Alpha
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Salonen / Ravel
Nicolas Altstaedt (cello), Pekka Kuusisto (violin), Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Dima Slobodeniouk
What Nicolas Altstaedt and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra under Dima Slobodeniouk draw from Esa-Pekka Salonen's multi-layered Cello Concerto is fascinating – an exciting expedition into... —
Awards:
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International Classical Music Awards, 2023, Winner - Assorted Programs
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Charvet despatches the showpieces with agility and bravura, but her velvety voice is particularly well suited to the pathos arias which are eloquently articulated; just occasionally her vibrato... —
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International Classical Music Awards, 2024, Nominated - Baroque Vocal
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An intelligently programmed, sensitively played disc. Add Mel Bonis, Clémence de Granval and Augusta Holmès to your listening list of female composers. —
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The playing of Ensemble Masques is suitably lip-smacking, Anna Besson’s flute nicely in the foreground sharing the limelight with Hana Blažíková’s pert soprano in Bernier’s frothy cantata...The... —
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Be Still My Heart
RecommendedSongs by Robert Gund and Wilhelm Grosz
Christian Immler (bass-baritone), Helmut Deutsch (piano)
Over half are premiere recordings; all are most persuasively performed. Both composers are masters of their craft, writing fluidly and with the utmost confidence. —
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Presto Recording of the Week, 26th December 2025
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Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Het Collectief (chamber ensemble), Yves Saelens, Lucile Richardot (mezzo-soprano), Reinbert de Leeuw
It’s hard to believe that only fifteen instruments are involved in the more dramatic passages, though the reduced forces also allow the lighter-than-usual voices of the two soloists (both excellent)... —
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Presto Editor's Choice, September 2020
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Rossini: Figaro? Sì!
Florian Sempey (soloist), Martine Marcuz, Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Bordeaux, Marc Minkowski
The appealingly voiced Sempey has sung Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia in major opera houses throughout Europe and beyond, and his immersion in the role is abundantly clear in the witty, wellcharacterised... —
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International Classical Music Awards, 2023, Nominated - Vocal Music
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Antonini’s characteristically lively performances – part of his ongoing complete Haydn symphonies series – afford much pleasure throughout. —
Awards:
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International Classical Music Awards, 2023, Nominated - Symphonic Music
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Awards:
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International Opera Awards, 2020, Nominated - Solo Recital Recording
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The WDR Symphony Orchestra’s Chamber Players find the heart in this music, and I find their readings very moving. Add to that a beautiful recording from Alpha, and you have a winner. —
Awards:
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Presto Editor's Choice, June 2021
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