In the latest of our Christmas gift-guides, we've selected some perfect presents for the pianist (or piano-lover) in your life. From the best new books about the instrument to a selection of outstanding recent recordings from artists including Andrey Gugnin, Daniil Trifonov and Yuja Wang, and box-sets celebrating the legacies of Martha Argerich, Claudio Arrau and Sergio Fiorentino, there's plenty to choose from.
New Albums
Andrey Gugnin's album of Russian Ballet Suites transcribed for piano is a world of glittering colours, described on BBC Record Review as 'mesmerising'. This would make a great gift for a seasoned collector, or for introducing a newcomer to the wonders of this most orchestral of instruments, and is one of those albums that rewards repeated listening, over which unfolds the fantasy of the arrangements, mostly by Mikhail Pletnev.
Available Formats: 2 CDs, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Shostakovich: The Piano Concertos; Solo Works
Yuja Wang (piano), Thomas Rolfs (trumpet), Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons
Yuja Wang's album of Shostakovich piano concertos was hotly anticipated in this 50th anniversary year of the composer's death, and her shimmering, rhythmically alert accounts have surpassed expectation. Wang brings freshness to these much recorded works, including in an exquisitely elegant and measured account of the lyrical slow movement of the second concerto. She is ideally matched by the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Andris Nelsons, and captured in vivid sound by Deutsche Grammophon.
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Six years after the release of his celebrated Piano Book album, Lang Lang returns with Piano Book 2. This new volume of short and accessible piano works offers a fresh selection that ranges from iconic classical compositions and contemporary pieces to music from TV, film, and gaming soundtracks. This album is available in standard CD and vinyl formats, but this limited edition version includes downloadable scores and tuition content, making it an even more engaging gift for the budding player in your life. Lang Lang himself says, 'I hope this collection helps you discover new favourites, reconnect with familiar melodies, and find renewed inspiration at the piano.'
Available Format: 2 CDs + NFC Chip
Mozart & Shostakovich: Concertos for Piano and Strings & Piano Sonata
Saskia Giorgini (piano), Trondheim Soloists, Per Ivarsson (trumpet)
This new album is one of connections, contrasts and clarity, and it's a late entry into the 'must-listen' category for piano lovers in 2025. Saskia Giorgini's nimble playing finds the elegance and clarity in both composers, whilst also observing the classical formality of Mozart against the twentieth-century rhythmic verve and stark introspection of Shostakovich. Her approach to both composers and the juxtaposition of them is so well judged that this album makes for cohesive but varied and thoroughly engaging listening from start to finish, considerably aided by the deft playing of the Trondheim Soloists and Per Ivarsson.
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res+ FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Brahms: Piano Quartets Nos. 2 & 3
Krystian Zimerman (piano), Maria Nowak (violin), Katarzyna Budnik (viola), Yuya Okamoto (cello)
This album picked up the Chamber Music Award at the 2025 Gramophone Awards, and it's easy to hear why. In his Presto Recording of the Week review, David Smith remarked that 'The delicate question of how concertante the piano part should be in chamber music is deftly handled, with Zimerman shifting between limelight, background and indeed at times an intriguing middle-ground.' Zimerman has always been a pianist who places the music foremost, and The Guardian recognised his distinct lack of ego: 'There’s never any sense of these pieces being turned into vehicles for a star pianist, even one of Zimerman’s stellar reputation...'.
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty; Children's Album; Piano Sonata, Op. 80; Theme and Variations, Op. 19/6
Daniil Trifonov (piano)
2025 has seen a significant revival of Tchaikovsky's solo piano music, and Daniil Trifonov's latest album makes a strong case for music which has traditionally been heard too rarely. This was our Recording of the Week on the day of its release, and has received glowing reviews across the press, including in Gramophone, where 'reference-version status' was conferred upon Trifonov's reading of Album for the Young.
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3, Piano Sonatas 24 & 28
Karim Said (piano), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Domingo Hindoyan
We were delighted to welcome Karim Said to Presto Music when he gave a performance to launch this superb new recording of Beethoven's third piano concerto, and two of the sonatas. In their review, Gramophone described Said as '...a pure and sincere talent that comes with no ego attached...', and that's very much at the heart of this album throughout which, in the words of BBC Music Magazine, '... as a listener, you feel in entirely safe hands'.
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Rebeca Omordia is a consistently interesting artist, with a persuasive musicality that she uses to bring attention to music that is less celebrated than it deserves to be. On this album she turns to the music of John Ireland, better known for his songs, and proves an ideal exponent. The piano sonata and Sarnia are both substantial works, and offer excellent examples of Ireland's distinctive musical voice, which is recognisably English in some of its qualities, but is in no way a pastiche or shadow of any other. This is a great choice for a piano lover who expects the highest levels of pianism whilst also wishing to explore new musical territory.
