Reviews

She acquits herself well… a promising start to a career, and a release worth supporting.

A successful debut recital, the sparkle in the Chopin, the strength in the Schubert and the feeling in the Haydn augurs well for a glittering career.

Odinn Baldvinsson is a consummately equipped player, capable of terrific fingerwork and able to sustain lines with formidable stamina. On the whole I would commend the duo for their bright-eyed vision… [they] have much to look forward to (this is their debut recording) – the playing is deserving of serious estimation.

The debut recording by this flute/piano duo finds them showing just how much music two players in synch can make.  A tasty treat throughout.

A free flowing flute recital….an attractive new Divine Art CD

This CD is simply brilliant! Rachel Dent is an absolutely outstanding harpist, her selected programme seeming to display all possible aspects of her sensitive musicianship and harp technique to full advantage. A revelation of harp playing! Very highly recommended.

Most of the music is light and colourful, performances are accomplished and the recording, originally by Dunelm Records in 2004, very natural. Warmly recommended.

What an unexpectedly versatile instrument the harp is! The variety of music here is a tribute to both the instrument and the skill of the player. The recording of the harp solo is admirable….a winningly offbeat collection of pieces, very well played.

A tasty, classy recording that provides a great break from the noise of the world around us. Simply delightful

This is a pleasing programme from a young harpist who is making a name for herself as soloist and freelance player.

An enjoyable recital… many will be attracted by the ‘Santa Fe’ Suite of William Mathias.

An intriguing way to feature solo music for harp, alongside joint contributions from both harp and organ. The solo harp music is certainly worth hearing.

To my mind, a concert of English folk songs is one of the loveliest of musical experiences. On a Divine Art CD, there is Blow the Wind Southerly: Songs of Life & Longing from the North East of England as a good example of what I consider a successful format. The sound of the ensemble is exquisite. I recommend this Divine Art disc, as I said, as a lovely musical experience.

She is clearly on home ground here in this satisfying recital

This finely played, acutely interpreted and attractively recorded recital reflects well on all concerned. Fiderkiewicz …summons up the right sound, colours appositely, is constantly mindful of the rhythmic flux of the music and she vests things with apposite characterisation. In short she is a perceptive if sometimes wilful guide to the music and has constructed a balanced recital. Fiderkiewicz proves her credentials with this recital.

Miss Fiderkiewicz has a growing international reputation and deservedly so. She has a tone of exquisite beauty and does not fall into the trap of being maudlin. There is an intensity in her playing of the major works which is not marred by emotionalism. Her style is admirable and generally in accord with Chopin… her playing is totally convincing and it is evidence that she knows the music well.

Free-spirited to the last, she leaves a fashionably nonchalant or disengaged Chopin to others, storming through the C minor Nocturne’s central fusillade of octaves with a sure sense of rhetoric and declamation.

Snell can be found taking his harp to places you’ve only seen in dreams. Kanga is a skilful and fine interpreter. This first class kind of recording that real music fans are always on the prowl for. Hot stuff.

These four CDs… already provide evidence of one of the most important oeuvres for the instrument of any British composer. McLachlan’s achievement in presenting this huge and hugely neglected body of piano music deserves enormous praise

McLachlan is supremely sensitive…just as he is unafraid. This is a superb series of discs that will either individually or collectively act as a splendid introduction to Chisholm’s intriguing music.