Reviews

Consistently expert performances do everything full justice. A delightfully instructive release.

The tone is excellent, and the interpretations bring out the freshness of the works. I am pleased that this ensemble chose to release a fine recording of neglected works rather than another average recording of familiar ones.

This CD explores four pieces of music by a diverse group of composers. The quality of their music is impressive … Max d’Ollone’s Trio in A minor is one of the best works in this genre that I have heard. The presentation of this disc is ideal. The sound quality is excellent. I enjoyed the committed playing and consider that Trio Anima Mundi truly responds to this ‘romantic’ music; they are in their element. RECORDING OF THE YEAR 2013

This was a late arrival on my list, featuring four essentially unknown works in my favourite chamber music genre. John France, in his review, made what I thought at the time was an over-the-top comment about the d’Ollone trio: “one of the best works in this genre that I have heard”. Having now heard it, […]

The performance here is a convincing one with a generally warm and lyrical reading … a version that I am happy to recommend.

Four magnificent trios … interesting, accessible and best of all performed by our own local musicians. RECORDING OF THE MONTH JANUARY 2014

Divine Art deserves praise for this release. [d’Ollone’s] Trio is a late-Romantic and avant-garde work with harmonic boldness and rhythmic finesse. Wirén’s Piano Trio No. 1 is an original work full of vitality and sassy harmony. The works are exciting and should ensure the spotlight is turned onto these composers and performers. – Repertoire: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sound ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Interpretation ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

Soviet piano music almost on a par with Shostakovich and Prokofiev, admirably played by this splendidly gifted pianist. Virtually flawless playing and recording ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The music of Weinberg is very fine. He is a superb craftsman … his compositions are relentlessly intense. Weinberg has a considerable melodic gift as well. It is pleasant to hear his work played by Murray McLachlan who has a beautiful supple tone, adding a wider field of sonority and textures than one would expect.

There has finally been an overdue resurgence of interest in the music of Mieczyslaw Weinberg … it’s reassuring to see the same care being applied to his piano music output. The Russian Piano Music Series of recordings on the Divine Art label has been a pleasure to follow, with one great release after another, and this 9th volume in the series is no exception. It’s proven to be my favorite yet. It may very well set the bar high for future Weinberg interpreters.

Formidable playing from Murray McLachlan. In the wrong hands this music could lose the flow, momentum and sense of structure but McLachlan maintains all of this superbly. Murray McLachlan is ideal in this repertoire, playing with both sensitivity and bravura. These beautifully produced discs are thoroughly recommended.

Here [is volume 9] of Divine Art’s ever-enterprising Russian Piano Music Series. Murray McLachlan’s performance, here as elsewhere, is brawny, relentlessly energetic and fully committed.

Thoroughly idiomatic and assured playing.

This is quite a find – if you love Tchaikovsky do not hesitate. Above all Goldstone is a master pianist, not only technically, but also catching the true spirit of such wonderful music. Well recorded with a lovely tone. Finally, the notes written by Goldstone are excellent.

[The Dubois Terzettino] is an enthralling, romantic work, it provides a luminous finale for this exquisite compact disc. The Debussy Ensemble plays each piece with voluptuous dynamics and expressive phrasing. The sound is warm and well balanced.

The music on this CD is finely contrasted. – a beautifully balanced CD.

A lovely CD. The performers are all well-known and deservedly admired. They bring to this music commitment and style, and in the Bax a glowing beauty. Much to commend this CD.

A classical record like they used to make, when they put the music first. The group plays like a dream, making this a top notch audio getaway. A winner throughout.

Even the most cursory hearing of the works on this CD reveals a great potential for richness of musical colour and tone. Much of this music is impressionistic and numinous in mood… the playing is excellent and all three soloists respond to each other sympathetically. A great CD.

The combination of flute and harp can be very evocative… The Ravel Sonatine on this Divine Art … sounds little short of the power of its better known sister piece. All the other music is well worth hearing, too. I found this album to be attractive late-night listening. Over speakers at a moderate volume I thought the performances sensitive without being over-sugary and that the lossless recording serves the players well.