Latest News: Classical
-
Interview,
Jake Heggie and friends on Intonations 18th February 2021Along with violinist Daniel Hope and mezzo Sasha Cooke, the American composer talks to Katherine about his song-cycle, inspired by and written for a group of instruments which survived the Holocaust.
-
Awards,
BBC Music Magazine Awards 2021: Shortlist 18th February 2021The nominations are just in and voting is open...
-
Announcement,
Introducing My Library 17th February 2021Here's an update on the latest feature we added to the site: a new web player to explore and listen to your CDs and download collections online.
-
Obituary,
Steuart Bedford (1939-2021) 16th February 2021The British conductor and pianist, who worked closely with Benjamin Britten and premiered two of his late major works, has died aged 81.
-
Box Set Selections,
Boxed Set Selections - February 2021 15th February 2021A celebration of Natalie Dessay on stage and in the studio, a multi-conductor Mahler cycle from the Berliner Philharmoniker, and Strauss's complete tone-poems from François-Xavier Roth and the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg.
-
Recording of the Week,
Violins of Hope 12th February 2021Instruments previously owned by Holocaust survivors and restored by the Weinstein family sing with a special power in Schubert, Mendelssohn, and a new work by Jake Heggie which tells their stories.
-
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 12th February 2021 12th February 2021Italian baroque music from La Serenissima, new works by Raymond Yiu, Bright Sheng and Martin Suckling, and a rare outing for Luigi Rossi's extravagant 1647 opera L'Orfeo.
-
Presto Music Classical Podcast,
Episode 12: A Song in Our Hearts with Natasha Loges 11th February 2021In this Valentine's Day Special, Paul talks with author Natasha Loges about the art of Romantic song, as it moved from Vienna to Leipzig in the nineteenth Century.
-
Interview,
Christian Immler on Hans Gál 10th February 2021The German bass-baritone talks to Katherine about Hidden Treasures (out now on BIS), featuring world premiere recordings of twenty-six songs which the Austrian-born composer 'laid aside'.
-
Coming Soon,
Lise Davidsen's second album and other forthcoming highlights 9th February 2021Beethoven, Verdi, Wagner and more from the Norwegian lyric-dramatic soprano, plus Elgar from Renaud Capuçon, Bach from Rinaldo Alessandrini, and the DVD premiere of Jake Heggie's Great Scott with Joyce DiDonato.
-
Interview,
Simone Menezes on Ensemble K 8th February 2021The Brazilian conductor talks to Katherine about Accents, her debut recording with her hand-picked ensemble, which features music by Copland, Borodin, Villa-Lobos, Debussy and Lacaze.
-
Recording of the Week,
Andris Nelsons conducts Bruckner's Second and Eighth Symphonies 5th February 2021The Gewandhausorchester and Andris Nelsons continue their Bruckner cycle with sublime, lyrical performances of the Second and Eighth Symphonies.
-
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 5th February 2021 5th February 2021Weinberg from Gidon Kremer, Schnittke from Daniel Hope, Janáček from Lars Vogt, and Gesualdo from Les Arts Florissants.
-
Favourites,
Shelf Discovery: Yehudi Menuhin 4th February 2021Taking in his shifting perspectives on works by Bach, Beethoven and Mendelssohn, Paul considers the great violinist's remarkable triple legacy as performer, educator and peacemaker.
-
Presto Chart,
The Presto Chart - January 2021 3rd February 2021Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for January, with John Wilson and Sinfonia of London's superb new recording of English music for string orchestra on Chandos in first place...
-
Presto Editor's Choices,
Presto Editor's Choices - January 2021 2nd February 2021Spellbinding story-telling from Georgian pianist Nicolas Namoradze, an exciting Eccles world premiere from the Academy of Ancient Music, and hugely appealing chamber music by Swedish Romantic composer Helena Munktell.
-
BBC Music Magazine Choices,
BBC Music Magazine - February 2021 Choices 1st February 2021Chris introduces this month's selection, headed by a 'beautifully conceived' programme of medieval and contemporary choral music from Ars Nova Copenhagen and Paul Hillier on Naxos.
-
Recording of the Week,
John Wilson conducts English music for strings 29th January 2021Sinfonia of London and conductor John Wilson present their latest stunning album of music for string orchestra by Britten, Bridge, Berkeley, and Bliss.
-
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 29th January 2020 29th January 2021Rachmaninov from Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Winterreise from Roderick Williams and Iain Burnside, Bach from Piotr Anderszewski, and reflections on mortality from Stephen Hough.
-
Interview,
Dame Gillian Weir at 80 28th January 2021The internationally-renowned organist looks back on her career as she reaches her 80th birthday – discussing the organ's place as a solo instrument, her association with the music of Messiaen, Sir Malcolm Sargent and more.