James Longstaffe

Jan 24, 2025 | prestomusic.com | James Longstaffe

Released one week after his seventieth birthday, Simon Rattle's latest recording with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra on the orchestra's own label continues his revisiting of the Mahler symphonies. After No. 6 last year and an exceptional No. 9 back in 2022 comes this new performance of Symphony No. 7, recorded live in November 2024.

Jan 22, 2025 | prestomusic.com | James Longstaffe

Welcome to our latest selection of new music publications, including a biography of John Dowland, a companion to Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story, an exploration of the history of Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw on stage and screen, a guide to the 2016 film musical La La Land, the reception history of Bach's Goldberg Variations, an examination of the importance of the therapeutic power of music as medicine, and a collection of interviews with film composers past and present.

Dec 11, 2024 | prestomusic.com | James Longstaffe

Welcome to our latest selection of new music publications, including a biography of lyricist Ira Gershwin, an exploration of the relationship of Wagner's music dramas to the philosophical and cultural ideas of his time, the previously-unpublished autobiography of American composer Howard Hanson, a companion to music in Australia, a guide to the 2015 musical film La La Land, and a collection of essays questioning the concept of the composer in the middle ages.

Dec 6, 2024 | prestomusic.com | James Longstaffe

Last night we held our 2024 Presto Music Awards in our shop in Leamington Spa, during which we honoured our pick of the very best classical & jazz CDs, sheet music, and music books to have been released during the past twelve months. We are delighted to reveal the five winners of our music book awards below. Be sure also to check out the winners from our jazz, sheet music, and classical departments.

Nov 25, 2024 | prestomusic.com | James Longstaffe

In anticipation of our upcoming Presto Music Awards, we have released our shortlist of music books which are all in contention for an award. We have chosen a total of ten finalists, and all publications have been published at some point over the past twelve months. Find our choices below, and be sure to check out the finalists from the jazz, sheet music and classical departments - the winners will be revealed after our awards ceremony on Thursday 5th December.