Reviews

Very worthy of investigation – Peter Spaull

These Garth concertos … are utterly delightful listening. This world premiere recording features period instruments.

The six concertos for cello and orchestra that we have here witness a period of musical history which is often overlooked, lying as it does between two absolutely dominant epochs

Here is a strikingly original voice. [Earl’s music] is bursting with passion, its rhythms energising, its melodies soaring and searing… this disc will blow you away

I am astonished that music this good should be so little known… these two large-scale works betoken a genuine composer of considerable talent. I find the music compelling and fascinating. The recordings are excellent and this CD is strongly recommended

For those who like their contemporary music tonal, substantial and individual, I suggest you investigate. David Earl is certainly a name to add to your list

The ambitious Cello Sonata… is a moving work and this performance is movingly done. The Third Suite is music that shimmers and flames. The composer is a fine advocate of his own music

I can’t think of a single modern player who makes a sound to rival the amber-toned, oak-aged ravishing tone that radiates from Celia Redgate’s flute. Redgate and Dussek play with supreme naturalness; mellifluous tone and impeccable technique… effortless phrasing and enchanting musical presence. Glowingly recorded and played with exemplary taste and skill, this is one of the most distinguished flute discs to have come my way in a long time.

The high points of the CD are for me [the works by Bowen and Redgate]. Michael Dussek is a first-rate accompanist. The message of this CD is that simple is beautiful. Don’t just take my word for it, buy the disc

Redgate performs all this attractive material with conspicuous flair, grace and discrimination (vibrato is kept within tasteful bounds). I need merely add that Michael Dussek accompanies with the utmost sympathy, and the recorded sound is nicely intimate and beautifully balanced to boot.

The playing is first class. Michael Dussek… partners Celia Redgate beautifully. Recommended highly.

Redgate and Dussek are an excellent partnership on this disc of light, lovely music.

Among a variety of good things there is German’s Suite for Flute & Piano. The Suite is an attractive piece of ‘quintessentially English music. In fact the middle movement, the Souvenir, is a perfect miniature that well balances sentimentality with retrospection.

Presented in a proper English fashion…high toned listening throughout. It almost transports you to a drawing room in another time and place.

A strong use of strings characterises this album, in the strong spiritual sense which runs through all the works. For example in Faith Hope and Charity the sublime music of the solo violin has the effect of easing troubled spirits.

Overall the music is sincere and communicative and it’s expertly performed. Several passages are searingly dramatic but there are a number of more meditative, prayerful sections. This well produced disc features committed performances. The sound is excellent and the documentation, including notes by the composer, is very good

A well played performance, anyone with a hankering for getting deeper into some church oriented programs is well advised to open an ear in this direction.

Playing so ravishing that I need… to find new superlatives. Simply beautiful… greatest virtuosity… terrific performance

A special feel for sonorous beauty…absolutely ravishing… always very expressive and adapting to the different colours of the pieces, in perfect taste and without any excess: this disc is a true enchantment!

[Chapple] has written some attractive music of real substance. So impressed was I by [the] Sonata that I took Anthony Goldstone’s superb pianism for granted. His performance really is magnificent. Caroline Clemmow’s playing of [the Bagatelles] is wonderful.. the richness of her playing towards the end of the work is superb. Anthony Goldstone really gets inside [Requies] conjuring up and intense and mesmerising performance. Jazz rhythms embrace [Four Pieces from ‘A Bit of a Blow’ in a piano performance of style and panache showing this duo’s astonishing artistry and versatility.