‘Now, award-winning Portuguese ensemble Cupertinos has turned its attention to this neglected composer … without doubt the real joy belongs to the two Masses … well worth investigating’ (Classical Source)» More

‘For aficionados of Golden Age polyphony, this is all self-recommending. That’s all without Cupertinos’ distinctive qualities, which are as evident here as on their debut: a very open sound, with the astringent tones of the female singers very much to the fore thanks to an equally bright acoustic’ (Gramophone)

‘The masterpieces come at the beginning and the end, the motets by Stanford and the songs by Parry, in which whole worlds of pain, belief, hope and tradition are condensed into telling cadences that internalise rather than boast about technique and aspiration … it’s in these more classical designs that O’Donnell’s choir shows its poise: thrillingly bright and straight-backed in Stanford’s ‘Caelos ascendit hodie’ (and judicious in that vibrant final cadence) and going with the flow in the tremendous text-led freedoms of Parry’s Songs of Farewell, the most remarkable meeting of English choral style with sheer instinct … it radiates an optimism of its own, which may well prove even more special in the long run’ (Gramophone)

‘There are many impressive things about these performances, not least the way Alban Gerhardt reinterprets important aspects of these pieces—particularly in the far better-known First Concerto. The slow movement, for instance, is taken at what sounds a lot more Shostakovich’s Moderato than the usual Adagio. It’s less spacious, less likely to drift into reverie, than the classic Rostropovich versions, but the gain in the sense of line is striking. This is less a troubled nocturnal dreamscape than a sustained, anguished ‘song of the night’. The same urgent purposefulness can be felt in the fast outer movements too: not so much barbed humour, rather a sense of someone driven to express as cogently and concisely as possible’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘Hamelin takes us through honey, heroics and heartache, lingering upon a phrase, a cadential turn, a melodic poignancy where once he might have pressed on, voiced tone production at a premium. Roulades glisten. The bass regions (here and there texturally strengthened or re-octaved) glow and caress sensually, the fortissimos thunder with Jovian, unmuddied declamation, all carried by a Ferrari of a Hamburg Steinway with power and more to take on the crowds at Monza, as characterfully equal to the beauties of Don Pasquale or veils and panoplies of Ernani as the cultured artistry and flowers of Moïse, the ‘monster’ stunts and drama of Hexaméron. Produced and engineered by Andrew Keener and Arne Akselberg, this is a ravishing, high octane journey. Réminiscences, dreams, feather every turn—historical, musical, personal. A pianophile’s paradise. Breathtaking’ (Classical Source)» More

‘Hamelin has the last word on both composers, his Don Pasquale combining the very best elements of his rivals’ readings (and slipping in a few revelations of his own.) His superfine touch and easeful articulation in the Rossini are simply breathtaking. Factor in a compelling sense of drama, culminating in apotheoses and you have the full measure of both the music and this prodigiously talented pianist. (Francis Pott’s detailed notes complete this moreish treat.) Remarkable repertoire, peerless pianism and exemplary engineering; this is sure to be high on my list of the year’s very best releases’ (MusicWeb International)» More

‘Gerhardt and conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste reinvent the work [No 2], its lyricism and black humour given extra emphasis … absolutely marvellous, and the most persuasive, approachable version of the work I’ve heard … incredibly good [No 1], and that’s without mentioning the detailed notes (including an insightful foreword from Gerhardt), fulsome sound and attractive cover art’ (TheArtsDesk.com)» More

‘Hexaméron requires immense technical prowess and dynamic pianism, which Hamelin has in spades: his playing is muscular, precise and unwavering in intensity … these are dynamic works of relentless, thundering pianism recorded with a rich depth and presence. A thrilling roller-coaster ride not for the faint-hearted’ (Limelight, Australia)» More

‘The Goldner String Quartet and Piers Lane have themselves formed a lively collaborative ensemble, as reflected in their discs. The recording has been splendidly balanced and all concerned respond to the music with technical and expressive surety. Lewis Foreman is on cracking form in his notes. If the bluffer elements of the d’Erlanger make the bigger impression it’s because, in my own view, it’s the more attractive work but the coupling remains a thoughtful and canny juxtaposition’ (MusicWeb International)» More

‘Having become accustomed to the rather sweet sounds of Finnish choirs doing Mäntyjärvi, this new release from Hyperion comes across as wonderfully sumptuous … it takes a world-class ensemble to fully bring out the sumptuousness of all this harmonic colour, and the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge is just such an ensemble … Jaakko Mäntyjärvi’s works have been recorded on many occasions in the past, to be sure, but he certainly deserves—and perhaps needed—a showcase album by a top-quality choir’ (YLE, Finland)» More

‘[d'Erlanger's] quintet dates from 1902, and I rather fell for the quiet depths of the second movement … rewarding performances of both works by Piers Lane and the Goldner Quartet’ (BBC Record Review)

‘Between them, Alban Gerhardt and Jukka-Pekka Saraste do a grand job on behalf of Shostakovich’s two Rostropovich-centric Cello Concertos (Opuses 107 & 126), the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra (WDR) also proving to be a protagonist of distinction … these are inspired performances’ (colinscolumn.com)» More