Presto Music Classical Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Stalin Prize with Marina Frolova-Walker Nov 11, 2020

Show notes

In the midst of the awards season for classical music recordings, this week I am joined by Marina Frolova-Walker, a Russian-born British musicologist and music historian, to discuss the subject of her 2016 book Stalin's Music Prize: Soviet Culture and Politics. Marina specialises in German Romanticism, Russian and Soviet music, and nationalism in music, and is Professor of Music History and Director of Studies in Music at Clare College, Cambridge. Its a great chat, taking in some of the less well known Russian composers like Myaskovsky, Weinberg and Kabalevsky as well as the two titans, Prokofiev and Shostakovich.

You can listen to the podcast right here on this page, or click on the links in the player (via the symbol of the box with the arrow coming out of the top) to find it in Apple, Spotify, Stitcher and other popular podcast apps, where you will be able to subscribe and receive notifications when new episodes become available in the future.

We would love to hear your feedback and suggestions for future topics, and guests who you would like us to talk to. Please email us at info@prestomusic.com

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Beethoven in Nine Pieces with Laura Tunbridge Oct 28, 2020

Show notes

This week I am joined by Professor Laura Tunbridge, whose book Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces (published earlier this year by Viking Books) offers new perspectives on the man, the music and early nineteenth-century Vienna in this, the year of his 250th anniversary. Laura guides us through the nine works that she chose for the book, offering new perspectives on some of the choices made by this complicated genius.

www.prestomusic.com/classical
You can buy Laura's book here:
Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces
Laura Tunbridge
https://www.prestomusic.com/books/products/8719490--beethoven-a-life-in-nine-pieces
The recordings in this episode:
Beethoven: Septet, Op. 20 & Clarinet Trio, Op. 11
Berkeley Ensemble
Resonus Classics - RES10255
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8719600--beethoven-septet-op-20-clarinet-trio-op-11
Beethoven: Spring & Kreutzer Sonatas
Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin) & Lambert Orkis (piano)
DG - 4791679
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8031599--beethoven-spring-kreutzer-sonatas
Beethoven – Complete Symphonies & Concertos
Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Warner Classics – 2564637792
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7951068--harnoncourt-beethoven
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 & Choral Fantasy
Christiane Karg (soprano), Sophie Harmsen (mezzo), Werner Güra (tenor), Florian Boesch (baritone), Kristian Bezuidenhout (fortepiano)
Freiburger Barockorchester, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Pablo Heras-Casado
Harmonia Mundi - HMM90243132
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8784812--beethoven-symphony-no-9-choral-fantasy
Beethoven: Lieder
Matthias Goerne (baritone), Jan Lisiecki (piano)
DG – 4838351
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8736187--beethoven-lieder
Jonas Kaufmann (Florestan), Nina Stemme (Leonore), Falk Struckmann (Pizarro),
Lucerne Festival Orchestra & Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Claudio Abbado
Decca – 4782551
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7997601--beethoven-fidelio-op-72
Beethoven - The late Piano Sonatas
Maurizio Pollini
DG – 4497402
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7930708--beethoven-the-late-piano-sonatas
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis in D major, Op. 123
Lucy Crowe (soprano), Jennifer Johnston (mezzo), James Gilchrist (tenor), Matthew Rose (bass). Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique & Monteverdi Choir, Sir John Eliot Gardiner
SDG - SDG718
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8034633--beethoven-missa-solemnis-in-d-major-op-123
Beethoven - Late String Quartets
Takács Quartet
Decca - 4708492
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7933919--beethoven-late-string-quartets

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Played in the USA with Rob Cowan Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

We are delighted to welcome back Rob Cowan, who was our inaugural guest back in June. Rob and Paul discuss several recent historical boxsets that collect together recordings by three American émigré artists; pianist Andor Földes, conductor Antal Dorati and violinist Isaac Stern.
www.prestomusic.com/classical
The recordings discussed in this episode:
Andor Foldes: Complete Deutsche Grammophon Recordings
Eloquence - ELQ4841256
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8797738--andor-foldes-complete-deutsche-grammophon-recordings
Mozart, Schubert: Symphonies
London Symphony Orchestra, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, Walter Susskind, Antal Dorati
Eloquence - ELQ4840353
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8813389--mozart-schubert-symphonies
The Mozart & Haydn Recordings On Mercury Living
Antal Dorati
Eloquence - ELQ4840385
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8813388--the-mozart-haydn-recordings-on-mercury-living
Isaac Stern - The Complete Columbia Analogue Recordings
Sony - 19439724252
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8793248--isaac-stern-the-complete-columbia-analogue-recordings

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Time & Place with Jess Gillam Sep 21, 2020

Show notes

This week our host Paul Thomas talks to saxophonist Jess Gillam about the motivations behind her new album "Time" and the effect that moving from the country to the metropolis has had on her.
Hailing from Ulverston in Cumbria, Jess Gillam is blazing a trail in the music world with her outstanding talent and infectious personality. In 2016 Jess was the first-ever saxophonist to reach the final of BBC Young Musician of the Year, and performed at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018, having her performance described as “the indisputable highlight” by BBC News. Jess is also the first saxophonist to be signed to Decca Classics and is about to release her second album following on the success of her debut "Rise", which was No.1 in UK Official Classical Chart. She is also a presenter on TV and Radio, becoming the youngest ever presenter for BBC Radio 3 and hosts her own weekly show called “This Classical Life”.
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Excerpts from:
Jess Gillam - Time
Jess Gillam, Jess Gillam Ensemble
Decca - 4851065
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8792134--jess-gillam-time
Rise
Jess Gillam (saxophones)
Decca - 4834862
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8549147--rise

