Reviews

From the outset this outstanding piccoloist presents a chal¬lenging and varied program of 21st-century delights, delivered with impeccable intona¬tion, rhythmic precision, sensitive musician¬ship and finesse. Schwaabe’s fluid control of even the highest notes is dazzling. Utterly brilliant CD.

This is an exciting album full of interesting music. Liz Johnson’s style is unashamedly modernist, with nods to avant-garde procedures that have been made mainstream over the past few decades. It is fantastic to discover a composer that has not succumbed to writing insipid post-modern music. All the works on these two CDs are approachable, sometimes challenging, musically vibrant, and ultimately satisfying. The liner notes are excellent. The presentation of the booklet is truly artistic.The texts of the all the songs set are given, and are provided with some outstanding art work. A model CD booklet.

We dipped our toes into the waters of Arnold Schoenberg and came up smiling. This does create an atmosphere, stimulates your brain and is surprisingly enjoyable. Aylish Kerrigan and Dearbhla Collins bring out the warmth in the music; it could be jarring but never is.

[Rowland’s] playing is nothing short of excellent, restrained when sobriety is needed, brilliant when brightness is in order, always elegant and technically dazzling. As usual with anything issued by Divine Art, the production by Stephen Sutton and the boxed packaging are first class, the engineering by John Taylor is splendid, the multi-lingual liner notes by Gilbert Rowland himself scholarly yet entertaining. For the inveterate collector this set is well-worth acquiring.

Listening twice to this CD was intensely rewarding. The variety of harmonic surprises, the sheer melodic inventiveness of the composer, kept this listener interested. Barbara Karaskiewicz is a pianist of rare gifts: always sensitive, assertive and powerful at crucial times, exquisitely handling the lyricism that abounds in these miniature gems.

This is a striking CD, which is utterly compelling from start to finish. Natalie Schwaabe is worthy of attention, and this, her debut solo CD, serves as a fascinating snapshot of what the piccolo can offer, both in terms of repertoire and expressivity. The quality of musicianship from Natalie Schwaabe and Jan Philip Schulze allows each of the pieces to be presented with a clear communication of expression and emotion, and their technical mastery of the material means that the listener is able to concentrate purely on the musical without technical concerns ever getting in the way.

We can so easily miss new stars rising in the firmament of music composition. But for me, unexpectedly, out of the ether (of BBC Radio 3) dropped a 4-minute jewel of a string quartet, and with a title that was hard to forget, Tide Purl by Liz Johnson. It was played by the Fitzwilliam Quartet as a trailer for a concert to launch 2-CD retrospective including all this composer’s work for the string quartet medium. . I was immediately hooked… [this] is a significant body of English music for string quartet.

It’s a game of two halves in this approachable programme. The two halves are because CD1 is more traditional, CD2 modern — living composers — but the two go together well and the works are serious but also humorous. It’s all in a good cause — profits go to Parkinson’s UK.

Friends of music for woodwinds will be 100% satisfied. These recordings with the ‘Northern Chamber Orchestra’ under Stephen Barlow seem to us to be particularly interesting musically. They radiate a great deal of temperament and agility.

This disc enterprisingly combines two pieces by Elizabeth Maconchy’s daughter Nicola LeFanu with two by her husband David Lumsdaine – a welcome juxtaposition even if the music of the two composers is not conspicuously similar in style. I find it difficult to imagine that this music could be better performed than here. The playing here [in Mandala 3] is superlative. All the recordings, like the performances themselves, are clear and present.

[Mandala 3] is powerful music, an intense and absorbing work which receives virtuosic performances. Soprano Sarah Leonard, one of Britain’s most respected and versatile artists,a masterly performance [in the vocal works]. Superb writing for the cello and clarinet showcases the considerable skills of Sophie Harris and Ian Mitchell. Caroline Balding and David Angel (violins), Yuko Inoue (viola) and Jo Cole (cello) give outstanding performances. The excellent booklet that accompanies this CD is full of information. All in all, an impressive production.

The playing of Goldstone & Clemmow is assured at all times, idiomatic, quite often virtuosic, and always unfailingly imaginative. The musicianship, the accuracy, the inventiveness are there… [we were] awestruck by the undertaking itself. The acoustically friendly environment of the Church of St. John the Baptist gives the set an up close sonic quality that is most satisfying. As is the case here and with title after title in the Divine Art catalogue this boxed set is an indispensable treasure trove of musical rarities played by two remarkable artists.

All of these pieces are written superbly with myriad beautiful ideas emerging from the very capable fingers of Soldano who has accepted the challenge of bringing this composer’s music to a wider audience… anyone buying this disc will find many hours of pleasure. The Italian pianist Alfonso Soldano is a dedicated interpreter of this composer and there is a fine affinity with this music clearly apparent in his beautifully wrought melodies. The recording is excellent as are all of the CDs from this company. Recommended.

A substantial work of 73 minutes and rich with colourful registrations and dynamic effect. The four movements marked Allegro are each brilliant and thrilling, with bold pedal lines that need durable speakers to deliver them without distortion. The quietest movements are equally impressive for the reverberant space around their sounds. Cooman has made an excellent choice of combining instrument and repertoire.

This unusual quartet [with double bass] immediately creates a distinctive sound world, with a rich, lower-string sound. The music instantly has an originality of tone, and there are moments of particular beauty. The influence of medieval music is evident throughout. Performances throughout are admirable, and there is tremendous pleasure to be gained from this music. More, please!

Lydia Kakabadse is a British composer who combines her Greek/Russian heritage with strong contrapuntal technique. This CD’s works, composed from 2004 to 2016 utilize traditional harmonies and are melodic.Recitativo + Variations …displays the composer’s ability to create counterpoint and color treatment of her lyrical idea.

This double disc presents works from the last few years and there is no shortage of inspiration present here. Characterful sounds of the 18th-century Michel Engler organ in Krzeszów.

Melodic and approachable music.. Erik Simmons makes much of subtly differentiated music distinguished by serene, slow-moving lyricism. Sound is atmospheric, surprisingly attractive and altogether pleasing.

Rhona Clarke’s first album dedicated to her own music, skilfully played by The Fidelio Trio… it’s never hard to approach, and the sound is varied… a thoughtful album throughout.

I listened to this superb CD several times and each time I discovered something new and even better. This music is magnificent and goes straight to the heart. All in all, an exceptional album of heavenly music. I highly recommend it as one of the best CD’s of the decade.