Classical Guides
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Maurice Ravel
8th Aug 2014
James picks some recordings of the music of French composer, Maurice Ravel.
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William Walton
25th Jul 2014
James chooses some of his favourite recordings of music by one of the greatest twentieth-century British composers, William Walton.
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Anton Bruckner
18th Jul 2014
David listens to recordings of the great Romantic Austrian symphonist, Anton Bruckner.
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Giacomo Puccini
11th Jul 2014
James has a lovely time revelling in the wealth of magnificent Puccini recordings on offer, and selects some of his personal favourites.
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Christoph Willibald Gluck
4th Jul 2014
In celebration of the 300th anniversary of Gluck's birth on Tuesday, Katherine rounds up some favourite recordings of his operas on CD and DVD.
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Gaetano Donizetti
27th Jun 2014
Katherine has some difficult decisions to make about favourite recordings of operas by Gaetano Donizetti.
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Ralph Vaughan Williams
20th Jun 2014
David picks out some top recordings of the works of English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.
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Olivier Messiaen
13th Jun 2014
David casts his ear over recordings of Messiaen, and picks out some particular gems.
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Gustav Mahler
6th Jun 2014
James rifles through the huge amount of outstanding Mahler performances on disc, and offers his selection of the very best.
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Gioacchino Rossini
30th May 2014
Katherine sifts through some favourite recordings of one of her favourite composers…
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Il barbiere di Siviglia - CD Choice
Hermann Prey (Figaro), Teresa Berganza (Rosina), Luigi Alva (Almaviva), Enzo Dara (Bartolo), Paolo Montarsolo (Basilio), Stefania Malagù (Berta), Renato Cesari (Fiorello), Luigi Roni (Un Ufficiale) The Ambrosian Opera Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
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Dmitri Shostakovich
23rd May 2014
David explores recordings of iconic Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
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Edward Elgar
16th May 2014
James offers his thoughts on some of the very best recordings of the music of Sir Edward Elgar.
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Antonio Vivaldi
2nd May 2014
David picks out the very best recordings of works by the “Red Priest”, Antonio Vivaldi.
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Glorias RV588 & RV589 and Ostro picta RV642
Monica Piccinini (soprano), Alena Dantcheva (soprano), Massimiliano Pollio, Sara Mingardo (contralto), Luca Dordolo (tenor), Lia Serafini, Rinaldo Alessandrini (harpsichord), Deborah York (soprano), Patrizia Biccire (soprano), Emma Kirkby (soprano) & Rinaldo Alessandrini (harpsichord) Concerto Italiano, Northern Chamber Orchestra & Collegium Musicum 90, Collegium Musicum 90
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Alban Berg
24th Apr 2014
James sifts through the music of Alban Berg and offers his recommended recordings.
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Jules Massenet
18th Apr 2014
Katherine indulges in French Romanticism this week, with a survey of favourite Massenet recordings.
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Henry Purcell
11th Apr 2014
David explores some of the top performances - old and new - of the wide and varied output of English Baroque master Henry Purcell.
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Dido & Aeneas - DVD Choice
Sarah Connolly (Dido), Lucas Meachem (Aeneas), Lucy Crowe (Belinda), Sara Fulgoni (Sorceress), Anita Watson (Second Woman), Eri Nakamura (First Witch), Pumeza Matshikiza (Second Witch), Iestyn Davies (Spirit), Ji-Min Park (Sailor) Dancers of The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera Extra Chorus & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Christopher Hogwood (conductor) & Wayne McGregor (stage director)
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Richard Strauss
4th Apr 2014
This week James shares his thoughts on some of his favourite recordings of the works of Richard Strauss.
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Hector Berlioz
29th Mar 2014
Katherine takes up the 'Presto Recommends' baton this week and selects some favourite recordings of works by Hector Berlioz.
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Les Troyens - CD Choice
Ben Heppner (Enée), Michelle DeYoung (Didon), Petra Lang (Cassandre), Sara Mingardo (Anna), Peter Mattei (Chorèbe), Stephen Milling (Narbal), Kenneth Tarver (Iopas), Toby Spence (Hylas), Alan Ewing (Priam), Guang Yang (Hécube), Isabelle Cals (Ascagne), Tigran Martirossian (Panthée), Bülent Bezdüz (Helenus), Mark Stone (Un chef grec), Leigh Melrose (Un soldat troyen/Mercure), Orlin Annastassov (L'Ombre d'Hector), Andrew Greenan (Premiere Sentinelle), Roderick Earle (Deuxieme Sentinelle) London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Colin Davis
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Benjamin Britten
24th Mar 2014
Presto’s founder Maurice Millward sifts through a treasure-chest of Britten recordings and offers his thoughts on which paint the best portrait of this influential genius.
