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Alan George on Shostakovich's String Quartets
10th Oct 2019by David Smith
Violist Alan George looks back on fifty years of the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, and remembers their unique relationship with Dmitri Shostakovich.
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La damnation de Faust from John Nelson and other forthcoming highlights
9th Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
Joyce DiDonato and Michael Spyres join forces once again for Berlioz from Strasbourg, plus Shostakovich from the Pavel Haas Quartet, Schubert from Arcadi Volodos, and recital albums from Angela Gheorghiu and Jakub Józef Orliński.
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Ning Feng on Virtuosismo
9th Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
The Chinese violinist shares his thoughts on balancing virtuosity and lyricism in two tremendously demanding concertos by Paganini and Vieuxtemps, out now on Channel Classics and one of Katherine's personal picks from the September releases.
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Presto Editor's Choices - September 2019
8th Oct 2019by Katherine Cooper
Sumptuous Elgar from Canadian contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux, fiery Falla from Pablo Heras-Casado and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, and lightly-worn virtuosity from the sweet-toned Chinese violinist Ning Feng.
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Marcello Giordani (1963-2019)
7th Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
The Italian spinto tenor, who was particularly famed for his Verdi and Puccini roles, has died aged 56.
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Handel's Brockes-Passion from Richard Egarr and the Academy of Ancient Music
4th Oct 2019by Katherine Cooper
Using a new performing edition by oboist Leo Duarte, the Academy of Ancient Music and some exceptional young soloists make a compelling case for Handel's visceral 'Passion-Oratorio' on the 300th anniversary of its premiere.
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New Release Round-Up - 4th October 2019
4th Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
A complete Beethoven cycle from Andris Nelsons and the Wiener Philharmoniker, plus new albums from Quatuor Arod, Ann Hallenberg, Lucas Debargue, and Christophe Coin.
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Ralph Couzens on Chandos
3rd Oct 2019by Katherine Cooper
To mark their fortieth anniversary, the British independent record-label's Managing Director talks to Katherine about their evolution and plans for the future...
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Landmarks: 40 Years of Chandos
Dmitri Shostakovich Jr. (piano), James Thompson (trumpet), Stephen Hough (piano), Lynne Dawson (soprano), Ian Partridge (tenor), Michael George (bass), Lydia Mordkovitch (violin), Christopher Plummer (narrator), Celia Nicklin (oboe), Ian Watson (organ), Nigel Kennedy (violin), Peter Pettinger (piano), Sarah Connolly (Dido), Gerald Finley (Aeneas), Lucy Crowe (Belinda), Patricia Bardon (Sorceress), William Purefoy (Spirit), Sarah Tynan (2nd Woman), John Mark Ainsley (Sailor), Carys Lane & Rebecca Outram (Witches), Gerald Finley (bass-baritone), Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano), Doric String Quartet, Xiayin Wang (piano), Tasmin Little (violin), Jennifer Pike (violin), Cpl Jonathan Hill (trombone), Martin Roscoe (piano), Louis Lortie (piano), Ivan Ilić (piano), Wojciech Switala (piano), Szymon Krzeszowiec (violin), Krzysztof Lasoń (violin), Małgorzata Wasiucionek (violin), Arkadiusz Kubica (violin), Federico Colli (piano) Ulster Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Borodin Trio, I Musici de Montréal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, The Philharmonia, English Chamber Orchestra, The Sixteen, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus, Choristers of Westminster Cathedral, Black Dyke Mills Band, The King's Singers, BBC Philharmonic, Collegium Musicum 90, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Choir of the Age of Enlightenment, Aquarelle Guitar Quartet, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Chorale, Brodsky Quartet, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, The Central Band of the Royal Air Force, Manchester Camerata, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Silesian Quartet, Polish Cello Quartet, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Bryden Thomson, Mariss Jansons, Maxim Shostakovich, Yuli Turovsky, Neeme Järvi, Geoffrey Simon, Harry Christophers, Sir Neville Marriner, Major Peter Parkes, Richard Hickox, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Steven Devine, Elizabeth Kenny, Charles Bruffy, Peter Oundjian, Sir Andrew Davis, Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, John Wilson, Edward Gardner, Juanjo Mena, Gábor Takács-Nagy, Kirill Karabits, Rumon Gamba
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The Presto Chart - September 2019
2nd Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for September, with John Wilson and the newly reformed Sinfonia of London's debut album of Korngold on Chandos in first place...
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Giya Alexandrovich Kancheli (1935-2019)
2nd Oct 2019by David Smith
The Georgian composer, known for his film music, sweeping orchestral laments and finely-wrought instrumental miniatures, has died at the age of 84.
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Gramophone Awards 2019: The Winners!
1st Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
This year's victors in each of the ten categories were revealed this morning.
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Debussy: Les Trois Sonates, The Late Works
Isabelle Faust (violin), Alexander Melnikov (piano), Tanguy de Williencourt (piano), Magali Mosnier (flute), Antoine Tamestit viola), Xavier de Maistre (harp), Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello), Javier Perianes (piano)
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Jessye Norman (1945-2019)
1st Oct 2019by Chris O'Reilly
The magnificent American soprano, widely recognised as one of the great Strauss and Wagner singers of the late twentieth century, has died aged 74.
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Ivana Gavrić on Origins
30th Sep 2019by David Smith
The Bosnian-born pianist talks Haydn, Frances-Hoad and Sarajevan folklore – just some of the ingredients going into the melting-pot of her latest album.
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Ethel Smyth's Mass in D from Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra
27th Sep 2019by David Smith
Sakari Oramo conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a magnificent performance of Dame Ethel Smyth's Mass in D and overture to The Wreckers.
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New Release Round-Up - 27th September 2019
27th Sep 2019by Chris O'Reilly
New albums include Schubert from Francesco Piemontesi, Chopin from Pavel Kolesnikov and Brahms from Edward Gardner, plus the first volume in a planned Eric Coates series from John Wilson.
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Ed Lyon on his 17th-Century Playlist
26th Sep 2019by Katherine Cooper
The English tenor talks to Katherine about his debut solo album of songs by Landi, Dowland, Lambert, Cavalli and more with Theatre of the Ayre, released tomorrow on Delphian.
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New international delivery charges & shipping options
25th Sep 2019by Chris O'Reilly
Chris introduces some updates to our delivery options for orders being shipped outside the UK.
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Daniel Behle on Zero to Hero
24th Sep 2019by Katherine Cooper
The German tenor talks to Katherine about his new album of Mozart arias (released last Friday on Sony), and his own ongoing transition into more heroic repertoire.
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BBC Music Magazine - October 2019 Choices
23rd Sep 2019by Chris O'Reilly
Chris introduces this month's selection, including Handel from Lucy Crowe, Mary Bevan and Bridget Cunningham, Bach from Mahan Esfahani, and American song from Melody Moore.
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Schumann from John Eliot Gardiner and the LSO
20th Sep 2019by James Longstaffe
The London Symphony Orchestra and Sir John Eliot Gardiner begin their Schumann cycle with exhilarating, agile performances of the Second and Fourth symphonies.