Latest stories
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David Watkin (1965-2025)
15th May 2025
The British cellist, conductor and pedagogue, an influential and beloved member of the teaching staff at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and particularly acclaimed for his 2015 recording of the Bach cello suites, has died aged 60.
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Dr Susan Lim on Cosmic Rhapsody
14th May 2025
The surgeon and scientist discusses the second instalment of the ALAN Trilogy (created with composer Manu Martin and librettist Christina Teenz Tan), which was premiered at the Barbican last month and recently released on Decca with Jean-Yves Thibaudet as soloist.
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Early Music Round-Up - Spring 2025
13th May 2025
Provincial Handel-inspired instrumental works from The Corelli Orchestra, Telemann chamber music from The London Handel Players, the culmination of the Orlando Consort's Machaut series, imposing Lusitano motets from Arte Minima, and more. Plus, the final three weeks of our Early Music special offer!
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Matthew Best (1957-2025)
12th May 2025
The British bass and conductor, who founded the Corydon Singers whilst still in his teens, has died of cancer aged 68.
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Ronald Corp (1951-2025)
9th May 2025
The British conductor, composer and Anglican priest, who was particularly known for his championing of light music and for his inspirational work with choirs of all ages, has died aged 74.
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Yevgeny Sudbin plays Scriabin
9th May 2025
Yevgeny Sudbin returns to the music of Scriabin in a new album of nicely selected solo piano works which demonstrate the variety of the composer's writing, and the pianist's open and incisive approach to understanding and expressing each piece on its own terms.
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New Release Round-Up - 9th May 2025
9th May 2025
Chopin from Justin Taylor, Bizet's complete songs from Cyrille Dubois and friends, early Schumann & Bruckner from Jordi Savall, and Shostakovich & Britten from Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
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Germán Enrique Alcántara on Simon Boccanegra
7th May 2025
The rising Argentinian baritone discusses his recent recording debut on Opera Rara (which saw him stepping in to sing Verdi's troubled Doge at very short notice), his two transformative years on the Jette Parker Artists Programme at Covent Garden, and why it 'takes a village' to raise an opera-singer...
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James Ehnes on Bach
6th May 2025
The violinist discusses his new recording of a selection of Bach concertos with Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra - an organisation which 'played a pivotal part' in his early life through tours, radio broadcasts and competitions for young artists.
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Presto Presents... Simon Callaghan
5th May 2025
In the latest episode of Presto Presents, pianist and musicologist Simon Callaghan discusses two of the neglected composers he's been championing over the past few years - Roger Sacheverell Coke (1912-72) and Jean Louis Nicodé (1863-1919) - and performs two pieces from Nicodé's Ein Liebesleben Op. 22.
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Simon Rattle conducts Janáček's Jenůfa
2nd May 2025
Continuing their survey of Janáček's operas, Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra bring out the tenderness present throughout much of the score, alongside exceptional performances by Agneta Eichenholz, Nicky Spence, Aleš Briscein, and Katarina Karnéus.
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Janáček: Jenůfa
Agneta Eichenholz (Jenůfa), Katarina Karnéus (Kostelnička), Aleš Briscein (Laca), Nicky Spence (Števa), Jan Martiník (Starek, the Foreman/Mayor), Carole Wilson (Grandmother Buryjovka) London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Simon Rattle
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New Release Round-Up - 2nd May 2025
2nd May 2025
Bruckner from The Hallé and Kahchun Wong, Kurtág from Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Brahms's German Requiem from Bach Collegium Japan and Masaaki Suzuki, and Strauss's Salome from Edward Gardner (with Malin Byström in the title-role).
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Presto Team Choices - April 2025
1st May 2025
Staff favourites from April include orchestral suites by Thomas Adès (conducted by the composer), Prokofiev from Gianandrea Noseda and the London Symphony Orchestra, a riveting debut album of bel canto scenes from Italian soprano Eleonora Buratto, and a 'distinctively atmospheric' Bluebeard's Castle from Karina Canellakis.
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The Presto Chart - April 2025
1st May 2025
Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for April, headed by Edward Gardner's electrifying live recording of Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer with the Norwegian National Opera, starring Gerald Finley as The Dutchman and Lise Davidsen as Senta.
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Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer
Lise Davidsen (Senta), Gerald Finley (The Dutchman), Brindley Sherratt (Daland), Stanislas de Barbeyrac (Erik), Anna Kissjudit (Mary), Eirik Grøtvedt (Steersman) Orchestra and Chorus of Norwegian National Opera, Edward Gardner
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Aulis Sallinen at 90
30th Apr 2025
In the wake of his ninetieth birthday earlier this month, the Finnish composer talks to Ben Hogwood about how his style has changed over the decades - and why he's enjoying life at ‘tempo molto sostenuto’ in semi-retirement.
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BBC Music Magazine - May 2025 Choices
28th Apr 2025
Chris introduces this month's selection, headed by a Shostakovich recital from the Jerusalem Quartet which 'combines amazing technical finesse with overwhelming musical insight'.
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Cello Fantasies from Zlatomir Fung and Richard Fu
25th Apr 2025
The American cellist makes his début with an album of six gorgeous opera-fantasies, including two world premieres and showing that the genre is alive and well.
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Fantasies
Zlatomir Fung (cello), Richard Fu (piano)
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New Release Round-Up - 25th April 2025
25th Apr 2025
Weinberg from the Arcadia Quartet, Shostakovich from Yo-Yo Ma in Boston, Tchaikovsky from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Domingo Hindoyan, and Salieri from Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset.
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BBC Proms 2025 - Our Top Related Recordings
24th Apr 2025
The Presto team picks out some highlights from this year's season (announced this morning) and recommends related recordings - from recent collections of orchestral works by Errollyn Wallen and Tom Coult to albums from Last Night soloists Alison Balsom and Louise Alder.
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BBC Music Magazine Awards 2025: The Winners!
23rd Apr 2025
A live update from tonight's ceremony at Kings Place, including details of the Recording of the Year and Personality of the Year Awards...
