Presto Classical

'There’s an overwhelming sense of freedom to his playing here, both in terms of phrasing and even the basic sonorities themselves...Time and again Ma gives the impression of being taken pleasantly by surprise by Bach’s harmonic twists and turns, and allowing himself and his audience breathing-space to marvel at each one.' - Katherine reviews Yo-Yo Ma's third (and final) recording of the Bach Cello Suites, out today on Sony Classical.

Yo-Yo Ma returns to Bach's Cello Suites, out now on Sony Classical.

'You can really feel his presence in the Second Symphony, The Age of Anxiety, in particular. Even though the role of the narrator was conceived for a woman (for his wife, Felicia), it’s Bernstein screaming at God.' Antonio Pappano talks to Katherine about his recording of Bernstein's complete symphonies with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, out this Friday on Warner Classics & Erato.

"Osborne approaches these works as fundamentally lyrical, introspective miniature masterworks rather than quasi-symphonic showpieces...If the prevailing approach is one of understatement and even diffidence, he certainly doesn’t disappoint in the more extrovert ‘pictures’ " Steven Osborne's Rachmaninov Études-tableaux (out now on Hyperion Records) is our Recording of the Week.

Antonio Pappano celebrates the Leonard Bernstein centenary with a new recording of his 3 Symphonies, released 10th August on Warner Classics & Erato.

The July Presto Chart: Andris Nelsons's Shostakovich 4 & 11 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra on Deutsche Grammophon sits at No. 1, with La Serenissima's Vivaldi x2 in second place and Barrie Kosky's Bayreuth Festival production of Die Meistersinger coming in third.

'Kosky invites us to warm to Wagner the craftsman at the same time as confronting his flaws as a human being...At the heart of it all is Michael Volle’s towering interpretation of Sachs/Wagner: he inhabits both personae with tremendous authority.' - Die Meistersinger from the Bayreuth Festspielhaus (now available on DVD/Blu-ray from Deutsche Grammophon) is our Recording of the Month).

'There’s always a twinkle in Allan Clayton's eye, and yet there’s also something incredibly touching about how he uses his voice...and it was through that I saw this particular version of Hamlet emerging.' - Brett Dean talks to Katherine about his 2017 opera Hamlet, premiered at Glyndebourne last summer and available on on DVD/Blu-ray from Opus Arte.

The latest Vivaldi recording from award-winning baroque ensemble La Serenissima is out now on AVIE Records.

Our shop in Leamington Spa (crowned the best Classical Music Instrument Shop at the 2013 Music Industry Awards) are looking for an Assistant Manager - read on for more details Presto Music

'Taken from concert-performances in Baden-Baden last summer, the entire score crackles with energy and commitment from all concerned...the dramatic temperature is back to white-hot, and the women in particular are as fine as any I’ve heard on record.' The latest instalment in Yannick Nezet-Seguin's Mozart series on Deutsche Grammophon is our Recording of the Week, with stunning performances from a cast including Joyce DiDonato, Marina Rebeka, Tara Erraught, Regula Mühlemann and Rolando Villazón.

Our short tribute to the composer and conductor Oliver Knussen, whose death was announced yesterday.

'As long as you employ a bit of what they'd have called ‘decorum’ in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, then in a way the aria is your oyster!' - Christopher Purves talks to Katherine about recording the second instalment of Handel's 'Finest Arias for Base Voice' with Arcangelo, out now on Hyperion Records.

'The last ounce of acerbic bite that I occasionally felt was missing from previous instalments has clearly been saved for this performance of the Fourth...for me this series just gets better and better.' - James reviews Shostakovich 4 & 11 from Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, out today on Deutsche Grammophon.

The latest instalment in Andris Nelsons Shostakovich cycle with the Boston Symphony Orchestra is out now on Deutsche Grammophon

The Presto Chart for June - our best-selling recording is Buxtehude: Abendmusik from Lionel Meunier, Vox Luminis and Ensemble Masques, released on Alpha Classics on 22nd June.

'The score is littered with moments of unexpected beauty...The authority which Finley brings to the part is immediately apparent.' - our Recording of the Week is John Adams (Composer)'s Doctor Atomic in its first audio recording (out now on Nonesuch Records, with Gerald Finley in the title-role).

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Wonderful place. I went in for the first time yesterday and the lovely staff were very kind and helpful. They gave me a list of local piano teachers too so that I can start lessons again. Please, never change! ����

Shopped here online. Tons of amazing recordings. Can't recommend it highly enough.

I love this shop - what a find! The most obscure recordings you won't find anywhere else - they have it. Postage is prompt too.

I am in Canada and order often online at Presto, amazing prices and a wow selection....