Latest stories
-
Michael Tilson Thomas (1944-2026)
23rd Apr 2026
The energetic and inspiring American conductor, composer and pianist Michael Tilson Thomas, celebrated for his work across musical boundaries and with both established and aspiring musicians, has died aged 81.
-
Joseph Nolan on the organ works of Alkan
23rd Apr 2026
The organist talks about the first instalment of his new project - recording the complete organ works of the French Romantic keyboard sorcerer Charles-Valentin Alkan, known as much for his epic-scale piano works as for his organ compositions.
Featured product
The Complete Alkan Organ Works: Volume 1
Joseph Nolan (organ)
-
BBC Music Magazine Awards 2026: The Winners!
23rd Apr 2026
Exciting news from last night's glittering ceremony at Kings Place, including details of the well-deserved Recording of the Year and Personality of the Year Awards...
-
BBC Proms 2026 - Our Top Related Recordings
21st Apr 2026
The Presto team picks out some highlights from this year's season (announced this morning) and recommends related recordings - including exquisite music for voice and lute, recent recordings of new works by Thomas Adès and Josephine Stephenson, outstanding recordings of choral masterworks, and albums from Last Night soloists Nicky Spence and Yuja Wang.
-
Gramophone Editor's Choices - May 2026
20th Apr 2026
Chris introduces next month's selection, headed by the world premiere recording of Charles Silver's fairytale opera La Belle au bois dormant from the Palazzetto Bru Zane.
Featured product
Charles Silver: La Belle au bois dormant
Thomas Dolié (Le Roi), Guylaine Girard (Aurore/La Reine), Kate Aldrich (La Fée Urgèle/Dame Gudule), Adrien Fournaison, Julien Dran (Le Prince/Le Chevalier errant), Matthieu Lécroart (Barnabé); Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Hungarian National Choir, György Vashegyi
More products from this article -
Arvo Pärt from Eva Ollikainen and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra
17th Apr 2026
Four very different symphonic works show Pärt's imaginative and harmonic languages changing over time - from the modernist and avant-garde early in his career through to more pensive and spiritual works.
-
New Release Round-Up - 17th April 2026
17th Apr 2026
Contemporary works from guitarist Sean Shibe, a double-bill of Chausson from violinist Renaud Capuçon, a transatlantic celebration of Spanish and South American Baroque and traditional music from L'Arpeggiata, and Mozart piano concertos from Jan Lisiecki.
-
Pēteris Vasks at 80
16th Apr 2026
The Latvian composer (whose big birthday falls today) looks back over the past nine decades, reflecting on some of the musicians who have shaped his work and the inspiration which he draws from nature and his faith.
-
Ernst von Dohnányi
15th Apr 2026
A selection of some of the best recordings of music by the Hungarian composer, known particularly for a set of variations on a nursery tune, largely uncharacteristic of his wider musical style, which combines late Romantic influences with originality and astonishing technical accomplishment in music deserving of greater attention.
-
Presto Presents... Thomas Kelly
14th Apr 2026
In this latest episode of Presto Presents, pianist Thomas Kelly performs music from his debut album, Ad Nos, released on Rubicon Classics last Friday, and talks to Katherine about the themes running through the album, and the virtuoso transcriptions of organ pieces he chose to record.
Featured product
Ad Nos - Organ Works Arranged For Piano
Thomas Kelly (piano)
-
Michael Waldron on Arthur Oldham
13th Apr 2026
To mark the release of Mentor (out now on Orchid Classics), the conductor of London Choral Sinfonia discusses the unique relationship between Benjamin Britten and his only private pupil, whose centenary falls this year.
-
Jonas Kaufmann's Magische Töne
10th Apr 2026
The superstar tenor sounds in mint condition on this fascinating exploration of operetta by Hungarian-born composers including Emmerich Kálmán, Franz Léhar and Paul Abraham, supported by wonderfully idiomatic playing from the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra under Dirk Kaftan.
-
New Release Round-Up - 10th April 2026
10th Apr 2026
French orchestral mélodies from Cyrille Dubois, Semyon Bychkov's complete Mahler cycle with the Czech Philharmonic, Prokofiev from Isata Kanneh-Mason, and Steve Reich from the Colin Currie Group.
-
BBC Music Magazine - April 2026 Choices
9th Apr 2026
Chris introduces this month's selection, headed by an 'utterly compelling' album of music by Hungarian composer Márton Illés from Patricia Kopatchinskaja and friends on Alpha Classics.
-
Nicholas Collon on Hans Zender
8th Apr 2026
The British conductor discusses recording and performing Zender's 'composed interpretation' of Schubert's Winterreise with Aurora Orchestra and Allan Clayton, and explains why he believes that this version of the piece has much to offer to seasoned Schubertians and newcomers like.
-
Pascal Rogé at 75
7th Apr 2026
The French pianist celebrates his 75th birthday this week, with a new album of Fauré and a career-spanning box set, both on Decca – the label to which he first signed at the age of eighteen. We look back on the career of a master of musical architecture who communicates affection without affectation.
-
Mendelssohn from Andris Nelsons and the Gewandhausorchester
3rd Apr 2026
The Latvian conductor pays homage to his predecessor in Leipzig with fresh, driven accounts of the symphonies and major oratorios which embrace the DNA of earlier approaches without ever sounding self-consciously old-school.
-
New Release Round-Up - 3rd April 2026
3rd Apr 2026
Shostakovich from John Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic, Fauré from Pascal Rogé and Elena Font, a prayerful operatic recital from Elsa Dreisig, and super-sized Benevoli from I Fagiolini and Robert Hollingworth.
-
Cristian Măcelaru on Elsa Barraine
2nd Apr 2026
The Romanian conductor discusses the remarkable legacy of 'one of the most prominent figures in twentieth-century French cultural life', whose symphonies he recently recorded with the Orchestre National de France for Warner Classics.
-
The Presto Chart - March 2026
1st Apr 2026
Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for March, with Pygmalion and Raphaël Pichon's hyper-dramatic Johannes-Passion on Harmonia Mundi in the No. 1 spot.
Featured product
JS Bach: Johannes-Passion
Julian Prégardien (Evangelist), Huw Montague Rendall (Jesus), Ying Fang (soprano), Lucile Richardot (mezzo-soprano), Laurence Kilsby (tenor), Christian Immler (bass-baritone), Etienne Bazola (baritone), Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon
More products from this article
