‘Oh. My. Word. This is, I think, an important recording, not merely because it captures some of the most astonishing piano-playing you will ever hear but because it places Marc-André Hamelin front and centre as one of the foremost pianist-composers of the day, taking up the long-neglected baton once held by the likes of Rachmaninov, Earl Wild, Busoni and Godowsky … how fortunate we are that Hamelin signed with a record label that not only allows him to record whatever he wants but positively encourages him to do so. (Think what we missed of Rachmaninov because of RCA.) Here is piano-playing of such an exalted standard I seriously wonder if anything comparable exists on record. I wait impatiently for a Hamelin piano concerto’ (Gramophone)

‘Appealingly transgressive … an ensnaring collection of Hamelin’s piano pieces’ (The Sunday Times)» More

‘We might be back in St Mark’s Basilica in the late 16th century, so haunting and crystalline are these recordings by the London Oratory choir of works from the golden age of the Renaissance. Immersion in sacred pieces by Gabrieli uncle and nephew, Monteverdi, Merulo and others proves a spine-tingling experience’ (The Sunday Times)

‘Witty, imaginative, not averse to challenging the technical facility of anyone brave enough to take [Hamelin’s] place on the piano stool. Superb piano playing, as you’d have every right to expect, and those Paganini variations are the highlight for me from this new album of Hamelin’s own music, with all kinds of witty allusions built into them, from Beethoven to Rachmaninov and beyond. There’s originality and fresh thinking at every turn, from Hamelin’s ‘feelings about chocolate’ to the gently wistful version of David Raksin’s song Laura to an extra-devilish Diabelli variation for Beethoven’s set. Fabulous playing and recording’ (BBC Record Review)

‘More and more, I consider Marc-André Hamelin to be the Franz Liszt of the 21st century. A combination of a pianist endowed with superhuman virtuosity and a brilliantly innovative composer all rolled into one. Where does he find the time?’ (Classical Music Sentinel)» More

‘The Three Kings brought gifts, and the vocal ensemble arrive laden in turn with armfuls of curious and unexpected offerings, all performed with meticulous care and musicality. Musical gold is in particularly generous supply. It glows from Pierre de Manchicourt’s Illuminare, Jerusalem, text flickering in brilliant strands of imitative polyphony, intricately woven together here: vertical clarity never sacrificed to horizontal direction. It radiates from the swelling ebb and flow of Lassus’s Tribus miraculis and Josh Cooter’s solo Omnes de Saba (the quality of the plainchant singing throughout is exemplary), as well as from Park’s own O send out thy light, close-set chords engulfing the ear in thick warmth—a contrast to the more diffuse softness of Joanna Marsh’s In winter’s house … while some ensembles blend through mutual imitation and similarity, The Gesualdo Six manage to preserve the colours of the individual voices while finding common ground. It’s this breadth—of colour, tone, gesture—that gives these performances their appeal’ (Gramophone)

‘Many ensembles record discs of Christmas music but Owain Park and his colleagues have done something slightly different: they have put together a musical sequence which focuses on the season of the Epiphany … throughout the programme, the singing of The Gesualdo Six (augmented in five items by guest countertenor Will Prior) is immaculate. I enjoyed the purity and intelligence of their performances very much indeed. They have been recorded expertly by engineer David Hinitt and producer Adrian Peacock. The recording balances the group in an ideal fashion and places them beautifully in the acoustic of Trinity College Chapel, which is an ideal venue. Owain Park’s notes are succinct and informative. This is a notable musical celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany’ (MusicWeb International)

‘I would like to have known Francisco Guerrero. He wrote lovingly about his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1589. He was kidnapped by pirates, had to pay a large ransom, and later landed in a debtor’s prison. Even so, he seems to have been warm-hearted and caring. This especially emerges in the sheer humanity of his music, and in the deep emotions he can often communicate. The Brabant Ensemble communicates much of that wonderfully … all texts are provided, and Stephen Rice’s detailed notes are an absolute model of their kind, so do follow them through as you listen. The acoustic at All Saint’s East Finchley is highly suitable, and suits the music perfectly’ (MusicWeb International)» More

‘Marc-André Hamelin’s imagination feeds engaging invention in nine compositions for piano—and he can play them, too … eminently recommendable and revealing’ (colinscolumn.com)» More

‘As evidenced by the late work of Britten and Shostakovich, it takes a huge amount of skill to write very simple, spare music. Anyone can spill notes garrulously onto the page but to fine them down to bare essentials is a life’s work. The music of Federico Mompou displays just such mastery over the simple … there are few better guides to lead the listener into those hidden depths than Stephen Hough … Mompou’s music is always going to be something you either like or you don’t. If you fall into the latter camp then even a performance as profound and beautiful as this is unlikely to persuade you otherwise. If, on the other hand, you don’t yet know this music, then start here. For lovers of Mompou, this is as deep a descent into the well of this music as you will come across’ (MusicWeb International)» More

‘Osborne is in magnificent form, offering his characteristic clarity and intelligence, as well as an abundance of artistry. The 'Sarabande' from Pour le piano is beautifully shaped, while the 'Toccata' that follows demonstrates his control and sparkling technique’ (Limelight, Australia)» More

‘Debussy’s Études are not nearly as popular as his Préludes or Images. There is a belief that they are dry, academic, and devoid of independent artistic worth. This recording puts the misapprehension to rest … Steven Osborne brings technical agility and remarkable interpretative skills to these performances. They are replete with magic, great beauty and a sympathetic understanding. This is complimented by a vibrant recording’ (MusicWeb International)