Ludwig van Beethoven

“Medici has given us a typically dignified and beautifully recorded coupling of Beethoven's 'Pastorale' (1977) and Mozart's 'Jupiter' (1974) with the LPO, warmly considered performances and by no means lacking in energy” Rob Cowan, Gramophone Magazine

“The Mozart (from 1974) is a powerful reading, strongly energized in the outer movements in the finale, which thereby gains great stature. This is a very generous and welcome release.” Nigel Simeone, International Record Review

“… in an overcrowded Beethoven concerto market these distinctive and excellently engineered performances are well worth hearing…….Beethoven’s Second and Fifth concertos make for an uncommon yet attractively contrasted CD coupling. More importantly, pianist John O’Conor and conductor Andreas Delfs invest their much-recorded scores with deep feeling, relaxed yet never draggy tempi, and freshly considered details that provide a welcome corrective to the attention-getting elbow-pokes and finger-jabs favoured by certain recent contenders in the name of “interpretation”.” Gramophone Magazine

“The crowning glory in this fifth volume of András Schiff's resonantly recorded, chronological survey of the Beethoven sonatas is his urgently propelled Waldstein Sonata. Schiff clearly views this work as the piano equivalent to the Eroica Symphony, and uses maximum dynamic and textural contrast to emphasis its almost orchestral nature. ” BBC Music Magazine, November 2007 ****

“András Schiff leads the pack of top pianists recording Beethoven sonatas. His touch with these middle-period works is revelatory…” The Independent

“The Concerto in Brazilian Forms by Hekel Tavares ..is a colourful, melodic and derivative composition that will please most listeners with a sweet tooth…..Blumental sparkles” American Record Guide

“There is some delightful playing in both works. Lang Lang is at his best in the slow movements, where his range of colour and articulation illustrates his all-encompassing technical command and sense of both elegance and pathos.” BBC Music Magazine, September 2007 ****

“These famous recordings, made 40 years ago, emerge triumphantly, and the sound is far superior to many recent sets. It's hard to see why, with these available, anyone should feel the need to look further.” BBC Music Magazine, November 2007 *****

“The Italians give a most searching account of the first movement of op.127 and their firmness of tone and accuracy of ensemble compel admiration ... a magnificent account ... the Italian Quartet's performances are considerable. The sonority that they produce is beautifully blended and splendidly focused and yet their prime concern is with truth, not beauty.” Penguin Guide

“These celebrated recordings from Pollini's first Beethoven concerto cycle are preferable to his later remakes with Abbado. The muscular rigour of No. 3 is perhaps too brusque, but No. 4 has exceptional poise and poetry.” BBC Music Magazine, November 2007 ****

“Of all piano concertos, Beethoven's Fourth perhaps best suits Pollini's qualities. His tone is exceptionally beautiful in quiet passages, rich and full at loud moments. [...] a performance of the highest quality, one of the very best on record.” Records and Recording, March 1977