|
LCO Live The Times, *** The concerts of Warren-Green and the London Chamber Orchestra at St John's, Smith Square aren't often noticed in the press, but their large audience knows that they are some of the most exciting in London. Classic FM Magazine Tan's engaging way with mozart's Concerto No. 12 intersects nicely with the orchestra's freshly minted accompaniment. Rosemary Furniss's direction of Haydn's 'La Reine' Symphony captures the music's grandeur as well as its grace. And the subversive originality and rhythmic drive of Beethoven's wackiest symphony come roaring happily across. |
|
Dance of the Three Legged Elephants - Barley/Joseph Record of the Month, MusicWeb-International.com ... the recording beguiles and overwhelms alternately - sometimes simultaneously. Jazzwise Magazine Barley's execution and quality of invention are exceptional |
|
BBC 4 Sacred Music Series II James Walton, Telegraph, March 2010 The new series of Sacred Music presented by Simon Russell Beale, is turning out every bit as good as the first. AA Gill, Sunday Times, March 2010 It was told with immense enthusiasm, supported by equally immense expertise and insight, and finally it was beautifully and revealingly sung. It was assumed that the audience was interested but not expert, and it left us better informed, entertained, moved and inquisitive, all in our own living rooms. To say Russell Beale has a natural and easy ability to pass on the mathematics and ambition of music, as well as the metaphor of belief, is only to state the obvious. (...) anyone who finds this by chance and has half an ear for the spiritual will be entranced. |
|
BBC 4 Sacred Music Series
Scribo Ergo Sum, April 2008
Throughout the four-part series, which began on Good Friday and ended today, the choral group The Sixteen has been providing examples of the vastly varied kinds of music produced over the centuries. Telling the story through the music is a risky game, but it works wonderfully: the singers are exceptionally talented, and Harry Christophers is remarkable in his enthusiasm for the pieces he performs.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
The Swingle Singers : Beauty and the Beatbox
Classic FM Magazine, October 2007
A close-harmony choral version of Beethoven's Fifth slides into
'Staying Alive' by the Bee Gees, all over vocal drum'n'bass… yes, it could
have been awful, but the Swingle Singers and Shlomo ('the human beatbox') get
away with it with fabulous panache.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
The Flautadors: Purcell and Locke suites
Gramophone, October 2007
Akin to the pursuits of the Loeki Stardust Quartet of Amsterdam, that most durable of international recorder ensembles, the Flautadors take a distinctive view of Purcell’s instrumental oeuvre with a delightfully airy and “fantastical” programme.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Han-Na Chang: Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1
Gramophone, Mai 2006
A phenomenal young cellist in superb Shostakovich
The 50th anniversary of Prokofiev’s death in 2003 generated any number of rarities on disc. It was, however, the familiar Symphony-Concerto (Sinfonia concertante) that made the biggest impression. With sterling support from the LSO under Antonio Pappano, Han-Na Chang turned in the freshest reading since Mstislav Rostropovich himself (EMI, 5/03). Well, 2006 is Shostakovich centenary year and I doubt whether my postbag will contain anything more sensational than this follow-up disc.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
Reviews
