Elgar: Chanson de Matin, Op. 15 No. 2

“Mostly for fans of fairground music, but there is no denying Bowyer has flair.” BBC Music Magazine, January 2013 **

“…Madeleine Mitchell…clearly relishes giving her wonderfully lyrical tone full rein, captured in fine sound, while Andrew Ball is a perfectly discreet accompanist. Strauss's Morgen' makes an exquisite conclusion, as if everything before was merely an extension of the lengthy opening violin solo. When the voice finally enters, it does not seem the least bit out of place, and nor should it, for Elizabeth Watts's divine performance confirms that she is an exceptional young talent.” BBC Music Magazine, December 2007 ****

“Madeleine Mitchell's playing is most appealing. Her tone is sweet and bright, and she and Andrew Ball are unfailingly sensitive to the nuances and character of each piece.” Gramophone Magazine, December 2007

“One of Britain's liveliest musical forces, the indefatigably adventurous violinist Madeleine Mitchell” The Times

“Natalie Clein's opening statement is confident and clean: this is an Elgar with pace and portamento, but rather thin on poetry. The upside is the delightful selection of salon pieces at the end of this disc. In the impish La capricieuse and the touching Sospiri, we glimpse the mature, distinctive artist.” BBC Music Magazine, November 2007 ****

“Clein demonstrated the lyricism on which she’s building a solid reputation, her instrument … blossoming into a rich, burnished voice. Threads became soaring melodies, fragments made textural sense.” The Independent

“Clein’s playing has an especially warm tone and smooth phrasing; her cello treats each note with the same love, and these qualities make hers a particularly unique interpretation. Elgar’s sense of loss is conveyed powerfully under her fingers, but with a gentleness that du Pré’s tempestuous-to-the-point-of-rough delivery never gave.” Charlotte Gardner, bbc.co.uk, 14th September 2007