Latest stories
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The Presto Chart - 2024
2nd Jan 2025
Our 50 best-selling titles across all formats for the whole of last year, with Yunchan Lim's recording of Chopin's Études on Decca leading the pack...
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2024 Goodbyes
2nd Jan 2025
A short video-tribute to some of the artists and creatives who died in 2024, including Maurizio Pollini, Seiji Ozawa, Sir Andrew Davis and Jodie Devos.
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Davina Clarke on The Art of Obligato
1st Jan 2025
The violinist discusses her new album of works by Bach featuring the violin, either as a solo instrument or as an obligato weaving around a vocal line.
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Paganini from María Dueñas and other forthcoming highlights
31st Dec 2024
The Spanish violinist's second recording for Deutsche Grammophon focuses on the art of the caprice, with other stand-outs for early 2025 including a Lieder recital from Fatma Said and friends, an unaccompanied album from violist Timothy Ridout, and a Ravel anniversary tribute from Seong-Jin Cho.
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BBC Music Magazine - January 2025 Choices
30th Dec 2024
Chris introduces this issue's choices, headed by a 'peerless' recital of Brahms and Schubert from French pianist Alexandre Kantorow on BIS.
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Presto Personal Favourites from 2024
27th Dec 2024
Elgar and Walton from Gautier Capuçon, Antonio Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra, a collection of fantasias from Margherita Santi, French and Italian opera arias from Pene Pati, and Franco-Flemish polyphony from Graindelavoix.
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Boxed Set Selections - December 2024
26th Dec 2024
December heavyweights include collections celebrating Michael Tilson Thomas, Joshua Bell, Irmgard Seefried and George Szell, refreshed Reger and Beethoven editions, and two anthologies from the sound archives of the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris.
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Benjamin Appl on Christmas in Regensburg
24th Dec 2024
The German baritone discusses returning to his old choir for his new Christmas album on Alpha Classics, and shares some of his childhood memories of the festive season.
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The Jazz Composer's Orchestra
23rd Dec 2024
A sprawling opus of sixties avant-garde jazz, The Jazz Composer's Orchestra is Michael Mantler’s bold vision of orchestral chaos and free improvisation. Featuring legends like Pharoah Sanders and Cecil Taylor, it’s a dark, brooding masterpiece that challenges conventions, rewarding those ready to embrace its dense, anarchic beauty.
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Gavin Bryars on the Ivors and Innovation
23rd Dec 2024
In the wake of winning the Ivors Academy's Innovation Award last month, the Yorkshire-born composer and double bassist speaks to Ben Hogwood about writing for stage and screen, the inspiration which he draws from the visual arts and early music, and why (at the grand old age of 81) he has no plans to slow down any time soon...
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Gavin Bryars: The Sinking of the Titanic
Philip Jeck (improvising turntablist), Quartet I: Nick Barr, Morgan Goff (viola), Nick Cooper (cello), Gavin Bryars (double bass), Quartet II: Alexandra Maria Tchernakova (viola), Orlanda Bryars (cello), Ziella Bryars (cello), Yuri Bryars (double bass), Roger Heaton (bass clarinet), Dave Smith (tenor horn, keyboard, woodblocks), James Woodrow (electric guitar), Martin Allen (percussion)
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Barrie Kosky's phantasmagorical Fledermaus from Munich
20th Dec 2024
Georg Nigl, Diana Damrau and Katharina Konradi lead a stellar cast in the maverick Australian director's fever-dream production of Johann Strauss II's operetta about disguise, revenge and champagne, filmed last Christmas at the Bayerische Staatsoper with Vladimir Jurowski conducting.
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New Releases from Winter 2024
20th Dec 2024
Schubert Lieder from Philippe Jaroussky and Jérôme Ducros, Yuletide Treats from Duo Pleyel, Bruckner piano works from Mari Kodama, and a Bach-inspired recital from accordionist Ksenija Sidorova.
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Oz Noy - Fun One
20th Dec 2024
Fun One combines guitarist Oz Noy’s signature fusion style with traditional jazz, marking his debut on the prestigious Criss Cross Jazz label.
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Robert Treviño on American Opus
19th Dec 2024
The American conductor discusses his new album of works by George Walker, George Crumb and Silvestre Revueltas with the Basque National Orchestra, released on Ondine last month and described as 'thoroughly satisfying' by Limelight Magazine.
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Gramophone Editor's Choices - December 2024
18th Dec 2024
Chris introduces this month's selection, headed by 'open-hearted, elastic and generously phrased' Brahms cello sonatas from Alisa Weilerstein and Inon Barnatan on Pentatone.
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Pene Pati on Rodolfo (and rugby!)
17th Dec 2024
As he makes his Covent Garden debut in Puccini's La bohème, the ebullient Samoan tenor discusses why he finds Puccini's impoverished poet such a relatable character, playing for the Cardiff Saracens when he moved from New Zealand to study in Wales, and how Kiri Te Kanawa helped to kickstart his international career.
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David Önaç: Spirituals
17th Dec 2024
David Önaç talks about 'Spirituals', working with UK exam board ABRSM, and the importance of expanding your repertoire from early on in your musical journey.
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New Sheet Music Titles - December 17th
17th Dec 2024
Yann Tiersen's 'Rathlin from a Distance', Brett Dean's 'The Homage Etudes', solo piano music by Bach, Beethoven, and Backer Grøndahl, popular sheet music by Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, and works for string orchestra by Elgar and Tchaikovsky.
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Trio Bohémo on their debut recording of Smetana and Schubert
16th Dec 2024
The trio's members discuss the two composers featured on their critically acclaimed debut recording.
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Alexi Tuomarila - Departing the Wasteland
13th Dec 2024
Departing the Wasteland celebrates 20 years of Alexi Tuomarila's core trio, while marking a fresh creative direction in contemporary jazz composition. New faces join him on this latest release, adding richness and texture through electronics and synthesized tones.
