***** Coup de Cœur

*** Good Album

**** Excellent Album

**** Excellent Album

*** Good Album

“… As fans might expect, her [Cooper] approach is unforced, restrained, and more Appollonian that Dionysian. It works beautifully for Ravel’s famous Pavane and pieces by Debussy (La soirée dans Granade, La Puerta del Vino); the pedalling is heavenly, the phrasing languorous…” ***

"... American pianist Andrew Tyson takes no prisoners in his souped-up disc of Scarlatti, Mompou, Schubert and Albéniz - and the result is a day-glo blast of youthful excitement..." ****

“… This valuable recording offers vital performances that embody qualities that can conjecturally be ascribed to Farinelli – qualities that encompassed the expressive and the barnstorming – in a way made even more valuable by virtue of including the singer’s own additions… Hallenberg is in her element here; whether Farinelli sang like this we can surely doubt or never know, but she makes a striking impression nonetheless.”

“…All the concertos are heard in premiere recordings including Michael Ball’s 2002 work, originally composed for euphonium and brass band. Recast in 2004 to a Childs commission with orchestral support it, too, is full of interest, segueing from lyricism to urgency, admitting some possible VW-like harmonies, as well as some lovely thematic writing. Ball’s recasting ensures some warming work for the orchestral strings and allows Childs a cadenza that tests his virtuosity to the utmost. The perky finale with a quotient of folksy frolicsome bonhomie makes a fitting end for the concerto and indeed for the disc… There is so much here that is so approachable and finely done …”

“…Cicic is a fine soloist, with a pure tone that reminded me on more than one occasion of a viol rather than a violin. Credit must also go to Delphian’s engineers, as the sound when listening on headphones is top-notch. It’s a tremendous pity that there’s not more of Carbonelli’s music, but at least he’s being well represented by Cicic  and the Illyria Consort.  A must-have.” ****

Recording of the Month

“…So: two contrasting concertos rarely heard together, and certainly rarely heard performed as well as they are here. .. this new recording, which again features Beethoven’s own cadenzas (the first movement’s adapted from the composer’s piano version) and ornamentation, really raises the bar. Add what must be one of the finest recorded accounts of the Sibelius in recent times (I have to go back to Ginette Neveu with Barbirolli for anything quite so compelling) and you have an essential purchase.” *****

"...The London Sinfonia plays superbly in both expression and attractive tone quality. Wilson’s interpretation of the symphony goes to the top of the deck; it’s a definitive view of a first-rate symphony. "

“… These are serious, stylish readings that are faithful to Haydn and yet also responsive to Stegmann’s efforts to create a pianistic counterpart to Haydn’s orchestral experience. For example, in the latter part of the Andante con variazioni of Symphony No. 75, Ilic embraces the filigree writing with tenderness and clarity.”

Nominee for Opera Recording of the Year Award 2019

Nominee for Vocal Recording of the Year Award 2019

Nominee for Vocal Recording of the Year Award 2019