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Presto News - 21st January 2008New Bach Cantatas page |
 I often get asked for my thoughts on recordings of huge groups of works like Bach’s Cantatas. I never quite know how to answer questions like this. These sorts of works have such a rich recorded legacy that it is almost impossible to even decide where to begin! Different recordings have many different things to recommend them, but before you can make any decisions you need to know who the main contenders are.  New Bach Cantatas page We therefore decided that we needed to design a way of putting this sort of information on the website – pages which could summarise all the important recordings of a group of works but also advise on new releases and any award winners. In addition we wanted to create pages that would be useful and interesting to both new fans of a particular genre, and those with large collections already. I’m pleased to say that our new Bach Cantatas page has just gone live and will, I hope, achieve all this. We’re launching it with a special offer that includes the entire Masaaki Suzuki and John Eliot Gardiner series at 25% off, and the recently completed Ton Koopman cycle at 20% off. All being well we’ll soon be able to apply a similar template to other groups of works like Beethoven String Quartets or Schubert Piano Sonatas, and I’ll keep you informed of developments in these and other areas over the months to come. In the mean time click here to discover and enjoy the rich musical world of Bach Cantatas.
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Chris O'Reilly - chris@prestoclassical.co.uk |
New Releases21st January 2008 |
This is just the pick of the recent releases. The New Releases and Future Releases pages are always available for browsing all the new and forthcoming releases. |
 Debussy - ImagesSimon Trpceski (piano)As Simon Trpceski’s career continues to grow with extraordinary momentum, and in the wake of glowing reviews for his Chopin album, this all-Debussy recital marks our fourth release by the brilliant young Macedonian pianist. |
 Bartók: String Quartets Nos. 1-6 (Complete)Belcea QuartetBartók’s string quartets are a true cornerstone of quartet repertoire. They communicate on various levels and are supremely effective on all of them. Whether viewed as a cycle or as six individual works, they remain masterpieces of formal design, every bar plainly part of a rounded grand plan, a plan securely placed within a wider framework. They can be mysterious, intimate, innovative, outspoken or earthy, while the infinite subtlety of their workings warrants a lifetime’s study, and praise. The Belcea's interpretation of these quartets really captures the listeners' attention, the quartet commented: "The more we immersed ourselves in these works, the more beauty and richness we discovered in them and we very much hope that this appeal will even still increase in future because we definitely consider these quartets to be the greatest masterpieces of the last century in our repertoire." |
 Rachmaninov - ElègieMischa Maisky (violoncello) & Sergio Tiempo (piano)DG's premier cellist Mischa Maisky champions Rachmaninov’s beautiful, emotional works for cello and piano. He is partnered by the talented young Argentinean pianist Sergio Tiempo, a pupil of Martha Argerich. The repertoire, including the Cello Sonata Op. 19, the Danse orientale for cello and piano, as well as the five “songs without words” plus three pieces for piano (all arranged by Maisky), are all new to the DG catalogue. This release was recorded live during the Progetto Martha Argerich Festival in Lugano in June 2005 (Sonata) and in 2006. |
 Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 'Emperor'Mikhail Pletnev (piano), Russian National Orchestra, Christian GanschI have yet to be convinced by this very individual series of Beethoven from Pletnev, and it has so far received quite mixed reveiws. But he does have a following and whatever you think it is certainly interesting listening. |
 Bach, J S: The Art of Fugue, BWV1080Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano)Pierre-Laurent Aimard’s debut on DG is his first ever Bach recording as well as his first recording of Baroque repertoire. A pre-eminent performer of modern music, Aimard brings a unique and exciting approach to Bach. Aimard is a high-profile, important performer, especially given his links to many of the great contemporary composers. “Staggering technique, searching intellect and fantastical imagination.” (New York Times). |
 Natalie Dessay - Italian Opera AriasNatalie Dessay’s career is at a major turning point, both in terms of her growing fame world-wide (each of her performances is a phenomenal success) and the repertoire she tackles today. Formerly specialising in roles that called for that special coloratura quality, her voice has matured and is ready to meet the different demands of the bel canto repertoire, that of the great Italian opera heroines. This is a much-awaited album, as it has been a 3 years since Natalie has recorded a recital disc of great operatic arias, the last recital album being “Amor”, a programme of arias, lieder and scenes by Richard Strauss released in 2004. |
 BBC Radio 3 CD ReviewSaturday 19th January 2008 |
Building a Library - Wagner: Siegfried |
 First ChoiceWolfgang Windgassen; Astrid Varnay; Hans Hotter; Gustav Neidlinger; Paul Kuen; Maria von Ilosvay; Josef Greindl; Ilse Hollweg; Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Joseph Keilberth (conductor) |
 First Choice (as part of the whole Ring cycle)Wolfgang Windgassen; Astrid Varnay; Hans Hotter; Gustav Neidlinger; Paul Kuen; Maria von Ilosvay; Josef Greindl; Ilse Hollweg; Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Joseph Keilberth (conductor) |
CD of the Week |
 Handel: Esther(complete 1732 version, in a live recording from the 25th London Handel Festival, 2002)Rosemary Joshua (soprano), James Bowman (counter-tenor), Susan Bickley (mezzo-soprano), Christopher Purves (bass), Rebecca Outram (soprano), Andrew Kennedy (tenor), London Handel Orchestra and Chorus, Lawrence Cummings (conductor) |
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