Latest News: Classical
-
Interview,
Kate Lindsey on Arianna 11th February 2020The American mezzo (currently starring as Nerone in Handel's Agrippina at the Metropolitan Opera) talks to Katherine about her new recording of cantatas by Alessandro Scarlatti, Handel and Haydn, released last month on Alpha.
-
Obituary,
Nello Santi (1931-2020) 10th February 2020The Italian opera conductor, who was one of the finest Verdi and Puccini interpreters of the twentieth century, has died aged 88.
-
Obituary,
Mirella Freni (1935-2020) 10th February 2020The Italian soprano, who was widely recognised as one of the finest Verdi and Puccini singers of the twentieth century, has died aged 84.
-
Interview,
Ēriks Ešenvalds on There Will Come Soft Rains 8th February 2020Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds talks to David about his new album of choral works, recorded by the Choir of the West at Pacific Lutheran University in Washington.
-
Recording of the Week,
Cherubini from Riccardo Chailly and Filarmonica della Scala 7th February 2020The Italian conductor and orchestra present nine world premiere recordings of occasional marches alongside energetic accounts of the Overture in G minor and Symphony.
-
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 7th February 2020 7th February 2020The St Matthew Passion from Masaaki Suzuki and Bach Collegium Japan, Sibelius from Sir Mark Elder and The Hallé, Mozart from Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov, and Elgar, Chausson and more from Daniel Hope and friends.
-
Obituary,
Peter Serkin (1947-2020) 6th February 2020The American pianist, who was as renowned for his work with contemporary composers as for his period-instrument performances of Mozart and Beethoven, has died aged 72.
-
Gramophone Choices,
Gramophone Editor's Choices - February 2020 5th February 2020Chris introduces this month’s Choices, with John Wilson’s French album Escales with Sinfonia of London on Chandos first among equals as Recording of the Month.
-
Interview,
The Well-Tempered Consort 4th February 2020Phantasm's founder, director and violist Laurence Dreyfus talks to David about the consort's new disc, exploring the polyphonic keyboard works of JS Bach in new arrangements for viols.
-
Presto Chart,
The Presto Chart - January 2020 3rd February 2020Our 25 best-selling titles across all formats for January, with Stephen Hough's late Brahms on Hyperion in first place...
-
Presto Editor's Choices,
Presto Editor's Choices - January 2020 31st January 2020An eloquent, gently moving debut from the young Swedish violinist Johan Dalene, French connections from John Wilson, and a terrific triptych of Ariannas from American mezzo Kate Lindsey.
-
Recording of the Week,
Handel's Agrippina starring Joyce DiDonato 31st January 2020The American mezzo sings the title role of the scheming Roman matriarch in a starrily-cast recording of Handel's early opera with Il Pomo d'Oro, conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev.
-
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 31st January 2020 31st January 2020Strauss Lieder from Diana Damrau, Helmut Deutsch and the late Mariss Jansons, French orchestral works from John Wilson and Sinfonia of London, Prokofiev from Steven Osborne, and Beethoven from Kristian Bezuidenhout and Pablo Heras-Casado.
-
Interview,
John Wilson on Sinfonia of London 30th January 2020The British conductor talks to James about his new ensemble and their first two recording projects of music by Korngold plus a selection of French orchestral works.
-
Hi-Res Highlights,
Hi-Res Highlights - January 2020 29th January 2020Transatlantic connections from the Cincinnati Symphony and their French musical director, Schtschedrin and Respighi from Mariss Jansons and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and an impressive debut album of Barber and Tchaikovsky from young Swedish violinist Johan Dalene.
-
Interview,
Reinoud Van Mechelen on Charpentier 28th January 2020The Belgian tenor talks to David about his recent double-bill of Charpentier's settings of the Orpheus myth, with A Nocte Temporis and Vox Luminis.
-
Awards,
Grammy Winners 2020 27th January 2020Chris introduces the winning classical albums from this year's ceremony, which took place last night in Los Angeles.
-
Obituary,
Franz Mazura (1924-2020) 25th January 2020The Austrian bass-baritone, who was especially renowned for his Wagner roles and made his final appearance in Die Meistersinger only last April, has died aged 95.
-
Recording of the Week,
Liszt’s Dante Symphony plus a world-premiere recording from Kirill Karabits 24th January 2020Kirill Karabits conducts the Staatskapelle Weimar in orchestral works by Liszt, including the world-premiere recording of the Künstlerfestzug zur Schillerfeier.
-
New Release Round-up,
New Release Round-Up - 24th January 2020 24th January 2020Mary Bevan and Joseph Middleton explore Schubert, Haydn and Wolf’s ‘Divine Muses’, Swedish soprano Malin Byström makes her solo recording debut with Berg, Duparc and Rangström, and Kairos present three large-scale orchestral works by Austrian composer Olga Neuwirth.