1 January 1900

Schumann: Fantasiestücke, Piano Trio & Piano Quartet
Studio Master: CDA67175  Download only  Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

‘The Florestans—named after the more extrovert of Schumann's two artistic alter egos—have, in only five years, established themselves as the piano trio par excellence of our day. Their previous Schumann disc, comprising the D minor and F major trios, won deserved acclaim and a clutch of awards. Now they turn their attention to the late G minor trio, a comparative rarity in the concert hall these days. Listening to such exhilarating, spontaneous accounts of this wonderful music, it is hard to understand its neglect. Another superlative issue from Hyperion and the Florestans’ (The Sunday Times)
1 January 1900
La Vanguardia, Spain
Schumann: Humoreske & Sonata Op 11
CDA67618 

'Dos jóvenes pianistas aparecen en el horizonte del siglo XXI. Sin duda la antigua escuela de los Brendel, Lupu, etc. tiene difícil sustitución, pero un nuevo pianismo se presenta con estos nuevos artistas; un toque pulido, claro, buena técnica y no demasiado fervor, tratando a los genios románticos con cierta distancia, aliados con su calidad sin que su expresión empañe el discurso. Así parece expresarlo Angela Hewitt que propone dos muestras significativas y atractivas: Humoreske de Schumannn y, por otro lado, el monumento de El clave bien temperado de Bach, con cuidados legatos y una sonoridad homogénea' (La Vanguardia, Spain)
1 January 1900
American Record Guide
Schumann: Humoreske & Sonata Op 11
CDA67618 

‘Hewitt’s highly personal performances demonstrate a sure grasp of character. Her deep understanding of the music’s beauties, quirks, and pitfalls makes for a most compelling listening experience’ (American Record Guide)
1 January 1900
Piano, Germany
Schumann: Humoreske & Sonata Op 11
CDA67618 

„This is very superior playing indeed: an object lesson in pianistic refinement, tonal expressive and psychological imagination, and musicianship of the highest order. Hewitt's tonal palette is vast, exceptionally controlled and never indulged for its own sake … the tenderness and luminosity of tone in the slow movement of the sonata are quite haunting in thier immediacy—indeed that immediacy is amongst the hallmarks of the whole recording, be it haunting, jubilant, playful, morbid, dramatic or any of the other emotions and spiritual atmospheres that Schumann traverses almost as a matter of course“ (Piano, Germany)
1 January 1900
Fanfare, USA
Schumann: Humoreske & Sonata Op 11
CDA67618 

‘Her command of the keyboard is, as always, breathtaking … when Hewitt tackles composers that call forth her special talents, she has few equals’ (Fanfare, USA)
1 January 1900

Schumann: Humoreske & Sonata Op 11
CDA67618 

‘Hewitt's recordings are self-sufficient without the need for comparisons, but her Schumann sonata can hold its own against Maurizio Pollini's impressive 1973 version … the best possible way to make its acquaintance’ (International Record Review)
1 January 1900

Schumann: Humoreske & Sonata Op 11
CDA67618 

‘As ever with this pianist, we get playing that is thoughtful, thought-provoking, finely finished and intricantly nuanced. She imbues the opening movement of the sonata with a sure sense of structure and pace, and finds more energy than many of her rivals in the Scherzo’ (Gramophone)
1 January 1900

Schumann: Humoreske & Sonata Op 11
CDA67618 

‘Angela Hewitt's seemingly effortless but always adventurous interpretations … her poise and amplitude lend it an unearthly beauty … she holds our attention as no other pianist has, in my experience, quite managed in the giant rondo of a finale … handsome in fortissimo and mesmerising in sotto voce, the piano range is well served by Hyperion's Italian-based recording’ (BBC Music Magazine)

1 January 1900
The Guardian
Schumann: Humoreske & Sonata Op 11
CDA67618 

‘Her technical control remains as poised as ever, but Hewitt pushes much harder at the margins of the expressive world that directs it … in the often problematic F sharp minor Sonata, Hewitt is unreservedly superb, making the music cohere formally without ever undervaluing its flights of lyrical fantasy. For her the slow movement is the emotional heart of the whole sonata, but she is equally impressive in the rangy finale too, boldly characterising its component parts yet always conveying the sense of an organic whole’ (The Guardian)
1 January 1900
Classic FM Magazine
Schumann: Humoreske & Sonata Op 11
CDA67618 

‘The clarity of line is a Hewitt hallmark. It is present through the buzzing Allegro vivace, passing from right hand to left and back with seamless fluency, and it soars with the most delicate lightness through the Aria … Hewitt's Scherzo explodes with rhythm … the crushed notes are flashing sparks that might ignite. The Finale almost tumbles over itself with key-changes, expression and dynamics, but Hewitt contains all in a lover's embrace … it is as if genius has stepped out of its trance. This is joyful and exuberant play … a compelling Schumann player’ (Classic FM Magazine)

1 January 1900
The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs
Schumann: Kerner Lieder & Liederkreis
CDH55011 

‘A superb Schumann disc’ (The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs)
1 January 1900

Schumann: Kerner Lieder & Liederkreis
CDH55011 

‘An outstanding Helios CD … singing and playing of the highest order’ (Gramophone)
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