Reviews

an appealing assortment of Beethoven… an excellent recital

The pianist’s readings are clear, precise and exhibit an admirably cogent structural overview. The Scottish Baroque Soloists is a small chamber group… all the players are sensitive and fully committed to Seivewright’s vision. If you are a fan of these works, you’ll want this disc for your collection

Accomplished soloist … it is thoroughly refreshing to hear the ‘orchestral’ lines taken… one player to a part. So the textures have a delightful and appropriate lightness.

[Seivewright] plays these with the full resources of the piano and of human emotion. Emotionless baroque performances are not for him – and not for me! These sound very much the way Mozart piano concertos sounded in the great days of recordings. There are lots of nuances and subtleties, plenty of poetry and expression. Nor do the Scottish Baroque Soloists play on period instruments in strict period style; they are far better than that. Very good sound – not too close-up.

This fine collaboration between Peter Seivewright and the Scottish Baroque Soloists sheds new light on what were arguably the first works penned for solo keyboard instrument and orchestra. The widely held belief that these compositions represented Bach’s arrangements for piano of what were originally Violin Concertos has recently been called into question by musicologists, but […]

Seivewright’s playing is sensitively shaped, pearly in execution, and tries its best to make his modern piano sound like a fortepiano. The longer this CD went on, the more I liked it. The string sound is satiny and sleek… the Scottish Baroque Soloists give us just about the most beautiful straight-tone string sound I’ve ever heard.

[Seivewright] plays with an ensemble of solo strings plus double bass and guitar… the atmosphere is intimate, closely recorded. The dry Glasgow acoustic and even balance of piano and strings suits this approach. Seivewright is steadier and more refined [than van Bloss on comparative CD] but this allows the piano to display more wit… not as scintillating [but] more lightly articulated, smoother, quite blithe and comely. Seivewright is reflective yet is also complemented by Ramsay’s expressive chamber ensemble.

Nicely produced.. worth picking up. [Myles Hartley’s] playing can hardly be faulted

Technically the music is assured and it seems to be very well played by Myles Hartley… a worthy disc

Their trawling of two-piano music has brought to the surface masterworks that are both entertaining and informative. Seldom have they produced such a fascinating collection as in this, their latest disc, which brings together a set of eight pieces inspired by the east.

Evocative and delightful… a thoroughly enjoyable disc. That it’s also musically elevated, in performances of sweep and sensitivity, and splendidly recorded, is no surprise

Divine Art cannot be faulted on generosity or originality.. The artistry of this piano duo is never in doubt… A generous, colourful and provocative collection of pieces with an Oriental theme all very well documented by Anthony Goldstone

Ravishing sensitivity to mood and atmosphere… beguilingly sensuous

Everywhere in the programme [Bradbury’s] easy technique and natural musicianship are sympathetic to the music on hand….an attractive programme very well presented

A bold move, justified by the performances…Goldstone & Clemmow play with unflagging brio and style…artistry and commitment. An invaluable disc

a mind-blowing arrangement, for piano duet, of Schubert’s Trout Quintet… the arrangement is not just incredibly faithful to the text, as it were, of The Trout, but encapsulates the spirit of the entire piece. Glorious performance, splendid recording … fascinating collection of arrangements. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[the string quintet movement] has a certain coolness which I found makes you listen in a different way without the screwing up of tension and intensity with strings vibrato. Goldstone and his wife partner (they have recorded all the legitimate Schubert duos) love it, and so do I. The main attraction of that fascinating collection of Unauthorised Piano Duos of Schubert was a version of the Trout Quintet without strings at all which really makes you sit up and listen, and is my strongly recommended preference [over the new Hyperion Trout

Most gorgeous and highly effective piano arrangements. These performances are a shining example of a superlative piano duo reaching great heights of musicality and spectacular effect. In the hands of this competent duo, the chamber works become impressive pianistic simulacrums of the highest quality. Highly recommended. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a fascinating disc. You won’t find such a collection anywhere else… historically informative and a must for fans of 18th and 19th century novelties.

admirable playing… characterised by textural clarity, beautiful voicing and ensemble (and well projected in an excellently balanced recording… a finely conceived disc