Author: Adrian Quanjer

Review of Petrit Çeku‘s Moments Musicaux, a wonderful journey through Schubert’s inner world. Another safe buy If the guitar player is Petrit Çeku, the music based on Schubert and the recording engineered by Gonzalo Noqué, then I’ve said it all. Another safe buy. End of story. When (a long time ago) my 14-year-old daughter had to summarize a […]

Adrian Quanjer, site reviewer at HRAudio writes about ‘Voyage’ – a “true organ-lover’s recording” from Jean-Baptiste Monnot. ‘En voyage’ avec Jean-Baptiste Every time Base2 Music release a dedicated organ album, one can be sure that “Jacob A. Purches, Producer, recording engineer, 3D designer, audiophile and music lover”, has done all in his power to make […]

Paying Tribute to Musical Life in the ‘City of Water’ Once upon a time, Veneto was more than Italy is now. For centuries the Republic of Venice belonged to the greatest seafaring nations and global trade partners. Despite subsequent geopolitical changes, its capital’s rich cultural heritage remained intact until this very day. Venice is as […]

Gourmet for the connoisseur TRPTK continues to cater for the discerning music lover. This new release is another example. One disk unites musicians from three continents with a programme that covers even five (or six, depending on the definition). ‘Adrift’ is the aptly chosen name: “Bodies of water, shifting boundaries, crossing borders, wandering styles…”. Gourmet […]

Nothing but remarkable discoveries. As a staunch supporter of multi-channel, I usually stay clear of stereo-only recordings ever since the surround format became available. In my belief, the latter creates more depth and a considerably improved sense of presence. Not that surround is always better. Much depends on the mastering. I have recordings in which […]

Gianandrea Noseda, Music Director of a superbly crafted American orchestra, combines exuberant Italian passion with stylistic Viennese élan. Anyone looking for a new set of Beethoven symphonies, do count these blessings. Save 15% on the entire series with the DSD Bundle! One more to choose from. What’s on offer? After all those years, Beethoven is […]

The surprise couldn’t be grander. In his liner notes Ralph Rousseau tells us that except for a handful of Viola da Gamba players, few have for a long time been aware of Carl Friedrich Abel’s Sonatas. I, too, was not all too familiar with many of them. With this TRPTK release, the surprise couldn’t be […]

A release no one should be without. Why? Two of the world’s prominent rising stars, The Ukrainian-born pianist, Anna Fedorova, and the Mexican-born violist, Dana Zemtsov, joined here by their equally renowned fathers, Borys Fedorov and Michail Zemtsov, have created a programme that is as interesting as it is unusual. Rather than repeating the gist […]

An intriguing release Who is scared of Bach? According to his very personal liner notes, Kersten McCall, principal flautist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, was. A youth trauma? “This is not Bach” said the jury when Kersten, aged 12, played a Bach Flute Sonata at the National Youth Competition in Germany. Now, many years later, […]

Are female Cellists better than male? Of late an array of young and talented female cello players have drawn our attention, like the promising Dutch, Ellen van Poucke, the Swiss revelation, Nadège Rochat, and, of course, the slightly more mature American, Alisa Weilerstein, and Argentinian, Sol Gabetta, both already playing at the highest international level.  […]

Schumann’s piano music is popular among pianists and audiences alike. Putting one’s stamp on any of the scores demands more than just playing all the notes as required by the composer. Easier said than done. What is meant by ‘Belebt, nicht zu rasch’ (animated, not too fast) in Gesänge der Frühe, Op. 133? It leaves […]

A definite proof of his exceptional musicianship. In an earlier blog devoted to Niek Baar, I said: “It may still be early days, but it would seem to me that there is a new star in the Dutch musical firmament”. These ‘early days’ are now over. Further proof of his exceptional musicianship is here and […]