Reviews

Roe sets words beautifully naturally. I ended up absolutely captivated. A superb recording, with excellent placement of voices and instruments in the sound picture, seals the deal.

Rowland makes an excellent argument for Mattheson’s harpsichord suites, which he rightly describes as “of a consistently high quality.” So are his stylistically informed performances. Warmly recommended.

Rowland is a top-notch interpreter here, executing every phrase with consummate taste and skill and convincing rhetoric. His detailed booklet notes on each movement of each suite provide sure-footed guidance to the listener, and he is ideally captured by Athene’s recorded sound. Lovers of harpsichord repertoire need not hesitate in making this a major new acquisition to their collections; strongly recommended.

These are, to say the least, wonderful works. Mattheson was an adept and original composer, whose style reflects a thorough knowledge of composition and the concurrent trends of the day. Harpsichordist Gilbert Rowland provides a sensitive and focused interpretation. The sound is clear and airy. In short, this is a must-have disc.

Liz Johnson’s music really resonated with me. After more than two and a half hours of it, I was ready to hear even more. Given the top-notch performances of this music, this set will have appeal to those who appreciate contemporary music with considerable stylistic variety. I can, therefore, do no less than give this issue my top recommendation.

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!