Reviews

If anything I like the repertoire here even better than on [Cooman’s] previous disc. He uniformly puts his best foot forward, with felicitous results; unreservedly recommended.

A most rewarding musical experience. Chris Gekker plays sensitively and musically throughout the course of this varied recital, and this CD will certainly be of interest … I believe its appeal will transcend the borders of the brass kingdom.

Goldstone shows us a good time with this last disc of his. If Goldstone was ailing when he recorded this disc, there’s no sign of it in his playing. Everything is up to his high standards. You’ll feel like you’ve been taken on a unique and interesting trip to France by an agreeable, experienced tour guide. Thank you, Anthony Goldstone.

This landmark recording project provides a rich source of musical pleasure, and more than a few revelations. These are real interpretations, notable for their verve, charm, elegant rubato, and crisp articulation. This important release has my highest recommendation.

The four-hand works on the current recital display well the composer’s maturation from a young burgeoning musician to a complete master of composition in a short span of time. Even the earliest works found on these discs are staggering in their level of achievement. What pianists Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow bring to this music is priceless: a beautiful light touch, a real sense of playfulness when required, profound thought in the larger works, and a perfect temperament for this music… these discs are ones to treasure.

Pianists Caroline Clemmow and Anthony Goldstone play this music with elegance and intelligence, and are recorded cleanly and realistically. The program notes are very informative, and the overall production value for the release is top-notch. This is an important addition to the Schubert discography.

Their ensemble is flawless, even in tricky unison passages; their rubato is entirely synchronized; scale passages and filigree receive brilliant, pearly articulation; lyrical moments are played with extraordinary warmth. This is an important collection, and its re-release as a single box set is most welcome. Highest recommendation.

A valuable document shedding some light on the music of a hitherto obscure composer. They are well-conceived mature works written in the French dance suite style.

Wright clearly has a wonderful working grasp of this repertoire and knows how to bring forward the vocal line as well as how to portray the orchestral colour that any given emotional moment requires. His playing is consistently fabulous.

Excellent playing throughout by all concerned.

Piano à Deux’s new disc, France Revisited – Music by Onslow, Debussy and Poulenc – is an example of piano four hands performance at its very best.

An album we have played a number of times without being able to decide what its main attraction is: sprightly air, nice atmosphere… an engrossing and entertaining album. It’s all beautifully played.

Aylish Kerrigan and Dearbhla Collins fascinate with a perceptive and very expressive Schoenberg interpretation. [They] express each of these nuances perfectly despite the contrasts between the songs and manage to maintain the tension of the cycle from the beginning to the end. [In the Bodley] they create a ghostlike scenario from individual images that mesmerizes the listener completely. One should not miss this first class recording.

Melodic and tonal with a spare lyricism and simple harmonic language which recalls early music and the distinctly “English” soundworlds, as well as folk music with occasional jazz-infused harmonies. Beautifully crafted and performed with elegance and expression… the refined simplicity of Braid’s music is really captivating and it is a real pleasure to hear music which is immediately engaging to the ear. Highly recommended.

All the pieces on this CD are new compositions from this year, but organist Erik Simmons plays them as confidently as if he’d known them for years… they are all distinctively different and varied in style, expression and technique. Quite fascinating!

I enjoyed these four imaginative compositions. The big work on this disc is Il Ritorno: … magical and deeply-felt… quite beautiful. Each work is finely played, and (in my opinion) perfectly interpreted by the two soloists. Rose is a composer who can develop and maintain interest using the slenderest of instrumental resources.

playful Allegro con fuoco finale.” – Remy Franck (Pizzicato)

Wyllie has a flair for sound colours and tempi, with a secure technical and artistic touch. Given the somewhat exotic touch of the programme it is advisable to give these interesting tidbits a bite.

A nicely diverse selection, with recorded sound crisp and lustrous throughout, and Mitchell underlines her credentials as a persuasive advocate for these colourful contemporary pieces… a winning disc with much to enjoy.

The art of the keyboard transcription of opera has a passionate acolyte in Andrew Wright’s assembly of virtuoso treatments. Wright applies his formidable prowess. Stunning piano sound makes the entire [program] engaging and educational, at once.

This is a CD that shows that good music is hard to categorise. It’s hard to pick a standout [track], as it’s all good. It’s all really interesting; intense yet not demanding, gentle but never dull. Despite being modern and using electric guitar, it often sounds like early music, too.