Reviews

The pieces have been well put together and listening to the entire CD in one sitting works very well and induces an air of calm on even the most stressful day. This deserves to be widely heard and not just by lovers of contemporary music. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Mostly I am, like my colleagues, convinced, if not swept away, by Schliessmann’s rich sounding, carefully articulated playing, by his occasional tenderness as well as his almost majestic playing elsewhere. As for the recording, the piano sound is impressive by any standards.

I found every one of these tributes quite moving, and doubtless John McCabe would have been brought to tears by any one of them. Given that the pieces are well performed by all involved, I have no trouble at all giving this collection an enthusiastic recommendation.

In many ways, this disc makes me very happy. A more eloquent in memoriam could hardly be imagined, and all credit to Divine Art for hosting this tribute from a total of 19 composers. The disc is a wonderful tribute to a major compositional talent for whom full recognition is yet to come.

The songs on this twofer reflect the epitome of the perfect English pastoral mode of expression. Our guides are two fabulous singers. A simply lovely collection.

I gave approving reviews to Volumes 4, 5 and 6. This new volume is cut from much the same cloth as its predecessor. Most of the works are predominantly on the quiet, meditative end of the spectrum. Cordially recommended,

We find a composer of decided importance… “Symphony: The Way to Olympus.” is a beautifully paced, sprawling and highly evocative sound poem for orchestra, here recorded some time ago but sounding gloriously well. I find the performances and recording quality highly appropriate and appealing. Artyomov deserves our undivided attention as a tragically underappreciated Modern master, creating beautifully advanced music in spite of social neglect and isolation. His time has come.

At less than 25 minutes overall duration, this issue proves that length is no guarantee of quality – or indeed, of value for money.

This is a splendid disc. There are many captivating and interesting moments in this programme. For lovers of post-Berio music this will be a treat. It is ‘truly cutting-edge music for today. The recording impressed me, as did the performances, which clearly appear to be first-rate. The CD booklet is a masterclass in design.

[The music] could be described as Kaikhosru Sorabji having cocktails with Bill Evans, Count Basie, Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky. This is a sweeping stylistic simplification, but it may help. The music is not difficult, it is typically comprehensible to the listener and nearly always pleasing to the ear. The sound quality is excellent, the playing is impressive, ‘inventive’ and dynamic. Everything tells me that this is an ideal ‘wrap’. This is an impressive and often quite beautiful production.

The release of this invaluable historic recording, impeccably remastered by Pristine Audio‘s Andrew Rose should be good news for all opera buffs interested in collecting historical performances.

This superb 1928 studio recording is a sonically satisfying labor of love. The singers are beyond reproach, beginning with Raymonde Visconti, the possessor of a supple, lyric mezzo-soprano voice, utterly expressive 100% of the time, a true singing actress. Partnering her is the great Georges Thill, arguably the finest Don José of his generation. The Orchestre Symphonique de Paris and the Chorus of the Opéra Comique are conducted by Elie Cohen in a first class performance that lets one get a hint of how French opera ought to be sung.

Italian composer Carlotta Ferrari has composed in many genres, developing a personal language that is concerned with the blend of past and present. The five compositions on this new album are inspired by the lives and works of five women from history: a wonderfully atmospheric Lady Frankenstein, the ethereal Maria Restituta, the lovely Historia Gullielmae, a Felliniesque Viva la vida and the dramatic Ecstasy (La transverberazione di Teresa d’Avila). Highly recommended.

The Way to Olympus is a complex, thoughtful and ultimately satisfying symphony. If it had a chance, I believe it could be one of the ‘great’ examples of this genre for our time. [Gurian Hymn] is memorable and moving. The CD has been well-remastered from the original Melodiya recordings; for example, the clarity is, for me, perfect. This CD is an interesting musical exploration that is both compelling and satisfying.

Brenton Broadstock has something to say (or hear) and he makes the four sections of the concerto melodic and listenable. I found the concerto thoroughly enjoyable. The orchestra plays very well for conductor Purcell. Excellent sound.

This record demonstrates the wide-ranging influence [McCabe] had on the musical community.

A feast of fine music by British and American composers, including the piano version of [Alan Rawsthorne’s] witty and entertaining ‘Practical Cats’ arranged by Peter Dickinson, which outshines Andrew Lloyd Webber’s settings of the same T.S Eliot poems. Clare Wilkinson is receiving rave reviews for her work and is a mezzo with beautiful tone; veteran baritone Mark Rowlinson is the fine reciter of ‘Cats’. Leading recorder player John Turner and highly regarded pianist Peter Lawson are joined by keyboard maestro Harvey Davies and the excellent Solem Quartet.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH. The playing and the singing by all the performers on this adventurous CD is ideal in every way. I loved Clare Wilkinson’s voice, especially in Rawsthorne’s Chamber Cantata. The Solem String Quartet play with clarity and commitment in the String Quartet. The recording is excellent. All in all, this is an extraordinary disc. RECORDING OF THE MONTH

Kakabadse has a strong command of writing for string instruments. She also has a well-developed ability to integrate diverse elements such as Arabic and medieval scales, embellishments with tonal harmony, drones, ostinatos, and various textures. Her melodic material is very attractive, and the pieces are rich and resonant. Throughout the CD, Sound Collective’s performance is superb. The quality of the recording is excellent.

Artyomov has a unique compositional voice that communicates in a musical language that’s all his own. I was enraptured by his mystical world of tones and colors. The Russian National Orchestra plays cleanly and precisely. These new recordings of Artyomov’s music from Divine Art are welcome, indeed.