films are now available to buy including music from Aladdin, Rocketman, Yesterday, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame and more...
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Bill Evans - Everybody Digs Bill Evans
30th Jul 2019
With his second album, Everybody Digs Bill Evans, the pianist re-invented the role of his instrument in jazz. Over 60 years later it remains as fresh as when it was first released, and is the ideal first step into Evans's discography.
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Nicola Benedetti on Wynton Marsalis
30th Jul 2019
The violinist talks to Katherine about premiering the legendary jazz musician's Violin Concerto (released earlier this month on Decca), which draws on influences as diverse as Robert Johnson, Duke Ellington, Scottish folk music and Stravinsky.
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Elizabeth Kenny on Old and New Music for Theorbo
29th Jul 2019
The theorbo-player and lutenist talks to David about her solo album Ars longa, released on Linn last month, which includes music by Kapsberger, Piccinini and Robert de Visée as well as new commissions from Benjamin Oliver and Nico Muhly.
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Anner Bylsma (1934-2019)
26th Jul 2019
The Dutch cellist and early music pioneer, who was particularly noted for his interpretations of the Bach Cello Suites, has died aged 85.
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Handel's Concerti Grossi Op. 6 from the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
26th Jul 2019
David enjoys sparkling accounts of Handel's sunny, Italianate concerti grossi Op. 6 from Bernhard Forck and the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin.
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New Release Round-Up - 26th July 2019
26th Jul 2019
New releases from Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, Bojan Čičić and the Illyria Consort, and the Hilliard Ensemble in one of their final recordings.
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Jazz New Release Round-Up - 26th July 2019
26th Jul 2019
All jazz life is here... from the bawdy Pearl Bailey, through lost Tubby Hayes, guitar noodlings, George Haslam in a church, and wasp-deterrent improv.
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Patricia Kopatchinskaja and other autumn highlights
24th Jul 2019
The maverick Moldovian violinist records music by Hartmann, Frank Martin and John Zorn, plus Strauss from Riccardo Chailly, Falla from Pablo Heras-Casado, Brahms from Daniel Harding, and a live recording of Tristan und Isolde starring Stuart Skelton and Gun-Brit Barkmin.
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Laura Jurd - Stepping Back, Jumping In
23rd Jul 2019
Stepping Back, Jumping In is a sharp, witty and exciting new album from one of the powerhouses of UK jazz, Laura Jurd. Is it too soon to call her our own Carla Bley?
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Stepping Back, Jumping In
Laura Jurd
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Keith Jarrett - The Köln Concert
23rd Jul 2019
Talk about behemoths - this week I pull out The Köln Concert, Keith Jarrett's game-changing solo album. Over forty years later it hasn't lost any of its power.
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Nicola Benedetti on Wynton Marsalis
22nd Jul 2019
The violinist talks to Katherine about premiering the legendary jazz musician's Violin Concerto (released earlier this month on Decca), which draws on influences as diverse as Robert Johnson, Duke Ellington, Scottish folk music and Stravinsky.