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res+ FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Influences is a chronological journey through sonatas that Mariam Batsashvili holds close, spiritually and musically, as she explained when we interviewed her ahead of its release. BBC Music Magazine received it warmly, saying '...this album is a nice surprise despite its seeming randomness: the immaculate purity of her sound, and the clarity of her interpretations, are wonderfully dependable qualities.' Batsashvili is a very warm and giving musician, as evidenced by the lockdown concerts she broadcast from home during the pandemic, and that shines through on this album.
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res+ FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
It's easy to become focused only on the music of romantic composers when discussing the piano, basking in their exploration of ever-improving instruments, so it's always nice to be reminded that a fine pianist can bring music of earlier eras to a modern piano, utilising some of its tonal and sustaining qualities without weighing the music down beyond its stylistic fundamentals. Cristian Sandrin achieves just that on this beautiful album which, like Sokolov's Purcell and Mozart album last year, demonstrates quite how gifted the English composer was. This album is refreshing, and one which could bring a valuable new dimension to the collection of many lovers of piano playing.
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
New Blu-ray
Films about the piano appear sparingly, and this new film, led by the Swiss pianist Francesco Piemontesi, takes a fresh approach, focusing on the relationships between pianist and instrument, with insights from leading pianists including Stephen Kovacevich, Maria João Pires, Yulianna Avdeeva and the late Alfred Brendel. The magic of the film is that it has value for both pianists and audiences, and Piemontesi summed up its central message when we interviewed him; '...that good piano playing is not just about how many notes you play per second and how precise they are. Some of the audience came up to me after a concert, saying they watched and listened in a different way after seeing the film. This is the best of compliments.'
Available Format: Blu-ray
New Vinyl Reissues
This recording of 20 of the 66 lyrical pieces by Edvard Grieg, which the Russian keyboard grandmaster Emil Gilels recorded in 1972, can undoubtedly be regarded as a milestone in piano history. Although Grieg’s lyrical pieces have a reputation for being manageable even for amateurs, the dynamic and colourful richness of nuance that Gilels brings to the compositions is certainly in a league of its own. The Original Source Series is marked out by first-class presentation in every respect, making this a gift that will be cherished by any piano lover with a penchant for analogue sound.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
Maurizio Pollini's recordings of the polonaises, which have attained classic status, are now available as part of the Original Source Series, making them a treasurable addition to any collection. Pollini offered playing of outstanding mastery as well as a subtle poetry. His supreme achievement is in suggesting the immediacy of an inspired improvisation, while at the same time preserving the shapely unity of a preconceived whole. To ensure optimum audio quality, the work was mastered from the original 4-track tapes, cut at 45rpm and redistributed on two LPs.
Available Format: 2 Vinyl Records
The term ‘living legend’ is genuinely apt to Martha Argerich, whose dazzling amalgam of virtuosity, insight, eclecticism, generosity and mystery makes her a pianist of unrivalled fascination. Argentinian-born, Viennese-trained, and winner of the 1965 Chopin Competition, she became a sometimes elusive figure whose every appearance and recording aroused eager anticipation. This nicely chosen selection makes for great evening listening - low lights, a glass or mug of your favourite drink, a needle drop and... piano bliss.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
New Collections
This set collects together Seong-Jin Cho's complete Ravel journey, including his traversal of the solo piano works, which has been a highlight of the multitude of releases celebrating Ravel's 150th anniversary. In his Presto Recording of the Week review, Matthew Ash enthused that '...Cho brings to life the pure clarity and more metrical classicism of Ravel in a wholly engaging and sensitively expressed way', and in his interview with Katherine Cooper, the pianist revealed his long relationship with the composer - one which is reflected unquestionably across this rewarding set.
Available Format: 3 CDs
Martha Argerich: The Warner Classics Edition
Martha Argerich (piano), Alexandre Rabinovitch, Stephen Kovacevich (piano), Lilya Zilberstein, Maria João Pires (piano), Gidon Kremer (violin), Itzhak Perlman (violin), Renaud Capuçon, Mischa Maisky (cello), Gautier Capuçon, Natalia Gutman, Nelson Freire (piano), Charles Dutoit, Daniel Barenboim
Warner Classics is brilliant at curating box sets, pulling together recordings from across its considerable archives, and this 46-disc set is very special, containing artistry of the highest level, from Argerich herself, and a whole host of chamber music and concerto partners. This is the gift that could be a recipient's sanctuary for a long time to come, containing as it does a wealth of classic recordings that have more to reveal with every listen, and in many cases this is now the only way they are available on CD. The discs are all housed in Warner's usual strong cap box design, with original jacket cover designs and a booklet providing essential details. Like many of these sets, it's a bargain.
