Reviews

These world premiere recordings of rarely heard but masterful compositions are played with sensitivity and panache by the excellent Australian ensemble Trio Anima Mundi. [All five composers] wrote wonderful music in Romantic style.

This is a fabulously inventive score presented with real flair and performed with the utmost virtuosity.

Uniquely intriguing. The effect on the listener is immediate and pleasing. Kipling’s words are expertly narrated by Bhasker Patel. Rodgers’s music, which makes space for improvisation, is harmonically about the same as Holst, and the sitar sits comfortably beside the fairly basic but colorful clarinet and guitar parts. In essence The Roaring Whirl is accessible and appealing.

From time to time the tunes are quite lovely… there is an unassuming simplicity in the music… charming and uncomplicated. The composer is also the clarinetist in several of the compositions. She has a fine tone and is a very good player. All of the players do an excellent job.

Philip Grange realized in a moment of reflection that his music frequently took off from other creative artists and writers. From that reflection comes this new release titled Homage, which comprises four chamber works that pay homage to a painter, two writers and a fellow composer. By going into such enticing detail, Grange has found a hook, not just for his own imaginative process but also for the listener.

There is the most basic fact, that music is a code. Postmodern art embraces such codes in every medium, and Fowler’s music represents a sophisticated example of what can be done with the code of music. In many ways she is a conceptual artist. All the performers from the ensemble Lontano are expert, as are both singers.

Impressive technical aplomb, fine improvisatory skills and musical relish.

His Bach is nimble-footed. Zimmermann’s Sonata Heinen despatches with authority. Heinen shows lyricism, charm and humour, great control and narrative flair. The recording is clean and close.”

There can be no greater tribute to the artistry of John McCabe. When I hear his performances of Clementi (or Haydn, Ravel, or any number of other composers), I feel as if I am compelled to truly listen to the piece in question, noting all of its details. McCabe’s performance makes a serious case for the piece (Didone Abbandonata) as a worthy companion to Beethoven’s sonatas.. This is the mark of a great musician.

This is probably a must-have CD for anyone who is interested in / enjoys choral music. All in all, essential for anyone with an interest in the variations of the human voice, but enjoyable for anyone else.

This is an important recording in many ways. Superbly played and recorded; played with attention to detail and opportunities for ‘orchestral’ colour changes.

Played with beauty… unusually sensitive performances. The playing is excellent and recorded with clarity.

Well played.

EDITOR’S CHOICE CD: This CD represents a triumph. An Indian-inspired soundscape redolent of exotica, meditation and romantic adventure – this makes the listening experience a pleasure.

Greek Orthodox liturgical texts form the basis of “Byzantine Doxology”, a very extended setting [which] uses a small vocal ensemble that Petridou employs to produce considerable purity of sound. The vocal writing is skillful, although there is greater variety in the 15 songs, split between two soprano voices and based on more-modern poetry.

The sources of the texts clearly show Kakabadse’s many interests… Indeed, Kakabadse’s wide-ranging interests are made even clearer in Odyssey, which is a cycle, and a fascinating one. Even listeners who are not steeped in Greek history will find much of the musical material intriguing, and the work as a whole does a very fine job of taking an audience through thousands of years of experience in not much more than half an hour.

There is contrast aplenty in the five works, showing one way in which a strong Greek heritage may be altered by and even subsumed within other cultures. Athanasiadis spent years living and studying in Tokyo, and the pieces on this CD are permeated by Japanese and Chinese aesthetics and sonorities.

This is a delightful album… technically assured but laid back, gentle and delicate timbres. The vocal sections are striking.

A hugely interesting double CD…all exhilarating stuff, passionately performed and superbly recorded.

Richly textured music reflects Lydia Kakabadse’s wide cultural heritage. ‘Odyssey’ [is] a stunning and ambitious choral work… an inspiring musical journey. Clare MacCaldin sings ten elegant and thoughtful songs with assurance and subtlety.