Latest News: Classical
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Obituary,
Christa Ludwig (1928-2021) 26th April 2021One of the most moving and versatile singers of the twentieth century, the great German mezzo-soprano has died aged 93.
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Presto Music Classical Podcast,
Episode 16: Britain, by George! - Handel with Suzanne Aspden 25th April 2021Professor Suzanne Aspden joins Paul to trace Handel's journey from the youthful Italian cantatas & operas to his later English oratorios.
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Recording of the Week,
François-Xavier Roth conducts Beethoven's Eroica Symphony 23rd April 2021Les Siècles and François-Xavier Roth return to the music of Beethoven with a dramatic, illuminating account of the Third Symphony, coupled with an energetic performance of an overture by Méhul.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 23rd April 2021 23rd April 2021Winterreise from Joyce DiDonato and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, an homage to Humperdinck on Deutsche Grammophon, Mahler's Resurrection Symphony from Ádám Fischer, and Charles Avison's Scarlatti-inspired concerti grossi on Glossa.
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Interview,
Colin Currie on HK Gruber 22nd April 2021The Scottish percussionist talks to Katherine about recording two concertos by his friend 'Nali' - Rough Music from 1983, and into the open… (written for and premiered by Currie in 2015).
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Box Set Selections,
Boxed Set Selections - April 2021 21st April 2021April heavyweights include French organist Jeanne Demessieux's complete recordings on Decca, plus anthologies celebrating André Previn, Eugene Ormandy and Peter Maag.
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Interview,
Justin Taylor on the 'famille Rameau' 20th April 2021The harpsichordist discusses his new album on Alpha, which sees him explore the music of the Rameau clan – not just the famous Jean-Philippe but also his equally distinguished descendants.
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Gramophone Choices,
Gramophone Editor's Choices - May 2021 19th April 2021Chris introduces this month's selection, with a Proustian soirée from Théotime Langlois de Swarte and Tanguy de Williencourt on Harmonia Mundi in pride of place.
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BBC Music Magazine Choices,
BBC Music Magazine - May 2021 19th April 2021Chris introduces this month's selection, headed by an 'outstanding recording' of Beethoven's Triple Concerto from the Freiburger Barockorchester and Pablo Heras-Casado with soloists Isabelle Faust, Jean-Guihen Queyras, and Alexander Melnikov.
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Recording of the Week,
Vaughan Williams from Antonio Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra 16th April 2021Pappano takes on perhaps Vaughan Williams's two most challenging symphonies, in live recordings given a heightened emotional intensity by the circumstances of their performance.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 16th April 2021 16th April 2021Wagner's Wesendonck-Lieder from Matthias Goerne and Seong-Jin Cho, Freddie de Tommaso's debut album Passione, Patricia Kopatchinskaja in Pierrot Lunaire, and Vivaldi bassoon concertos from Sergio Azzolini.
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Interview,
Dr Samantha Ege on Florence Price 15th April 2021The pianist and musicologist talks to Katherine about Fantasie Nègre (released on Lorelt last month), and her fascinating research on the lives and work of Black female composers in mid-twentieth-century Chicago.
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Coming Soon,
Brahms from Sir András Schiff and other forthcoming highlights 14th April 2021The pianist directs Brahms's concertos from the keyboard with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Cecilia Bartoli sings a gender-fluid Ariodante from Salzburg, and soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn champions Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
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Awards,
BBC Music Magazine Awards 2021: The Winners! 14th April 2021Chris introduces this year's winners, with the final instalment of an 'unforgettable musical odyssey' from Peter Phillips and the Tallis Scholars taking the palm for Recording of the Year.
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Interview,
Andrew Nethsingha on Magnificat 13th April 2021The Director of Music at St John's College Cambridge talks about the choir's second volume of Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis settings, ranging from Howells and Sumsion to contemporary composers such as Julian Anderson.
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Presto Music Classical Podcast,
Episode 15: Clarinet Chronicles with Julian Bliss 11th April 2021Paul is given a guided tour of the clarinet's history by Julian Bliss, from its first appearances in the eighteenth century, up to the present day, and the important role it played in the development of jazz.
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Recording of the Week,
Stravinsky & Eötvös from Pablo Heras-Casado and the Orchestre de Paris 9th April 2021The Spanish conductor delivers a very Gallic Rite of Spring, whilst Isabelle Faust is bewitched and bewitching on the world premiere recording of Péter Eötvös's 'Alhambra' Concerto.
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New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 9th April 2021 9th April 2021Bach from Augustin Hadelich, Beethoven from Teodor Currentzis, Mozart from Albrecht Mayer, and an homage to the Rameau family from Justin Taylor.
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Interview,
Helen Charlston and Michael Craddock on their Isolation Songbook 8th April 2021The mezzo and baritone (and nearly-weds!) discuss how their open call for new music to sing together during lockdown spiralled into a full-scale album of commissions, released last month on Delphian...
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Gramophone Choices,
Gramophone Editor's Choices - April 2021 7th April 2021Chris introduces this month's Choices, headed by Paul Lewis and Steven Osborne's 'peerless' album of French piano duets (including Fauré's Dolly Suite and Ravel's Ma Mère l'Oye) on Hyperion.