‘After his sparkling C P E Bach disc, released on the Hyperion label in January 2022, Marc-André Hamelin, that fearless master of the piano who seems to be able to playing anything (and I mean anything!) moves seamlessly from the precision and clarity of early classical keyboard music to an album of piano rags, written over the last 50 or so years, by American composer William Bolcom … all are distinctive, appealing in their references back to Joplin’s model, but with multiple moods and harmonies, and brilliantly presented by Hamelin, who seems to really relish this repertoire (and if you didn’t know it, listening to him you’d never guess he’s a classical pianist—there’s a natural jazz insouciance to Hamelin’s playing throughout the disc). There’s wit and humour aplenty, tempered, when needed, by tenderness and poignancy, whimsy, much charm and ingenious invention. If you don’t know the music of William Bolcom, this disc should absolutely be your starting point. It’s a wonderful, revelatory, and, above all, really enjoyable listen from start to finish. Recommended’ (ArtMuseLondon)

‘Today’s Recording of the Week—the complete rags of octogenarian pianist-composer William Bolcom, clocking in at a little over two hours—might sound intimidatingly niche, perhaps of interest only to devotees of this particular genre. Nothing could be further from the truth; Bolcom’s twenty-six rags run a gamut from exuberance to introspection, from humour to expressions of deep pain and grief. And who better than Marc-André Hamelin to perform them? … Hamelin responds perfectly to the changing shifts of mood and emotion in Bolcom’s multi-faceted exploration of the ragtime genre, clearly illustrating its variety and adaptability. No wonder Bolcom has never quite managed to kick this particular musical habit!’ (Presto Classical)» More

‘Angela Hewitt’s pianism is on an exalted level throughout both of these sonatas. I was enthralled by her performances and I also learned much from her insightful essay … an outstanding disc’ (MusicWeb International)» More

‘Bolcom's notes describe his ragtime journey from beginning to end, and Hamelin's playing is delightful. It's sympathetic, witty, virtuosic—you can almost hear him grinning with delight at Bolcom's harmonic and rhythmic ingenuity … brilliant entertainment’ (BBC Record Review)

‘The delicacy, fragility and suspended sound-world of Pavel Kolesnikov’s new recording is special, and his selection of the Rossignol pieces separated by the waltzes works really well. It’s a beautiful experience—subtle, mysterious, sometimes disorientating, abstract, intriguing—a little-known side of Hahn’s music magically presented here’ (BBC Record Review)

‘It’s a red-letter day to have William Bolcom’s Rags recorded as an entity, in great sound … Bolcom’s a fine pianist, too, so the writing is idiomatic, gratefully seized upon by Marc-André Hamelin who plays these upbeat, sentimental and whimsical, laidback and scintillating, unfailingly tuneful pieces not only with virtuosity but also insouciance and relish that transmits itself openly to the listener revelling in the sheer variety of Bolcom’s invention’ (colinscolumn.com)» More

‘Osborne works wonders as he renders the monstrously dense textures of the sonata pellucid and lends its meandering melodies direction, meanwhile giving the finale its full measure of infernal madness. Resisting every temptation to overplay, Osborne shapes confusion into dramatic purpose, lovingly enveloping the whole in imaginative insight … one is left wondering where, in the first quarter of the 21st century, one might turn for more idiomatic, more intelligent or more beautiful Rachmaninov-playing’ (Gramophone)

‘This recital collects 21 of Schubert’s best-loved songs in an attractive bouquet of moods … there is much to enjoy here … every note is delivered with white-hot sincerity in Coote’s rich-toned voice … Drake’s piano similarly glows; he draws an exquisite sound from the instrument, the playing consistently elegant and restrained … the recording quality is clear and warm’ (BBC Music Magazine)» More

‘Hyperion’s Leonore Trio raises the bar regarding forceful accents, emotional urgency, and dynamic contrast, especially in their faster, gruffer Scherzo movements. Peter Avis’ informative booklet notes and Hyperion’s superb engineering further tilt this release’s recommendable scales’ (Classics Today)

‘These are, on the one hand, unfailingly tuneful and charming pieces. They chart both Bolcom’s unique career—his straddling the worlds of serious and popular musics, as well as his interactions with various luminaries like Eubie Blake and Rudi Blesh—and his natural gift for melodic invention. At the same time, they’re fantastically inventive and rigorous, compositionally and harmonically … throughout, the pianist makes light of the music’s technical demands. These are formidable: Bolcom’s writing is consistently virtuosic. Yet they’re nothing to Hamelin, who sounds as if he were born to play this repertoire. Voicings and balances are excellent. The energy level—especially rhythmically—never flags … the whole album stands as the definitive recording of Bolcom rags, complete or excerpted: a triumph for the pianist and the composer, as well as a grandly spirited, accessible, inventive journey for any who care to join them on it’ (The Arts Fuse, USA)» More

‘This is the most enjoyable piano album of the year so far’ (Ludwig Van, Canada)

‘Trust Steven Osborne to cast candlelight on the distant voices and supernatural happenings others often miss in Rachmaninov … and when he pulls the full stops out, it’s awe inspiring … the ultimate build in the finale is astounding, too’ (BBC Music Magazine)» More