18 December 2022
Limelight, Australia, Paul Ballam-Cross
A Golden Cello Decade, 1878-1888‘Isserlis has certainly collected a lovely set of pieces here, (almost) all from the 1880s. As you’d expect, his playing on this release is absolutely without fault … the highlight of this release is easily Luise Adolpha Le Beau’s Cello Sonata, Op 17. A quick online search shows few high-profile recordings of the piece before now, but I’ll eat my hat if this high-octane recording doesn’t push this fabulous work into the repertoire of a few more cellists. It’s intense, moody, and moving—everything you want out of a good sonata, and indeed everything you want out of a good new release, too’ (Limelight, Australia)
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1 December 2022
The Arts Fuse, USA, Susan Miron
A Golden Cello Decade, 1878-1888‘Isserlis has a knack for coming up with clever CD concepts, and his latest, A Golden Cello Decade: 1878-1888, is no exception … the extraordinary pianist is Connie Shih. Isserlis says she is his favorite from among his many distinguished (he calls them 'long-suffering') keyboard partners. There is also a lovely cameo by harpist Olivia Jageurs during Bruch’s Kol Nidrei (where the harp appears in the orchestral version). This gorgeous chestnut opens the album with a dramatic flair that never turns maudlin’ (The Arts Fuse, USA)
1 December 2022
Classica, France, Fabienne Bouve
Haydn: String Quartets Opp 42, 77 & 103‘The Takács Quartet still retains that uniquely distinguishable sonority, full and round, typical of central Europe. And what a quality it is! … [they] maintain an elegant restraint throughout, an option that is bang on target in this repertoire, particularly in the Op 77 and Op 103 Quartets, works of maturity composed between 1798 and 1803 … [and] given a warmly expressive performance by the Takács … Op 42 completes the programme, and the superb cantabile of the third movement is essential listening’ (Classica, France)
