Reviews

Carter called [Seivewright’s performance of his Sonata] breathtaking’ and so it sounds here. Seivewright’s performance [of the Rozsa] is lucid, expressive, and a bit stark. [He] makes the most of [the MacDowell ] sonata’s heart-on-sleeve directness. He also offers detailed, authoritative notes.

A rich and intriguing mix of music. An eminently rewarding reading [of the Carter], A fascinating program delivered with style and flair

Peter Seivewright is surely completely on top of the music. His attention to detail, particularly regarding the harmonic overtones, is superb and he has a piano and a recording engineer able to do justice to his interpretation.

Bartok meets Hollywood in a score from a composer best known for film music… the last movement [of the Rozsa Sonata] is brilliantly brought off. Throughout, Seivewright exhibits a prodigious technique

[Seivewright’s] pianism is fully up to [the three sonatas’] very different though equally formidable demands… the inlay features an eloquent endorsement from Elliott Carter [from 25 years ago] and the present account confirms that his identity with this piece remains undimmed. The disc is well recommended overall

This is an intriguing collection… [the Rozsa Sonata] is a powerful, tautly conceived Sonata. The Elliott Carter Sonata is a pivotal work in the creative life of our centenarian master. Seivewright approaches the work from a contemporary perspective, emphasizing the angularity and abstraction of the work. Seivewright certainly has the imprimatur of the composer…a riveting and energetic program

Having listened to the first work on this CD, I was sold.  John Quinn called the central work sincere and dramatic – and I’m happy to endorse both that description and his reference to the performances of everything here as expert and committed. Do try this.

[Christopher Watson’s] beauty of sound appears effortless, yet he brings the impassioned moments directly to our attention with style. The eight voices of the ‘eight:fifteen’ vocal ensemble produce a radiant sound…Brough capably directs the two very different groups of musicians with considerable aplomb. This is a disc of initial unknowns, but the end result is delightful.

Hugill’s style is attractive and accessible, though far from anodyne… a practical church composer of real inspiration… an original, yet highly personable voice. Tenor Christopher Watson gives poised dignity… while Simon Baggs is equally eloquent. The strings of the Chameleon Arts Orchestra provide solid support. Conductor Paul Brough oversees proceedings with a precision and restraint that suites Hugill’s pellucid texture

The Testament of Dr Cranmer, an interestingly made musical account of the close of Dr Cranmer’s life… contains some beautifully taught harmonic pungency. The choral singers are excellent, and Christopher Watson has a most appealing tenor voice, featuring in two pieces with string orchestra. The four Latin motets from Hugill’s collection Tempus per Annum, all must appeal to any church choir. The performances are excellent and the recording serves both singers and orchestra well and makes listening a pleasure.

Played with vitality and rich humanity…delightful revelations…[Goldstone’s B flat sonata realisation] is a tour de force… a living, breathing work of which even the master would have been proud.

… wonderful release. Anthony Goldstone shows us that his compositional and arrangement skills are the equal to his pianistic ones. The performance [of K448] can only be described as sparkling. Excellent sound and interesting booklet notes round off a very enjoyable release.

well recorded disc… the Piano Sonata in B flat major… is a truly intriguing find and again it comes alive quite magically. Divine Art deserve praise for venturing into this two piano repertoire which is reaping significant results for the label in this neglected field. Copious notes by Anthony Goldstone set the seal on a most stimulating release.

Absolutely convincing Mozart. This is a major addition to the repertoire. The performances are both lovingly attentive to detail and fizz with energy, and the recorded sound is as natural as the morning sun.

this is a valuable release, with fine recorded quality… Goldstone and Clemmow are a talented duo, able to immerse themselves both in their own lines and in those of their partner. The choices of tempo, dynamic contrast and phrasing carry quiet conviction.

Some of the most attractive pieces in the Mozart repertoire.. sparkling rendition of the Overture from The Magic Flute

Thomas Fortmann has achieved what repeatedly eludes others, here and in America. Within his first few opening bars one is aware that the music possesses an integral sense of direction, sure compositional integrity, and a degree of emotional content that immediately engages the attention. Thomas Fortmann has crossed the divide separating pop from modern classical music. Best of all, he hasn’t plummeted into the chasm separating both, and littered with the fallen.

Tango Catolico only hints at the tango. The rhythms are all shot to pieces, which makes the work all the more interesting. Ladyboy is a sharply atonal work of cogent phrasing and distinct sonic colors, none of them predictable, all of them interesting.

[Fortmann’s] compositional style is rather complex; he draws on techniques established by the likes of Schoenberg and Hindemith, but does not imitate them directly, thus making a language that is truly all his own. The Tango Catolico (for string quartet) is fascinating work that amazingly morphs an almost liturgical sound into a vibrant tango. The centerpiece of the album is Fortmann’s Requiem for an Unborn Child, a rather ominous-sounding subject matter to be sure. Scored for clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and soprano, the sparse texture and effective text-painting allow listeners to focus on the meaning Fortmann is trying to get across. Performance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sound ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Throughout, Giles Davies sings impeccably, with a fine sense of style, and is admirably accompanied by Steven Devine. The recording quality is also excellent, and performance notes and texts are included. This is a really delightful CD, which is wholeheartedly recommended.