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Outside the Box with Tom McKinney Sep 10, 2020

Show notes

Paul Thomas is joined by guitarist, broadcaster and concert organiser Tom McKinney for a wide-ranging conversation about contemporary music. As well as discussing some recent new releases the discussion touches upon performances in unconventional venues and the art of commissioning new works.
www.prestomusic.com
The music discussed in the show:
Haydn: String Quartets Op. 76 Nos. 1 - 3
Chiaroscuro Quartet
BIS - BIS2348
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8777472--haydn-string-quartets-op-76-nos-1-3
Vienne 1900 – Music by Mahler, Zemlinsky, Berg & Schoenberg
Eric Le Sage (piano), Zvi Plesser (cello), Daishin Kashimoto (violin), Paul Meyer (clarinet), Emmanuel Pahud (flute)
ALPHA - ALPHA588
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8789365--vienne-1900
Here We Are
Héloïse Werner (soprano); The Hermes Experiment
Delphian - DCD34244
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8794320--here-we-are
Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time & Catlin Smith: Among the Tarnished Stars
Anton Lukoszevieze (piano), Mira Benjamin (violin), Heather Roche (clarinet) & Philip Thomas (piano)
Another Timbre - AT143
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8623053--messiaen-quartet-for-the-end-of-time-catlin-smith-among-the-tarnished-stars
Morton Feldman Piano
Philip Thomas (piano)
Another Timbre – AT144
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8676745--morton-feldman-piano
Spilled Out From Tangles
Juliet Fraser (soprano)
Huddersfield Contemporary Records - HCR23CD
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8768008--spilled-out-from-tangles
Messiaen: Catalogue d'oiseaux Books 1-7
Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano)
PENTATONE - PTC5186670
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8404435--messiaen-catalogue-doiseaux-books-1-7

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A Scandinavian Sojourn with Andrew Mellor Aug 20, 2020

Show notes

Andrew Mellor has established himself as something of a British cultural attaché to Scandinavia since moving to Copenhagen in 2015. Well known for his contributions to BBC Radio 3's Record Review and the BBC Proms, he takes Paul on a guided tour of Denmark, Faroe, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland, discussing some of the fascinating music that has been inspiring him recently.
www.prestomusic.com
Music discussed:
Nielsen: Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 (FS60) 'Sinfonia espansiva'
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra; Myung-Whun Chung
BIS - BISCD321
Sørensen, B: La mattina
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano); Norwegian Chamber Orchestra; Per Kristian Skalstad
Dacapo - 8.226095
Confessions
Nico Muhly & Teitur with Holland Baroque
Nonesuch - 7559794430
Þorvaldsdóttir: Dreaming
Recurrence - ISO Project, Vol. 1
Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Daníel Bjarnason
Dorian Sono Luminus - DSL92213
Grieg - Choral Music
Det Norske Solistkor (The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir), Grete Pedersen
BIS - BISSACD1661
Gunnar Idenstam: Songs For Jukkasjärvi
Simon Marainen (yoik/vocals), Brita Stina Sjaggo (vocals), Sandra Marteleur (violin), Thorbjörn Jakobsson (saxophones), Jonas Sjöblom (percussion), Gunnar Idenstam (organ & pre-recorded sounds)
BIS - BISSACD1868
Outi Tarkiainen: The Earth, Spring's Daughter & Saivo
Virpi Räisänen (mezzo-soprano), Jukka Perko (soprano saxophone), Lapland Chamber Orchestra, John Storgårds
Ondine - ODE13532
The Voice of Sibelius
Tom Nyman (tenor) & Tommi Hakala (baritone) YL Male Voice Choir & Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Hyökki (a cappella works) & Osmo Vänskä (accompanied works)
BIS - BISCD1433

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The Art of Music Criticism with Harriet Smith Jul 28, 2020

Show notes

Paul talks to Harriet Smith about the pleasures and pitfalls that come with being a successful music critic, writing for, amongst others, Gramophone Magazine and making regular appearances as a guest on BBC Radio 3's Record Review. Paul asks Harriet to reappraise three albums that she reviewed in the past, right a wrong for a record she didn't review, and to take up the challenge of reviewing four albums in less than 24 hours.

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Confessions of a Bartók Salesman with Rob Cowan Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

Our host Paul Thomas is joined by broadcaster and critic Rob Cowan to discuss recent reissues and new releases, including a mammoth Barbirolli boxset from Warner, Robert Trevino's Beethoven symphony cycle, and Michael Tilson Thomas's moving From the Diary of Anne Frank. We also hear Rob's Confessions of a Bartók Salesman and delve into his extensive interview archive for a conversation with Finnish conductor and composer Leif Segerstam.

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