Latest stories
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Boston Symphony Chamber Players: The Deutsche Grammophon Recordings
5th Mar 2026by Ben Hogwood
Our guest-writer explores a rich anthology of studio recordings from the 1970s, with highlights including a starrily-cast account of Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale, Second Viennese School arrangements of Johann Strauss II, and treasurable Debussy with a young Michael Tilson Thomas as pianist.
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More Chandos Titles on Presto CD
4th Mar 2026by Matthew Ash
We're delighted to add another thirty titles to our Presto CD catalogue, returning more classic Chandos albums for those who prefer to build a tangible collection with original artwork and booklets faithfully reproduced. There's something for everyone, with music ranging from Bach to MacMillan, played by an array of top artists, all here for you to explore!
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The Presto Chart - February 2026
3rd Mar 2026by Chris O'Reilly
Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for February, with Yunchan Lim's live recording of the Goldberg Variations from Carnegie Hall in the No. 1 spot.
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Presto Team Choices - February 2026
2nd Mar 2026
Gripping, gruesome Bartók from Gustavo Gimeno in Toronto, the world premiere recording of Edmond Dédé's opera Morgiane, a hair-raising debut recital from bass-baritone Florian Störtz, and 'fresh and vivid' Tchaikovsky from Gianandrea Noseda and the LSO.
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Strauss's Elektra from Edward Gardner in Bergen
27th Feb 2026by Katherine Cooper
The Norwegian orchestra capture all the savagery and strange sensuality of Strauss's dysfunctional family drama in glorious technicolour on this live recording from 2023, with Iréne Theorin in the title-role and Iain Paterson as her avenging brother.
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New Release Round-Up - 27th February 2026
27th Feb 2026by Katherine Cooper
Bach, Mozart and Britten from Martin James Bartlett, Schumann from Elisabeth Leonskaja, a cabaret-themed recital from Claire Booth and Jâms Coleman, and Mendelssohn from Alexis Kossenko.
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Early Music Round-Up - February 2026
26th Feb 2026by David Smith
Virtuosic compositions for Renaissance trombone, an Orpheus-themed recital from Rolando Villazón and Christina Pluhar, English song from Purcell to Handel from Grace Davidson and Julian Perkins, a treasure-trove of sacred works woven around the L'homme armé motif, and more.
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Ludovic Tézier, Marina Rebeka and Francesco Meli on Simon Boccanegra
25th Feb 2026by Katherine Cooper
The stars of a new account of Verdi's political thriller on Prima Classic discuss their roles, some of the singers and conductors who have inspired them in this music – and why there are ‘ghosts everywhere’ in the theatre where they recorded...
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Verdi: Simon Boccanegra
Ludovic Tézier (Simon Boccanegra), Marina Rebeka (Amelia), Francesco Meli (Gabriele Adorno), Michele Pertusi (Fiesco), Mattia Olivieri (Paolo), Andrea Pellegrini (Pietro) Orchestra e Coro del Teatro di San Carlo di Napoli, Michele Spotti
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Gramophone Editor's Choices - March 2026
24th Feb 2026by Chris O'Reilly
Chris introduces next month's selection, headed by a 'mesmerisingly, shatteringly powerful and beautiful' album of Vaughan Williams, Caroline Shaw, Ellen Reid and Sam Amidon from Pekka Kuusisto on Platoon.
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Simon Callaghan on Sterndale Bennett
23rd Feb 2026by Matthew Ash
Known for his adventurous exploration of neglected repertoire, the British pianist discusses his latest recording of concertos by William Sterndale Bennett (released last month on Lyrita).
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Symphonic works by Elsa Barraine
20th Feb 2026by David Smith
Two symphonies and a pair of pictorial tone-poems show the long-neglected twentieth-century French composer at her finest, with a musical language drawing on both watercolour Impressionism and bold modernism.
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José van Dam (1940-2026)
20th Feb 2026
The elegant Belgian bass-baritone, who created the title-role in Messiaen’s Saint François d’Assise and excelled in repertoire from Mozart to Wagner, died on Tuesday aged 85.
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New Release Round-Up - 20th February 2026
20th Feb 2026by Katherine Cooper
Schubert from Christian Blackshaw, Johann Ludwig Bach from Capella Sollertia, late Beethoven from Imogen Cooper, and choral Bruckner from Pablo Heras-Casado.
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Johann Ludwig Bach: The Leipzig Cantatas
Sebastian Myrus, Richard Resch (tenor), William Shelton, Flore Van Meerssche, Carine Tinney (soprano), Michael Mogl, Tabea Mitterbauer, Anna-Lena Elbert, Micha Matthäus, Tobias Knaus, Capella Sollertia, Johanna Soller
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Celebrating György Kurtág
19th Feb 2026
On the Hungarian composer's hundredth birthday, artists including Benjamin Appl, Quatuor Arod and Jean-Guihen Queyras share memories of the man and his music.
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Alexandra Dariescu on A Child's Dream
18th Feb 2026by Matthew Ash
The Romanian pianist takes us back to the beginning of her musical journey on her new album, featuring the first piece she ever played with an orchestra (at the tender age of nine) plus music by Nadia Boulanger, Amy Beach, Missy Mazzoli and more.
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Helmuth Rilling (1933-2026)
16th Feb 2026by David Smith
The German conductor and academic Helmuth Rilling, acclaimed in particular for his recordings of Bach (including the first complete survey of his complete output on CD), has died aged 92.
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The Calidore String Quartet weave an American Tapestry
13th Feb 2026by James Longstaffe
The New York-based quartet present music by three of their compatriots (plus one Viennese émigré), in a thoughtful album showcasing the diversity and richness of twentieth-century American music.
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New Release Round-Up - 13th February 2026
13th Feb 2026by Katherine Cooper
Alfvén & Rautavaara from Neeme Järvi in Gothenburg, early Rachmaninoff from Boris Giltburg, accordion works from the Baltic States courtesy of Ksenija Sidorova, and a phantasy-inspired programme from the Piatti Quartet.
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Boxed Set Selections - January/February 2026
11th Feb 2026
Early 2026 heavyweights include Sir Adrian Boult's stereo recordings on Warner, four operas from the 1954 Bayreuth Festival, Angela Hewitt's complete Bach series on Hyperion, and Nikolaus Harnoncourt's collected recordings with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
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Sir Adrian Boult: Complete Warner Recordings
Sir Adrian Boult, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Scottish National Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, John Alldis Choir
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Hamlet in Music
10th Feb 2026
As Chloé Zhao's new film adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's award-winning 2020 novel Hamnet garners eight Oscar nominations, we revisit some of the works (and latterly albums) which Shakespeare's 'sweet prince' has inspired over the centuries.