‘Marc-André Hamelin launches into the Hammerklavier Sonata’s opening Allegro with both assertion and transparency. He intelligently scales his dynamics and times the silences to navigate and illuminate the music’s contrasting peaks and valleys most effectively … Hamelin’s masterful marshalling of small details reveals both the majesty and the inherent classicism of Beethoven’s architecture … excellent sound and insightful annotations by Beethoven scholar Barry Cooper bolster my warm recommendation’ (Gramophone)

‘Now one of the outstanding men’s a cappella groups in England. Their blend and technical polish are second to none, but this is never at the expense of a warmly expressive delivery that never goes to subjective excess’ (American Record Guide)

‘Impressive … a significant addition to our understanding of Obrecht’s creativity’ (American Record Guide)

‘The repertoire is thoughtfully chosen and cogently explained. It is also beautifully performed, with the ensemble’s characteristic warm sound bringing the music fully to life … Queen of Hearts engages the listener both intellectually and artistically’ (American Record Guide)

‘This is splendid … Momen gets it that listeners want to hear a piano sing’ (American Record Guide)

‘[Reinecke No 3 is] a melodic, lyrical 35-minute work in three movements, written in 1877, in which pianist Simon Callaghan picks you up at the start of each movement and maintains an expressive, flexible continuity to the end. The second movement (Largo) is especially lovely and flowing. The direction for the final movement (Allegro vivace e grazioso) says it all; the style is very reminiscent of Chopin’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘Early Schubert has gained in esteem with modern listeners, and the beauty of this quartet [D112] is easy to appreciate. The Takács’s mellow elegance suits the music very well. One could hardly ask for better’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘Multi-pianist discs are few and far between, the visual impact of many hands making light work of (usually) arrangements of orchestral works being more compelling than hearing them on a recording. In fact, only two of the four works here feature more than 20 fingers but the programme is never less than fascinating, containing as it does four first recordings, the most significant being the first item, Fantasie and Variations on a Theme by Weber … an entertaining work of sophisticated frivolity and bound to become standard two-piano repertoire … I have not said anything about the four pianists who call themselves, a tad prosaically, MultiPiano Ensemble, nor about Ivor Bolton and his Berlin players. They are terrific, a joy to hear, extremely well recorded—and I hope they return to give us more of the multi-piano/pianist repertoire with and without orchestra’ (Gramophone)

„Für alle, die noch diskografische Lücken schließen möchten, ist diese Aufnahme eine Fundgrube … Die Aufnahme ist so kurzweilig, wie die Zusammenstellung vermuten lässt—auch weil Bolton die Fäden klug bündelt, Dramatisches aufraut, Lyrisches aussingen lässt und vor allem, weil er die Solisten mit dem Orchester nie zudeckt“ (Fono Forum, Germany)» More

‘Hamelin marshals his considerable skills for a reading of the Hammerklavier that clarifies and illuminates rather than simply overpowers. Key to this achievement are a lighter touch and precise articulation that put some spring into Beethoven’s dense chords in the opening movement … his way with the great Adagio seems near-perfect, mesmerizing but always with a quiet sense of forward motion. As for the legendarily taxing fugue in the finale, once thought to be unplayable, he makes it sound improbably pianistic’ (The New York Times)

‘British cellist Steven Isserlis lovingly addresses the diversely elegant art of Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805) whose chamber music and cello concertos reflect his long tenure in Spain … exquisitely delicate and charming, this music dances on the strings of both the heart and the imagination’ (Audiophile Audition, USA)» More

‘This immensely enjoyable album masterminded by the Israeli pianist Tomer Lev features his dazzling Multipiano Ensemble in pieces for four and eight hands, with and without orchestra … the version [of the 'Wanderer' Fantasy] with two pianos recorded here was made by Alexander Tamir for his well-known Eden & Tamir duo. It keeps Liszt’s orchestral score intact, but redistributes the piano part to make it less Lisztian, and more Schubertian. Ivor Bolton and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra offer skilful support … finally, the 19th-century pianist Ernst Pauer’s arrangements of two of Schubert’s duet marches add octaves all over the place without actually enhancing the originals in any way, but the music itself, and especially the Viennese lilt of its trio sections, remains irresistible’ (BBC Music Magazine)