
Antal Doráti in London, with producer Thomas Fine
28/5/2025 | 57 mins.
Two historic box sets were recently released on the Eloquence label, dedicated to recordings the Hungarian conductor Antal Doráti made in London in the late 1950s and 1960s for the Mercury lable. Primarily focussed on his tenure with the London Symphony Orchestra, volume 2 also features the Bath Festival Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and New Philharmonia Orchestra. To discuss Doráti's time in London, I was delighted to be joined once again by Thomas Fine, son of Robert and Wilma Cozart Fine, the husband-and-wife production team who originally recorded these sessions. Thomas is the executive producer of these new editions, and personally remastered them for Eloquence. Together, we pick through many of the highlights included in the sets and learn how Thomas's mother became Doráti's trusted assistant—all thanks to a fateful sandwich! If you are enjoying the Presto Music Podcast please like and subscribe to it on your preferred platform, and maybe even give us a short review. And we would love to hear your feedback and suggestions for future topics, and also guests who you would like us to talk to. Please email us at [email protected] MusicAll things musical... on your doorstep!Visit our website: www.prestomusic.comFollow us on Facebook, Twitter or InstagramLove us? Review us on Trustpilot, Facebook or Google

James Rhodes shares some of his MANíA
12/3/2025 | 55 mins.
Matthew Ash enjoyed a wide-ranging and free-wheeling conversation with pianist James Rhodes, coinciding with the release of new album, MANíA. In a coming together of two people passionate about piano music, they discuss everything from romance in Bach to a shared dislike of music as wallpaper. Think of it as eavesdropping on a conversation, and just be aware there are a few expletives here and there.Presto MusicAll things musical... on your doorstep!Visit our website: www.prestomusic.comFollow us on Facebook, Twitter or InstagramLove us? Review us on Trustpilot, Facebook or Google

Rufus Wainwright on his Dream Requiem
17/1/2025 | 24 mins.
Matthew Ash chats with Rufus Wainwright about the premiere recording of his Dream Requiem, the recordings of Verdi's Requiem that captured his attention from an early age, and some of the other inspirations behind his diverse musical explorations. He even mentions his dog, called Puccini. Presto MusicAll things musical... on your doorstep!Visit our website: www.prestomusic.comFollow us on Facebook, Twitter or InstagramLove us? Review us on Trustpilot, Facebook or Google

John Suchet goes In Search of Beethoven with Rob Cowan
14/11/2024 | 1h
Presto MusicAll things musical... on your doorstep!Visit our website: www.prestomusic.comFollow us on Facebook, Twitter or InstagramLove us? Review us on Trustpilot, Facebook or Google

Manfred Honeck talks to Rob Cowan about Bruckner Symphony No.7
15/10/2024 | 1h 9 mins.
Amid the plethora of Bruckner recordings released to mark the composer’s bicentenary this year, Manfred Honeck’s account of Symphony No. 7 with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (coupled with a new commission by Mason Bates) stands out for what BBC Music Magazine described as the ‘high levels of synergy and mutual comprehension’ between conductor and orchestra as well as the sheer beauty of sound from each section.Our guest contributor Rob Cowan spoke to Maestro Honeck last month about his long-standing relationship with Bruckner’s music, how his previous life as a viola-player informed his approach to the string sound, the influence of the countryside and religion on Bruckner’s musical imagination and much more…Presto MusicAll things musical... on your doorstep!Visit our website: www.prestomusic.comFollow us on Facebook, Twitter or InstagramLove us? Review us on Trustpilot, Facebook or Google



Presto Music Classical Podcast