12 February 2025
The Classic Review, Azusa Ueno
Khachaturian: Piano Concerto & works for solo piano
Studio Master: 4870877  Download only  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

‘There is not a beat missed between the players, but even more laudable is the matching energy: all forces give their all to the music, and while it can be cacophonous and a bit crazy, the performance is ultimately very convincing … I found this to be a very nice curation of Khachaturian’s works, both big and small, with performances that match the thoughtfulness of the programming. A most enjoyable listen’ (The Classic Review)
9 February 2025
Limelight, Australia, Clive Paget
War Silence - Rare Italian piano concertos
Studio Master: CDA68458  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

‘This stimulating program is the brainchild of Italian pianist Roberto Prosseda who proves himself master of all four works, his playing thoroughly idiomatic whether embracing 1900s late-Romanticism, mid-century impressionism or more contemporary fare. With sparkling technique and deploying an appealingly light touch, he’s aided throughout by Kabaretti who ensures each piece has plenty of room to breathe while drawing out a wide range of colours from the splendid London Philharmonic Orchestra. The Dallapiccola in particular is most magically done, but all of these works repay repeated listening and the engineered balance between piano and orchestra is spot on’ (Limelight, Australia)» More

8 February 2025
TheArtsDesk.com, Bernard Hughes
Machaut: A lover's death
Studio Master: CDA68430  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

‘Beautifully and eloquently sung—there is nowhere to hide with this few voices—and a good starting point for the music of Machaut … the solo voice songs … are pure melody and utterly gorgeous … these solo numbers in particular speak across the centuries, but the pacing and sequencing of the album is great, making what should be a bit intimidating—an entire disc of just four voices—into a real treat’ (TheArtsDesk.com)» More
5 February 2025
Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Germany, Rainer Pöllmann
Schumann: Violin Sonatas
Studio Master: CDA68354  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

„Ich gebe zu, ich bin voreingenommen. Ein Fan“ (Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Germany)» More
3 February 2025

Schumann: Violin Sonatas
Studio Master: CDA68354  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

‘In the case of Schumann’s first sonata it really didn’t take long for me to fall under the spell of the portentous melancholy of its first movement’s serpentine opening theme, Ibragimova’s violin releasing a shimmering liquidity which is so apt for the strangeness of the material. This is ideally balanced by Tiberghien’s fluid, flexible contribution, oscillating seamlessly between reticence and urgency … the slow movement [of No 2] could not be projected more tenderly—the restraint is both affecting and perfectly judged. Frankly I don’t think I have ever heard this delightful panel played with more grace. Nor is the contrast with the rolling and rising agitation of the finale excessively overwhelming, indeed the playing teases out the subtle, unpredictable modulations at the movement’s core. Ibragimova and Tiberghien’s account of a work which can frequently seem sprawling is outstanding; judiciously measured, beautifully shaded and utterly convincing … Andrew Keener’s production is a model of lucidity, notwithstanding the opacity of certain elements of Schumann’s design. Laura Tunbridge’s splendid note is effortlessly entertaining and musicologically helpful … neither aficionados of late Schumann nor newcomers to its unique allure need hesitate’ (MusicWeb International)
1 February 2025

Debussy: String Quartet & Sonatas
Studio Master: CDA68463  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

‘In every respect, these are stronger readings than [The Nash Ensemble's earlier] Virgin Classics outing, not least due to the splendid recording in All Saints’ Church, East Finchley, a favoured Hyperion venue, produced by Andrew Keener. The sound is fuller and richer, the microphone placement closer, capturing more detail … I enjoy Gonley’s impetuosity in her finale and Brendel’s introspective brooding. Davies, Power and Wakeford are wonderfully animated in their sonata … aptly, Debussy’s Faune opens Hyperion’s programme in an exquisite arrangement by David Walter for wind quintet, string quartet, double bass, harp and crotales, which loses little from Debussy’s heady orchestral score … Debussy’s sole String Quartet ends the disc … the Nash’s fleet-footed reading is enormously enjoyable, as is this entire disc’ (Gramophone)
1 February 2025

Palestrina: The Golden Renaissance - Palestrina
Studio Master: 4870791  Download only  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

‘Stile Antico aim straight for the top of the playlist with [Palestrina's] most famous Mass and some scarcely less famous motets … thanks to their flawless ensemble work, Stile Antico can project whatever they choose, and although their approach to the work is familiar, on their own terms one can hardly imagine it done better’ (Gramophone)
1 February 2025

War Silence - Rare Italian piano concertos
Studio Master: CDA68458  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

‘Guido Alberto Fano’s Andante e Allegro con fuoco (1900) is an appealing recollection of Romanticism from an earlier era … [Dallapiccola’s Piccolo Concerto displays] an elegance of dialogue or a delicacy of scoring to which Roberto Prosseda and Nir Kabaretti respond with like mind … an absorbing listen’ (Gramophone)
31 January 2025
Classical Music Sentinel, Jean-Yves Duperron
Schumann: Violin Sonatas
Studio Master: CDA68354  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

‘Throughout the disc you can hear a committed partnership well at work, and always at the music's service without undue affectation or hauteur’ (Classical Music Sentinel)
30 January 2025
The Guardian, Erica Jeal
Khachaturian: Piano Concerto & works for solo piano
Studio Master: 4870877  Download only  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

‘Written in 1936 but little-known now, the concerto is a giant, Technicolor work that’s a great fit both for Thibaudet’s flamboyant yet precise playing style and for the LA Philharmonic and their conductor Gustavo Dudamel’ (The Guardian)

29 January 2025

Khachaturian: Piano Concerto & works for solo piano
Studio Master: 4870877  Download only  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

‘Tremendous panache from the soloist and a play-it-for-all-it's-worth razzmatazz from conductor and orchestra … if a recording of Khachaturian’s concerto is wanted, this live performance makes a clear first choice. Thibaudet adds a selection of the composer’s solo piano pieces, including half a dozen of the Pictures of Childhood and the Masquerade Suite, all appealingly played’ (Financial Times)

29 January 2025
Audiophile Audition, USA, Gary Lemco
Schumann: Violin Sonatas
Studio Master: CDA68354  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

‘The level of musical collaboration throughout this disc has remained peerless, the recorded production once more the courtesy of Andrew Keener’ (Audiophile Audition, USA)

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