Reviews

“Charming” is a word that applies to a great deal of the music here. It is not surprising that the composer was a success in Hollywood. His ear for colors and his ability to create pictures with his music is apparent throughout. Alfonso Soldano gives the music good, solid performances… this is a very attractive disc with some very nice discoveries.

Despite the shared themes of rejoicing, the accent is largely – an intriguingly – on the understated, Cooman’s advocacy never less than committed and eloquent.

The dominant accent is contemplative…both the two larger pieces move seamlessly between the sublime and the ecstatic, with Simmons revelling in the unfettered energy.

One of the charms of the CD is the intellectual curiosity it creates, not only in the music but in the subjects it tackles… it sparkles in its own intellectual way. Leonard and Herford are excellent.

World premiere recordings from some of the finest of the UK’s contemporary composers and performers. A really expressive and creative project – 7 composers’ works written for superb violinist Madeleine Mitchell; throughout her playing is a total wonder.

[Willscher’s] compositional language for the instrument is deeply traditional yet freely incorporates catchy contemporary rhythms along with carefully applied contemporary tonalities. [The works] reflect Willscher’s lifetime experience writing for the organ , learning to exploit its vast range of colours and dynamics.

Erik Simmons now enjoys an established reputation for a level of expertise with Cooman’s repertoire. One of Cooman’s strengths as a composer is his ability to use programmatic material, he remains free enough to create highly atmospheric works. Cooman’s writing is colourful and highly effective.

A fascinating program. There is a familiar fluidity and nostalgic ethos that pervades the music. Karaskiewicz plays beautifully, bringing forward the composer’s unique voice.

There’s no doubting the strength and quality of the music. Skærved is in quite superb form… there is some remarkable playing here.

This new record release allows us to better understand one of the many compositional facets of the Florentine musician, one dedicated to piano works. Alfonso Soldano’s reading turns out to be ideal.

This collection of recordings, all of them world premières, is an eloquent testimony to the artistry and dedication of Madeleine Mitchell. Superlatively athletic playing, with every note perfectly in its proper place. An enchanting disc.

What is striking in Madeleine Mitchell’s violinism is her ability to make the violin sing. Her expressivity is never divorced from an eloquence which is a legacy of a sound belonging to the great interpreters of the first half of the twentieth century manages to shape with her instrument the ideal interpretative attitude, ideally capturing each time the spirit of these authors’ scores. The recorded sound, performed in different locations, is remarkable and excels in tonal balance.

Panayiotis Demopoulos shows himself in this sharply contrasted recital to be an exceptionally sensitive artist. He is well recorded and has written some excellent accompanying notes.

The title of this exciting new album, ‘Sappho, Shropshire and Super-Tramp’, reflects three major threads of new English art-song. Spread over two discs, these 52 songs, some in cycles and some stand-alone items, make this a feast of new and fascinating work for the song lover.

A potpourri of fascinating music. Both Sarah Leonard and Johnny Herford bring considerable skill, magic and understanding to this music. The piano part is well-executed by Nigel Foster. This is an excellent exploration of (mainly) contemporary English art-song, and goes a long way to prove that the genre is alive and well in the early 21st century.

As a lover of classical and symphonic music, it was a great pleasure to hear this disc for the first time. The two composers … have already found distinct voices, writing music that is both steeped in tradition and yet vibrant and alive. “a wonderful blending of the romantic, the modern and the post-modern. This album is a joy. It shows the future of symphonic music, and makes a strong case that its future is strong and healthy.

Here is a young pianist, of outstanding qualities: technical, interpretive, and creative… an outstanding pianist! The piano sound and recording quality are also outstanding. This CD is extremely highly recommended.

The sound quality of the disc is excellent; this is a well-produced and conceived CD. The programme is well-considered and balanced, with two nineteenth-century masterpieces framing a thoughtful and interesting modern work by the pianist.

Cetiz’s works are severe, sparse, rigorous compositions, perfect vehicles for Anairesis, featuring the excellent Anairesis Ensemble. Well-written program notes accompany this nicely packaged and carefully engineered CD

A very fine pianist, as evidenced by his playing of the Three Intermezzi, Op.117 by Brahms and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Well-written program notes accompany this nicely packaged and carefully engineered CD.