Reviews

a fascinating…engrossing listen.

Thank goodness for discs like these…In an over-consuming world that feeds us “easy” music, recitals like this are surely vital: To remind us of what music is capable of, what musicians are capable of and, as listeners, what we ourselves are capable of. The music enshrined here has the capacity to open up whole new vistas, if we let it. Recommended.

There can be no denying the brilliance of the Kreutzer Quartet’s performances or the excellence of the recorded sound.

Dibble’s music has the ability to penetrate the classical music mainstream…Kempf’s performances sound definitive.

I very much enjoyed this disc and look forward to exploring more music by Kakabadse. The combination of spirituality and earthy joy in these pieces is quite special. All of the performances are excellent, as is the recorded sound.

…Ex Cathedra’s performances of these pieces under Jeffrey Skidmore are beyond reproach. The recorded sound too is very pleasing…This recording represents a significant achievement, and I shall seek out other recordings of this composer’s music.

The Pleyel Ensemble…bring great understanding and warmth to Pitfield’s music. Pitfield would surely have been very pleased with this disc. It will add to the continuing rediscovery of his music.

…the set has introduced me to no fewer than twelve new composers…all hugely talented, whose music is outstanding…The sound is beautifully clear…All the players are exemplary in their musicianship…Altogether, it is a fascinating and rewarding set and a suitable tribute to polymath Thomas Pitfield as well as his many friends and contemporaries with an appropriately inspired selection of works that illustrate their brilliant compositional skills.

this is the first time all 35 sonatas have been recorded by a woman pianist… Honma’s performances add to our understanding and appreciation of these great works… Her sensitivity, power, pin-sharp clarity and all-consuming commitment to this music would surely earn five stars from Beethoven.… It grabs the attention in a very Beethoven-like way… a truly admirable and musical account of these monumental works.

Leach’s love of the pastoral…is evident…Leach seems in her element…the affectionate, gossamer sounds…conjures up…a soothing, numinous poignancy. The performances on this CD are also executed with stylistic and diaphanous sympathy.

Capparelli’s playing…is sensitive and conveys a depth of feeling. The stories are solid tales of the world between ours and the mystic universe we abut

Some songs are…lovely, others livelier…Mills…understands the music well.

This recording shows the musical mastery and nuanced imagination of lan Scott’s artistry.

There seems to be an almost understated brilliance in their (Gemini Ensemble) playing and the direction from lan Mitchell. It’s a beautifully curated programme of thought-provoking words and music which transports the listener to other, very lucid worlds.

The anthology of pieces presented…are extremely interesting and decidedly demanding…Schliessmann not only demonstrates his perfect mastery of the keyboard, shaping the sound material imbued with astonishing technical difficulty, but also manages to express its moving musicality

The playing is outstanding. All the music here is of interest. What is clear is that this production, overseen by the eminent recorderist John Turner, reveals a wonderful treasure chest of music in the repertoire’s Highways and Byways. Long may these explorations continue.

…the first thing to strike the listener…is Ffinch’s sheer technical facility…the combination of works conceived for organ and arrangements, the blend of innovation and tradition, all rendered on that organ, in that space, by that truly superior organist, make this a recording not to be missed.

[Freddy Kempf] is alert to the small details that are at the heart of the stylistic mixes here. The best-selling status of this album, which landed on classical charts in the summer of 2024, should be taken not simply as a tribute to Dibble but as a sign of interest in a genuinely fresh work.

…magnificent performances from all the artists, a splendid recording, and an informative booklet…This two-disc set is a rewarding exploration of music by Thomas Pitfield, his contemporaries, and friends.

I would recommend this album to anyone that is looking for new works…brought to life by Ronald Woodley’s wonderfully emotive and expressive playing.