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Presto News - 22nd June 2009The Three Tenors |
 As an English football fan myself, when someone mentions the 1990 World Cup I immediately think of Paul Gascoigne’s tears after his yellow card in the semi-final. However, from a classical music perspective a far more notable feature of the tournament was the forming of ‘The Three Tenors’, made up of the Spanish singers Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and the Italian singer Luciano Pavarotti. The concert (which took place on the eve of the final) was designed to raise money for Carreras's charitable foundation as well as a way for his contemporaries, Domingo and Pavarotti, to welcome their friend and colleague back to the world of opera after his successful treatment for leukemia. As it turned out the concert (and subsequent recordings) turned the Three Tenors into household names throughout the world, and arguably changed the whole perception of opera amongst the mass population.  The Three Tenors I say ‘arguably’ because this is very much a debated issue, and while a lot of people applaud the phenomenon that introduced opera to a wider public, there are also many purists who feel that the singers rather betrayed their heritage, and that their performances together contributed very little to the understanding and appreciation of opera as a Gesamtkunstwerk (whole art work) as for example Wagner had conceived it, while earning them very large amounts of money in the process. However, whatever your view, you cannot escape from the fact that they came together in 1990 because they were quite clearly the three greatest tenors of their time, and this reputation was born as much as anything from the tremendous discographies that each one had produced. And even now if you are looking for a recommended recording of an opera, if you see one of their names amongst the cast list it is very likely to be a winner. To celebrate these three truly great singers we’ve just started a ‘Three Tenors’ Special Offer where you can read a bit more about each of them, and browse and buy many of their greatest recordings on both CD and DVD (plus a couple of recent Domingo Blu-rays). Listening to these recordings today, and without any disrespect to the likes of Villazon and Kaufmann, this really was a golden age. Browse Three Tenors Special Offer:
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Chris O'Reilly - chris@prestoclassical.co.uk |
New Releases22nd June 2009 |
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. |
 Schubert: E flat major Mass, D950 & Mozart: Vesperae solemnes, K339Choir of State Opera Dresden & Staatskapelle Dresden, Sir Charles MackerrasSchubert’s final mass and most ambitious setting was composed during the summer of 1828, only months before his death. Here, Sir Charles Mackerras makes his belated debut with the Dresden Staatskapelle in a performance which is sure to make an excellent impression. |
 Glass: A portrait of Philip in twelve partsBruckner Orchester Linz & Philip Glass Ensemble, Dennis Davies & Michael RiesmanThis is the soundtrack from a film directed by Scott Hicks which captures all aspects of Philip Glass’ life and work. |
 Dvorak - Symphony No. 7 & Golden Spinning WheelNetherlands Philharmonic, Yakov KreizbergPentaTone has previously released Dvorak Symphonies 6, 8 and 9 in this series conducted by Kreizberg and all of them have received excellent reviews. |
 Elgar - Enigma VariationsMelbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sir Charles MackerrasFollowing on from Mackerras’ critically acclaimed opening night of the Sydney Opera House (ABC4766440), ABC is delighted to present this live performance recorded at Hammer Hall from November 2007. |
 The Piazzolla ProjectJacques Ammon (piano), Artemis QuartetBerlin meets Buenos Aires and it takes five to tango as the Artemis Quartet takes to the floor with Chilean pianist Jacques Ammon for a programme of works by Argentinian legend Astor Piazzolla. |
 Martha Argerich – Live at Tokyo - DVDMartha Argerich (piano), Renaud Capuçon (violin), Gautier Capuçon (cello), Paul Gulda (piano) & Rico Gulda (piano), New Japan Philharmonic, Christian ArmingOriginally planned for release back in February this DVD was postponed due to contractual disputes. All now resolved it is finally available. Legendary pianist Martha Argerich stars in radiant performances of works by Mozart, recorded live in Tokyo at one of three 5th anniversary memorial concerts she gave ’In Joyful Remembrance of Friedrich Gulda’, her teacher. |
 Thea Musgrave - Turbulent LandscapesBBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jirí BelohávekRich, powerful musical language and a strong sense of drama have made Thea Musgrave one of the most respected and exciting of living composers. Turbulent Landscapes was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Each of the six movements is inspired by various paintings by Turner. |
 Wagner - Ring Cycle (1950)Ferdinand Frantz, Kirsten Flagstad, Max Lorenz, etc. Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Wilhelm FurtwänglerThis 1950 performance is the only live complete recording of The Ring conducted by the legendary Wilhelm Furtwangler. It has been available before but with good transfers and at budget price this is worth considering. |
 BBC Radio 3 CD ReviewSaturday 20th June 2009 |
Building a Library - Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 52 'Lobgesang' (Hymn of Praise) |
 First Choice(coupled with Symphonies 1 and 3-5)Juliane Banse (soprano), Sibylla Rubens (soprano), Vinson Cole (tenor), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy |
Disc of the Week |
 Charpentier - Missa Assumpta est MariaLe Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet |
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