Reviews

The unusual combinations of instruments intrigued me. The performers seem very skilled on their various instruments.

This is a very attractive collection of chamber music for trumpet and other instruments; the emphasis is not on brilliance but rather on lyricism. Chris Gekker’s playing is gentle and loving. Very natural recorded sound and helpful program notes by Chris Gekker round out this attractive release.

The Gekkers are excellent chamber musicians…. lots of things to enjoy here. Gekker is an exemplary musician, and he has chosen works that are likely to appeal to a broad audience.

Cowie’s strokes are clear and precise, his expression of sound via the orchestra, confident.

This collection of seven compositions spanning 50 years of creation is fabulous and respectful. The musicians all perform with thoughtful, precise musical detail. Lipkin’s works may be slightly old-fashioned but they are memorable.

This is good to have, as the clavichord was an important household instrument of the time, and certainly Froberger’s music would have been performed on it. Likewise, Charlton’s execution of these works is quite deft.

I find his original eclecticism rather refreshing in its direct straightforward musical candor. The music has the bark and bite of harmonic Modernity and chromatic open-field forwardness without necessarily straying into complete atonality. The music has the bark and bite of harmonic Modernity and chromatic open-field forwardness without necessarily straying into complete atonality; the music convinces without belonging to a particular camp. A valuable look at an English figure of the 20th Century worthy of exploring.

This is a most stimulating disc, one that encompasses a wide variety of music. A brass disc that concentrates on cantabile is clearly out to set new patterns. Although clearly a showcase for Chris Gekker’s trumpet and flugelhorn playing, it has an overarching feeling of collaboration throughout that lends richness to the whole experience; recommended.

A pleasant album… always interesting, the relatively novel sound of the bassoon always a pleasure, warm and quite often almost amusing while the flute and clarinet often add a dreamier feel. A clever mix of easy listening mood music and more intellectual classical.

Imaginative…attractive… deeply moving. The performances could hardly be improved upon. Diction is clear, the choral sound is very well blended, and the music-making is both musically and dramatically satisfying. In sum, this release is one of the most enjoyable collections of new choral music that I have encountered in quite some time.

Mary Dullea, unfailingly grasping this music’s interest, shades her playing beautifully.

I can recommend this release. For myself, I found much to enjoy. Outstanding performances. Excellent notes from the composer comprise the accompanying booklet, and the recorded sound is very well balanced and clean.

Young Italian pianist Stefania Argentieri makes a strong impression with both her technical confidence and her interpretive flexibility, providing confident, high-contrast performances that are more varied in perspective than those of many competitors in this repertoire. She certainly knows how to mine the Romantic underpinnings of this music and she can sing out Prokofiev’s lyricism with disarming. But there’s nothing weak about the playing: the climaxes are solid, the technical challenges surmounted. Argentieri shows herself to be a newcomer well worth your attention.

{Artyomov’s} music has staying power, perhaps because of its spiritual strength. Even in these chamber works, one can hear the massiveness and depth of his imagination. If you have not started exploring it, please consider doing so soon.

Played with quiet perfection… An impeccable technician, at soft dynamic levels Chris Gekker makes his trumpet sound smooth-edged and radiant. He also has incredible control at fortissimo. I really enjoy Moon Marked and I think readers will want to own it

Well-played… highly interesting. Listeners will find much to enjoy here, including a presentation in which violin, cello and piano are all handled with a very high level of skill and a great deal of involvement in the music.

The performance of these three works impressed me. I did not know any of them, so it was a great opportunity for me to discover three noteworthy and well-written pieces. This worthy packaging of three vital Polish chamber works will surely entertain and move the listener.

The performance here is ideal. The liner notes by the pianist are excellent. All in all, this is a superb album: three exceptional works skilfully played… a perfect recital.

The instrumental ensembles add much colour or atmosphere. They vary amazingly too. The song arrangements [are] sung with sparkling clarity by Lesley-Jane Rogers.

From one piece to another, the language surprises with its variety, even if it remains suggestive, accessible, consonant, generous. James Whitbourn knows how to communicate. remarkably interpreted… speaks to the heart and will conquer you.