Delius: Love’s Philosophy (from Three Shelley Songs)

“Hearing the songs of both composers without the texts, and played with such attention to contour and gradation, reminds us just how masterly and diverse both composers were in their art of the solo song...As the title of the disc suggests, this is an ideal collection to while away the summer evenings.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2012

“What emerges - as if we needed reminding - is the great gift of each man for melody: divorced from their texts, they work almost better in this form!” International Record Review, February 2012

“Mark Stone is full and strong across his range, if lacking in variety. His diction is a model of clarity. Stephen Barlow partners him capably and sympathetically, though some of Delius's more complex pianistic effects would have benefited from a less close-up recording...But lovers of Delius's music should snap up this disc.” BBC Music Magazine, October 2011

“I've been critical of Mark Stone's use of big primary colours in subtle English songs in the past, but found his approach to Delius far more persuasive, rich in nuance, sensual contrasts of colour and range of textual expression...The partnership between singer and pianist, tested many times in concert and the recording studio, is one of give and take, collectively eloquent and ideally committed to extracting the essence of each song.” Classic FM Magazine, October 2011 ****

“The remarkable thing about this first volume of the collected Delius songs, quite apart from the quality of Mark Stone's singing, is that so few of them are identifiable as the work of Delius...Stone has a remarkable voice, firm and finely focused, which he uses seductively over the widest dynamic and expressive range. His singing is ideally matched by the piano-playing of Stephen Barlow, the whole cleanly and clearly recorded, a credit to Stone Records.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2012

“The baritone's tone is warm and rich without ever becoming fruity and, when Delius rises to an impassioned climax...Stone produces a noble flood of sound that is truly impressive...full texts are given in English and, where appropriate, in their Norwegian originals...Not that even the English is really necessary, as Stone's diction is so exemplary.” International Record Review, September 2011

“The highlights here are the Four Old English Lyrics, to words by Shakespeare and Ben Jonson, among others, in which Stone’s engagingly natural style and immaculate diction are supported by Barlow’s sympathetic playing.” Sunday Times, 14th August 2011 ***

“Delius composed some 62 songs, of which Yvonne Kenny and her sensitive partner Piers Lane have chosen 25; they seem completely attuned to their world, all atmospheric yet achieved with the utmost economy of means.” BBC Music Magazine, April 2007 ****

“some expressive orchestral playing shows up well in the recorded balance, and the hushed ending is beautiful. The Aarhus Symphony Orchestra also distinguishes itself in the North Country Sketches. Henriette Bonde-Hansen gives a lovely account of three early Shelley songs, in orchestrations by Holten” BBC Music Magazine, August 2012 ****

“The reason for buying this CD is Songs of Sunset, one of Delius’s finest works ...The music is suffused with melancholy, nostalgia and autumn stillness, but it’s the dreamy sensuousness of the idiom that comes across most strongly in this superb performance, ridding the piece of prim-and-proper Englishness.” Financial Times, 25th August 2012 ****

“this new recording offers so many riches. This and the fact that Danish, Bo Holten continues to impress with his commitment to Delius means that I must offer this disc ‘Recording of the Month’ status.” MusicWeb International, August 2012