Latest stories
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A Winterreise with a difference from Allan Clayton
16th Jan 2026
The British tenor joins forces with Aurora Orchestra under its founder Nicholas Collon for Hans Zender's 'composed interpretation' of Schubert's bleak song-cycle, premiered in 1993 and bringing the piece's chilly soundscapes to life with an ensemble which includes accordion, guitar, a battery of percussion and a wind-machine.
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New Release Round-Up - 16th January 2026
16th Jan 2026
The New Year's Day concert from Vienna (conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin), late Brahms from Piotr Anderszewski, a second volume of Edward MacDowell's orchestral works from the BBC Philharmonic and John Wilson, and a box-set of Angela Hewitt's complete Bach recordings.
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Presto Presents...Katie Bray and friends
15th Jan 2026
The British mezzo was joined by pianist William Vann and accordionist Murray Grainger to introduce their Kurt Weill album In Search of Youkali, which was released on Chandos last Friday.
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John Wallace (1949-2026)
15th Jan 2026
The Scottish trumpeter and composer John Wallace, known not just for his recordings but also for his work on reviving and rediscovering historical brass performance practices, has died at the age of 76.
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International Classical Music Awards 2026 - The Winners
14th Jan 2026
The results were announced yesterday, with winners including Jakub Hrůša, Stephen Kovacevich, Alice Sara Ott, and the Pavel Haas Quartet.
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Gramophone Editor's Choices - January 2026
13th Jan 2026
Chris introduces this month's selection, headed by a 'very special collaboration album' of Schubert from Leif Ove Andsnes and Bertrand Chamayou on Erato.
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Maurice Millward (1931-2026)
12th Jan 2026
Chris pays tribute to the beloved businessman, music-lover and arts philanthropist, who owned Presto from 2001-2017 and has died aged 94.
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Mendelssohn and Enescu Octets from the Ébène and Belcea Quartets
9th Jan 2026
String octets from Mendelssohn and Enescu - both in their teens at the time of composition - show the two composers’ genius already in full flower. The Ébène and Belcea quartets give it their all and the results are spectacular.
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Enescu & Mendelssohn: Octets
Quatuor Ébène, Belcea Quartet
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New Release Round-Up - 9th January 2026
9th Jan 2026
Schubert Impromptus from Eric Lu, Verdi's Simon Boccanegra starring Ludovic Tézier and Marina Rebeka, songs by Kurt Weill from Katie Bray and friends, and the final instalment of the Cuarteto Casals's Shostakovich cycle.
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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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2025 Goodbyes
8th Jan 2026
A short video-tribute to some of the artists and creatives who died in 2025, including Alfred Brendel, John Nelson, Sofia Gubaidulina, Luigi Alva and Sir Donald McIntyre.
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The Presto Chart - 2025
7th Jan 2026
Our 50 best-selling titles across all formats for the whole of last year, with Víkingur Ólafsson's Op. 109 on Deutsche Grammophon leading the pack...
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The Presto Chart - December 2025
6th Jan 2026
Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for December, with Víkingur Ólafsson's recital centring on Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op. 109 occupying the top spot for the second month running...
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BBC Music Magazine - January 2026 Choices
5th Jan 2026
Chris introduces this month's selection, headed by a 'compelling pairing' of works by Shostakovich and Henriëtte Bosmans from South Korean violinist Hyeyoon Park, the WDR Sinfonieorchester and Gergely Madaras on Linn.
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Sterndale Bennett Concertos from Simon Callaghan
2nd Jan 2026
Simon Callaghan joins the Northern Sinfonia and Martin Yates to champion the music of a nineteenth-century English composer who was admired by Schumann and Mendelssohn, but whose music is played and discussed less than it deserves.
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New Release Round-Up - 2nd January 2026
2nd Jan 2026
Brahms from Edward Gardner in Bergen, a third Joan Sutherland box-set on Decca, Max Richter's score for the new film adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's Hamnet, and Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky from Nobuyuki Tsujii.
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Philippe Jaroussky celebrates 25 years in the profession
31st Dec 2025
The French countertenor reflects on the changes he's seen during his first quarter-century in the business, his recent album of Italian secular cantatas, his blossoming parallel career as a conductor, and why he's a firm believer that 'the grass is not always greener in another field'.
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Gelosia!
Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor/director), Artaserse
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Marc-André Hamelin on Found Objects/Sound Objects
30th Dec 2025
The Canadian pianist discusses his recent album of music by Frank Zappa, John Cage, Yehudi Wyner and others, his own approach to writing for the piano, and the composer who will be the focus of a upcoming 'long-range project'...
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Boxed Set Selections - Winter 2025
29th Dec 2025
Heavyweight highlights from the last couple of months include anthologies dedicated to Sir Charles Mackerras, Lorin Maazel and the late Christoph von Dohnányi, plus the Calidore Quartet's acclaimed Beethoven cycle and John Williams's collected recordings with the Boston Pops Orchestra.
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Presto Personal Favourites from 2025
26th Dec 2025
The members of our editorial team reflect on some favourite albums that got away this year, including music by Sebastian Fagerlund, Mahler, Wilhelm Grosz and Robert Gund, Schoenberg, and anonymous composers from fifteenth-century Poland.
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The trebles of St John's on O Holy Night
24th Dec 2025
The front row of the Choir of St John's College Cambridge lift the lid on all things Christmas, and tell us what they REALLY think about music director Christopher Gray!