Available Format: 46 CDs
Brilliant Classics is another label with a strong reputation for producing great box sets, and this one is piano gold. Fiorentino is relatively unknown, even amongst the most committed of piano music collectors, and the recordings contained herein prove to be a precious legacy of a career which was impacted by devastating injury in an aviation accident and by a life cut short. Included here are accounts of Schumann, Liszt, Bach and Rachmaninoff which deserve to sit alongside the accepted references, and his playing across the entire collection offers a gracefulness, clarity and sensitivity that always places the music first.
Available Format: 26 CDs
Romanian pianist Radu Lupu commanded a legion of fans and connoisseurs all over the world. He was the master of lyricism and could make the piano whisper like no other. Lupu shunned media attention; his discography is not large, but every recording he made had an aura of spirituality and distinction. Sanctioned by his estate, and presented in a 6-CD capbox, with bespoke jackets for each disc this set is made up entirely of material not otherwise recorded by Lupu, making it an essential addition to any collection of great piano playing.
Available Formats: 6 CDs, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
'It’s all wonderfully lucid playing, which hasn’t dated in the slightest'. These are words from a review of this set in The Guardian, and we wouldn't even begin to argue with them. Arrau was a serious and dedicated musician who worshipped the word of the composer, whilst always managing to sound utterly spontaneous in the depth of his communication. His studio recordings are proof enough of this, but the opportunity to hear these live recitals is priceless. Listening to this set feels like a privilege; a chance to eavesdrop on a master of the instrument utilising everything it can give, always with the word of the score at heart.
Available Formats: 5 CDs, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
New Books
Myra Hess - National Treasure offers previously unpublished extracts from her correspondence and post-war American tour diaries, full of insights into her collaborations with towering musicians of her day, including Arturo Toscanini, Pablo Casals, Bruno Walter and Kathleen Ferrier. Interviews with her former pupils shed light on Hess's rigour, intensity and warmth, her dislike of recording and her special way of building her connection with her audience when on stage. There's no better recommendation than these words from Stephen Hough: 'I loved reading this affectionate, elegant and informative biography of one of the greatest figures in British musical history.'
Available Format: Book
All future, freedom and success lay ahead of young pianist Stephen de Bastion in 1930s Hungary. Life whirled headily around cocktails, romance, applause and the buzz of Budapest late into the night. Then, 1939. Stephen's world disintegrates and this becomes a story of his brutal descent, of his time in labour camps, of Mauthausen and Gunskirchen and the unimaginable horrors he endured during the Holocaust as a man of Jewish descent. Yet, this is also a tale of extraordinary escape... and the piano, waiting for him. Luminous and profoundly moving, this book captures the great spirit of one man in the face of darkness and the hope that echoes down through generations.
Available Format: Book
Celebrated pianist and author Susan Tomes traces fifty women across the piano’s history. Including now-famous names such as Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn, Tomes also highlights overlooked women: from Hélène de Montgeroult, whose playing saved her life during the French Revolution, to Leopoldine Wittgenstein, influential Viennese salonnière, and Hazel Scott, the first Black performer in the United States to have a nationally syndicated TV show. This is a much-needed corrective to our understanding of the piano—and a timely testament to women’s musical lives.
Available Format: Book
Although the topic of this book is some of the most compostionally sophisticated music ever written, it avoids musical notation, explains necessary technical terminology, and assumes only basic knowledge of music history. This book presents the context, history, and music of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier based on the latest musicological research. It appeals to those who desire an introduction to the collection or a refresher on its salient characteristics.
Available Format: Book
Donat's vast expertise provides unique insight into the history and genesis of key works in the chamber music repertoire. This is the first full-length study in English of an important area of Beethoven's output that has seldom been explored in detail. The repertoire includes some of Beethoven's most famous chamber pieces. The works are analysed in detail, with the help of copious music examples, and are placed in their historical context through extracts from letters and contemporary reviews. The book provides performers, music students and music lovers with an insight into the history and genesis of some of the greatest works in the chamber music repertoire.
Available Format: Book
Before You Go...
The future needs musicians. They make the world a nicer place to live, and learning to play an instrument can have so many benefits for young people. It's an outlet for expression, a confidence-builder, an inspiration for limitless exploration... Bluey is the dog that can help the children or grandchildren in your life take the first steps in their piano journey, and if you don't already play yourself, they could be your first steps too!
Available Format: Sheet Music
