Wieniawski: Étude-caprice, Op. 18 No. 4 in A minor

“It's clear that Charlie Siem enjoys playing these pieces and there's no feeling of struggle as he steps up to their various virtuoso challenges...Siem's appearance of having a good time is shared by Caroline Jaya-Ratnam, who is not only a sympathetic accompanist but is ready, at the right moment, to take a share of the limelight.” Gramophone Magazine, April 2011

“I like the touch of melancholy he finds in Sarasate's gypsy tunes. The Bazzini is spectacular: ricochets, left-hand pizzicati, stratospheric harmonics and all...Waxman's famous Heifetz-inspired Carmen Fantasie, with its fine mix of lyricism and finger-twisting, is lovingly done here, and perhaps the track to which I am most likely to return.” International Record Review, March 2011

“The transfer to CD of this early seventies recording is every bit as satisfying as that on the comparably magical Paganini recording reviewed on page 1222. Hearing these two recordings, both over ten years old, next to Perlman's Philadelphia recording of the Tchaikovsky (reviewed on page 1228), brings it home how, with analogue recording in the seventies, good engineering in a sympathetic venue was of vital importance in conveying realism. Like the Paganini this brings rich, full sound immediate and real, firm in perspective against an open, believable acoustic, all to the credit of Suvi Raj Grubb as producer and Bob Gooch as engineer. The version of No. 2 which Perlman recorded in Paris ten years later for DG is less sympathetic to my ear for all its brilliance in both sound and performance. It can be reasonably recommended if you want the Saint-Saens coupling, but for an apter coupling in a performance even more winning I would opt for the EMI disc with no feeling of losing out on quality of sound, rather the opposite.” Gramophone Magazine

“Perlman gives scintillating performances, full of flair, and is excellently accompanied, The recordings, from 1973, is warm, vivid and well balanced.” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition

“A violinist at the height of her powers, in performances that are affectionate, powerful, playful or virtuosic, as the music requires. Especially attractive are the many Kreisler originals or arrangements.” BBC Music Magazine, September 2011 *****

“…a technical wizard and an artist in total command of his instrument, someone who would surely have developed an extra musical dimension had he been granted another 30 or so years to do so.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2009

“…James Ehnes… has been given the run of the extraordinary collection of violins and violas assembled by David Fulton, to wit: one Pietro Guarneri, six Stradivari, two Guarneri "del Gesù" and violas by Bertolotti, Andrea Guarneri and Guadagnini… On the CD, you can enjoy Ehnes playing an enriching recital on all 12 instruments, capped by 12 "comparison tracks" in which the same brief passage from Bruch's Scottish Fantasy (Harold in Italy for the violas) is played on each instrument in turn. The same performances were filmed for the DVD. There are interviews with Ehnes, Fulton and others.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2009

“Heard with one ear, this CD and DVD package presents an attractive collection of violin bon-bons, with three viola pieces thrown in. Heard with two ears, it's a fascinating journey through history, with Ehnes sharing the repertoire among 12 antique and precious instruments from the Fulton Collection, each with their own subtle character. A highlight is the 1737 Guarneri violin, smokily sumptuous in Cyril Scott's Lotus Land. The DVD's roaming camera grows fatiguing; not so Ehnes's musicianship.” The Times, 14th February 2009 ****

“The icing on the cake is provided by the DVD, which shows how Ehnes achieves miracles at close hand, including his unconventional left-hand thumb extension and relatively firm bow-hold. Beautifully photographed, consummately played and beguilingly engineered, this is a must for all music lovers.” BBC Music Magazine, March 2009 *****