Mark Bebbington

“Bebbington’s approach fulfils with prescient fluidity the composer’s textural ambitions, yet resists tossing off the flourishes with undue slickness or abandoning the chaste lyrical imperative that, as with all Ireland’s music, binds together the considerable pianistic accoutrements…. The continuing wave of enthusiasm for John Ireland’s music is certainly to be warmly embraced and I look forward with eagerness to Mark Bebbington’s second instalment.” International Record Review, June 2008

“....I am delighted the ever-enterprising Somm label has brought out a recording of an arrangement for piano of Elgar’s First Symphony, transcribed shortly after the symphony’s premiere by the young British pianist Mark Bebbington. This fascinating transcription sheds new light on Elgar’s symphony and no Elgarian should miss it.” David Mellor, Mail on Sunday, 11th November 2007 + 5 Star Performance in BBC Music Magazine, November 2007

“Bebbington is a sensitive, stylish performer who never forces the tone and displays a genuine empathy for Bridge’s touching and consistently absorbing inspiration. What’s more, his subtly variegated tonal palette has been agreeably captured…If future volumes maintain a similar level of excellence, then this will surely be a series worth pursuing.” Andrew Achenbach, The Gramophone

“With this delectably performed and well engineered recording he (Bebbington) is well set to enter the mainstream CD market.” David Hart. Birmingham Post May 8th 2007

As Andrew Achenbach intimates in his review, this is a classy recital from a classy pianist. Mark Bebbington pairs works by Sir Malcolm Arnold (for an 85th birthday tribute) and Constant Lambert to complementary effect. But he brings out the invention that is common to both, the individuality that perhaps kept each from really joining the mainstream. - Gramophone Magazine

"Bebbington's playing of this attractive music is always secure but never too showy, full of warm musicality and dramatic atmosphere". Birmingham Post