Reviews

I can hardly imagine anyone wanting just a single volume of this collection of piano music; this is possibly one of the most important single contributions to British piano music alongside that of Bax, Ireland, Sorabji, Hoddinott and Cyril Scott.. [The Sonata] is an undoubted masterpiece. Murray McLachlan has made an important contribution to the literature of British piano music. Moreover, McLachlan has been well served by the fine recording.. the learned programme notes are a joy to read. I look forward to hearing the subsequent Cds in this eye-opening cycle with great anticipation and enthusiasm. It is one of the musical discoveries and revelations of the twenty-first century.

We have much to learn about Chisholm and can be thankful that Dunelm [now Diversions] have paid him some attention. There are three works on this generously packed CD. The… Straloch Suite is often gracious… touchingly done. [The] Sonata is deeply impressive, clangorous with skirling majesty, abjuring tartan nonsense and staying in touch with the expressive autochthonous roots of the highland culture – dangerous, harsh-edged and sheerly beautiful.

This new release has given me particular pleasure, and the music is accessible. Documentation and commentary by John Purser is impressive, and this series deserves wide dissemination.

Short, cleverly written miniatures of charm, wit and sometimes ear-tickling enjoyment. McLachlan plays all this with full musical skill

One finds in Chisholm’s music a progressive absorption of diverse influences to forge a personal response… grand and uplifting music. [The Cornish Dance Suite]….excitingly done in this performance and rounds out Chisholm’s earlier inspirations very nicely.

My regard for Chisholm grows with each new recording of his music. Every piece is strongly characterised and his musical language(s) are widely derived and have a feeling of original thinking. This newest attempt to bring Chisholm out of the shadows ought to succeed; a composer well worth exploring.

[Chisholm] is capable of writing with succinct economy and yet there are always surprising twists of harmony and rhythm that avoid the commonplace. Throughout this disc Murray McLachlan once again shows his dedication to the Chisholm cause. I hope other pianists will be inspired by him and play Chisholm’s music; some of it ought to find a place in the repertoire. At his best Chisholm’s piano music can hold its own among that of the first half of the twentieth century. It simply demands to be heard.

Extremely well-played and impressive performances… the London symphony opens with a great sense of atmosphere… brilliantly performed… admirable technical playing. An excellent disc

For a youth orchestra as fine as this one, Vaughan Williams’ ‘London’ Symphony is a canny choice: Under Hughes, memorable things happen; the ‘London’ Symphony’s finale is here as powerful and moving as you’ll hear anywhere.

Hughes’ young players give as characterful a versions as any subsequent to the 1952 Boult and ’56 Barbirolli ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The NYOW… has delivered a neatly produced performance… the NYOW is also fully convincing in its performance of the ‘Celtic Dances’. Youthful brilliance and full, mid-voice strong sound coloring characteristic of a completely unique weighting of the symphony [which] sets it apart from other performances to date. The visionary epilogue can be heard so delicately as one can experience it in only a few other recordings, [In the Mathias] the NYOW shines with playful verve, rhythmic brilliance of the percussionists and horns with marked contours. This is a fortuitous publication.

William Mathias’s Celtic Dances proves a very likeable find. There are four dances and all are engagingly delivered here by the National Youth Orchestra of Wales under Owain Arwel Hughes.

a world class reading, this is simply a good recording that was made to tickle your ears… the talent might astound you, this is well worth checking out for a well spent hour of prime classical listening.

captivating accounts of two short sun-drenched songs… what is apparent is a sincerity of expression and a real desire to communicate… will prove both comforting and enjoyable.

the two songs are appealing and ably performed… Voces Oxonienses…are sensitive and engaging in their performance. Overall the performances are good.

Gives choral music fans something well out of the ordinary to enjoy. An interesting diversion for old music ears – Chris Spector

Such good listening… sheer technical brilliance and wizardry of Guy Touvron… organ played with such elegance and human delight by Wolfgang Karius. A delicious blend of purity and fun.

An ace classical piano man… very much a player you should be better acquainted with, Barnard’s odyssey is a trip well worth taking with him. A marvellous collection.

Barnard’s Piano Odyssey is a rather bipartite affair but it makes for an enjoyable if not quite Homeric journey. I found the Australian works the most exciting performances. Recording quality is consistent despite the vagaries of dates and locations and the notes are helpful.

The bulk of this entrancing keyboard collection was recorded for the now sadly defunct World Record Club in 1978, and the original album has now been expanded to include works by Grieg and five contemporary Australian composers. Pianist Barnard takes this opportunity to trace the evolution of the piano’s repertoire form the era of J […]