Reviews

We might have imagined that Johan Sebastian Bach wrote his great Goldberg Variations with the foreknowledge that it would be performed several centuries later on by an artist with the temperament and patience of skilled interpretive artist Burkard Schliessmann. Certainly, our German contemporary comes well equipped for the task, being a dedicated musical scholar as well as possessing the mature keyboard technique needed for the Goldbergs.

The debut disc suggests a very promising future for the young Ciccolini prize winner. The way she plays Liadov’s pieces shows a real love for these tiny gems, and so does her rendition of Medtner’s Sonata. The latter is as fine a performance as I have heard. She is a considerable talent, and I hope to hear more from her soon.

A brilliant young musician who gives us her unique interpretation of Bach’s challenging cello suites. She has a magnificent technique. One forgets about the technical difficulty of this music and is allowed just to sit back and listen to the splendour of her playing. This is an outstanding release.

A poetic and superbly played Goldberg Variations. Schliessmann does a superb job of realizing Bach’s all-embracing musical and emotional journey. And Schliessmann’s combination of precision and elegance in fleet passagework is most gratifying throughout this recording. Recommended.

This is fine piano playing. The cleverness is in making what is complex music sound simple; it’s both accessible and detailed, and it creates atmosphere.

This new album is lovely, the title perhaps giving a clue as to the gentle nature of the music. You’re always on safe ground with Helen Habershon, who writes music for people to enjoy.

An excellent CD. Ms Fialko is a talented Ukrainian pianist. Her playing is – she’s got the air of someone who is really on top of the instrument and the music.

A remarkably talented young Ukrainian pianist. Very illuminating performances… beautifully detailed without being fussy. Fialko reconciles all of the diverse elements unflappably in the course of a very satisfying performance.

Very well-made music, well performed and presented.

Requires a performer capable of virtuoso techniques and [on] this outstanding recording the work is by the outstanding German classical pianist Burkard Schliessmann, one of the compelling pianists and artists of the modern era. Ambitious and really spectacular.

Vibrant, accessible, surprising, and always colourful bravura piano works. music of originality and merit performed with total confidence, evangelical fervour, and pianistic precision, realised with regal authority by the magnificent Tom Hicks. Strongly recommended.

The intellect that has gone into this realization is huge; similarly, the emotional range. It is the freshness of the play of voices that impresses so much. The sheer variety of touch on display is remarkable. Schliessmann’s touch is impeccable. By bringing a sense of play to this performance (and with it, light), Schliessmann almost invites us to reframe Bach’s intricacies as expressions of joy. Schliessmann’s recorded Bach is human, alive; its exuberance is never-ending. (5 stars)

A particular feature of these period-informed performances, and of the recording, is the changing balance between instruments… there are lively conversations between the players. Bright tone and vivid phrasing… irresistible joie de vivre and fine dovetailing of dynamics between instruments.

This is a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. Östlund’s music is highly beautiful, and he is lucky to have such a skilled group of performers. This is music of filigree beauty [which] traces a journey through the seasons.

Cowie continues to be a leading contemporary composer of music that is related to the natural world. Cowie has created a stunning sonic tapestry where the flute part specifically represents the bird, while the piano sets the natural backdrop creating a picture of the birds’ habitat [with] the brilliant playing of pianist Roderick Chadwick. His ingenious method takes a visual image and creates an acoustical environmental sound to match. Minelli convincingly coaxes the listener to go birding by expertly executing every extended technique that exists for flute.

Intended as a tribute to pianist and pedagogue Seymour Lipkin with whom Jenny Q Chai studied, this album invokes his guiding spirit. Chai’s performance (of the Ives) resonates with mighty, sweeping chords and richly tender arpeggios that fade into a literary utopia. Kreisleriana appears to be Chai’s calling card, and she lavishes forceful, Florestan-inspired articulation in concert with her poetical musings.

One of the top Goldberg Variations. Schliessmann’s playing [is] comparable to the intellect and control of Gould without his eccentricities or vocal embellishments. I am consistently impressed with the phrasing and delineation of the voices under Schliessmann’s fingers. There are significant and great pianists like Schliessmann overcome these without drawing attention to those difficulties.

One has to hope that these pieces are going to become better-known; they certainly deserve it. Peter Sheppard Skærved delivers excellent and stylish performances, with the help of the magnificent Amati violin. He has thoroughly analysed these suites and describes their features in detail in the booklet. That also contains extensive information about the violin.

Sheppard Skærved’s performances are an excellent way to get to know this collection. He delivers outstanding performances, and I am also very satisfied with the rather intimate recording. No lover of the violin music of the baroque period should miss this production.

The styles here range from severe to sweet… natural melodic pliancy.