Reviews

Hakim…finds in Holland an entirely committed advocate of sure-fingered technical accomplishment combined with depth of expression…Leach steers a compelling course…featuring the brilliance of John Turner’s recorder…Remarkable.

Betts-Dean’s voice is perfect…absolutely flawless…Michael Finnissy’s music is many things…but the connecting thread is an uncompromising expressivity, and it is just that facet that makes it approachable. It speaks to the heart, directly, and there are few finer examples of how this is so than this disc. This is an unmissable disc…

This is an entertaining collection of…tuneful music designed for the pleasure of recorder players and their audiences…It is pleasant and tonal

Divine Art’s release is so full of revelations and Rückblick. But for those coming to these recordings for the first time, surely no one could possibly be disappointed. The overall quality remains a testament to John Boyden’s legacy. Divine Art offers one of the most interesting, carefully thought through re-releases of recent times.

This is an enchanting disc. The notes are very helpful, including well-written summaries of each of the tales. I think general listeners will find enjoyment here, but those of Irish heritage will feel a special resonance.

…take a risk with this release. The music of David Charles Johnson is not well known but deserves to be, and Christopher Guild is a fine advocate. The recording is excellent. Recommended.

..the music and the singer are so well suited to each other….this is an enjoyable disc of attractive songs performed with sensitivity. I can recommend this release confidently to anyone interested in off-the-beaten-path British songs.

…delightful spirit…merry and grand…stately and moving…quiet and delicate..The organ of Cheltenham College Chapel, restored by Harrison and Harrison in 2017, is well recorded…Overall this is an attractive recital; recommended

The performances by the Ulster Orchestra under conductor Sinead Hayes seem to be expert, committed, and well prepared…Daniel Brownell and Craig Ogden perform with real presence. Caffrey emphasizes that this was a major project of great personal significance for himself. The outcome is a happy one, and much of the music holds definite appeal for general listeners who are attuned to the poignant border between beauty and pain.

Morgan Goff and Antony Gray dive into the music, playing with tonal beauty and flair…The music is charming and witty…a delightful romp…The performances are all committed and skillful

At a first listening, I was hit by a kind of musical shock and awe. Further listening brought lucidity and a sense of wonderment at the multicoloured pianistic details that shone through with such clarity in Richard Casey’s performance. The music is totally abstract, as are Cowie’s accompanying pictures, but like the music, their colours and shaping are thoroughly entrancing.

much of the music on this disc, will…lure the listener into a world outside the hustle and bustle of everyday existence. I can think of no better description of this piece than the comment made a young girl who I teach, who concluded ‘you know that’s really nice’.

Mr Dibble’s family and friends crowdfunded over £17,000 to enable Mr Kempff to realise this recording. He does them proud approaching each of the pieces with the care and sensitivity he brings to established classics. Fugues can be very dry affairs, but Mr Dibble clearly loved the form, and his approach has left us with something refreshingly alive.

there is definitely something to suit all tastes in this generous recording as well as offering a serious contemporary take on the structure and concept of the Prelude and Fugue. Kempf is adept at capturing the essence and distinctive features of each individual piece, reflecting an appreciation of shared musical values. The result is a warm tribute to the late composer. Recommended

delightful neoclassical whimsy, baroque regal tributes and nods to Robert Burns…taps into the pastoral yearning of Ralph Vaughan Williams

Laura Chislett and Edward Cowie…have technique that astonishes. All the eight improvisations are so polished that one could easily think that they are fully notated compositions. There is much beauty…it makes the listener want to hear more. This is a CD that will find favour with many listeners…

This wonderful recording is distinguished by many things, Hammond’s imaginative compositions, of course, but also terrific playing by Capparelli and arresting recitations by Weir and Urwin. While the release earns its recommendation from Tales from the Sea of Moyle alone, the solo piano pieces accompanying it add greatly to the project’s value.

The songs vary in mood, from the haunting and powerful to gentler and even humorous. …intimate and very listenable.

John Turner, now in his early 80s, keeps recording rare and little-known works by rarely heard or little-known composers. His rate of learning is phenomenal, and his tone quality and virtuosity still shine through. He is a giant in the recorder world, as this twofer clearly demonstrates. All told, the entirely admirable project offers us an opportunity to discover music and composers who have largely gone under the radar. John Turner, aided brilliantly by Stephen Bettaney, has again done us all a great service.

…there is definitely something to suit all tastes in this generous recording as well as offering a serious contemporary take on the structure and concept of the Prelude and Fugue. Kempf is adept at capturing the essence and distinctive features of each individual piece, reflecting an appreciation of shared musical values. The result is a warm tribute to the late composer.