Reviews

An astonishing performance of Gráinne Mulvey’s intense and impassioned song of praise. Hilliard’s wonderfully adaptable voice heighten[s] the pervasive air of urgency that Mulvey’s piece so effectively conveys.

The compositions of Marius Constant breathed a breath of poetry and freedom in the rather dry universe of the avant-garde at the turn of the 1960s. [Turner is] a masterpiece … absolute perfection of the Riverside Symphony… ideal performance of Olivier Charlier.

Skærved plays all the material on this disc knowingly, idiomatically and expressively. Hallgrímsson’s music is interesting and involving enough… showing fine command of the violin’s solo capabilities… to be worthwhile for more people to acquire.

Cooman has a fine sense of the organ’s capabilities and a clear comprehension of the many styles that can be used for organ works. Cooman’s poise and classically inflected style show here… Simmons fully explores the tonal and emotional colors of these pieces. Testimony both to Cooman’s skill in creating the material and Simmons’ in performing it.

Each work has a subtle profundity that will reward repeated hearings, and the Ebonit Saxophone Quartet is a top-flight Dutch ensemble whose artistry and technical prowess will impress saxophone enthusiasts and others. On such grounds, it is easy and expedient to give this disc a hearty recommendation.

Trio de L’Île, a superb young trio for piano, violin, and cello, here presents a highly compelling program. It is all very well written and an easy pleasure to hear, especially given the exuberant and virtuosic performances.

This is a lovely and captivating release. From a technical perspective, Crossland’s playing is beyond reproach. The passagework is executed with the utmost precision and clarity. The various musical lines are always exquisitely balanced. The recorded sound is excellent. An exquisite disc, highly recommended.

Agile and pin-sharp accounts of this complex and arresting music. (4 stars)

Froberger’s music is individual in nature and ground breaking – he was one of the first composers to settle the ‘dance-movement’ style. These are thrilling and authoritative recordings by Gilbert Roland of wonderful music.

Froberger, one the earliest developers of the dance suite and one of the most-skillful creators of this movement sequence, composed highly distinctive forms of movements… an unusual and highly creative composer. Froberger’s rhythmic irregularities and unusual handling of Baroque dance forms give the music a level of complexity that Rowland explores with considerable skill and careful attention.

Another enterprising pairing of a 17th-century violin and composer yields some gems. The zeal of Peter Sheppard Skærved seems to have no end. My main feeling is gratitude that the Partias have been made available in this form.

Peter Sheppard Skærved continues his fascinating exploration of outstanding violins. Beautifully nuanced performances.

Highly eclectic modernist, tonally sophisticated language… the orchestral sonorities are a highlight. New York’s Riverside Symphony play these works stunningly. The musical standards are matched by the sound quality, which is first rate.

The works on this disc are really and truly outstanding. The music [is] gripping and moving, as are the performances of it. This is a desert-island disc.

Textures and harmonies are often beautiful, mysterious, and atmospheric [with] ever-changing density and degrees of light and shade. This release deserves your support and, more to the point, will reward your time and attention. Sonically excellent, marvelous music. The performances here are excellent… superb work.

Constant was a skilled composer who handled orchestration with considerable ability… a fine command of orchestral forces… in a style mixing the impressionistic with the suitably magisterial.

Carson Cooman is so prolific and creative… his compositions are all distinctively different and varied in style, expression and technique. All of Cooman’s music is tonal and accessible, but with plenty of unique and at times adventurous harmonic twists and turns, that raise the bar and instantly tweak your ears.

We took to the avant-garde work like a duck to water… It all has something of a magical quality.

Distinctive and expressive.

I found this recording to be an engaging, captivating, and charming experience from start to finish. Dullea plays the music with clarity, sensitivity of phrasing, and an admirably rich palette of colors, all captured in first-rate sound. A fine recording, one that makes me look forward to hearing Volume Two.