Reviews

A reliable account of a great work, accompanied by good renditions of most of smaller piano pieces. It is very well recorded, and the booklet notes are engaging. —Harrington   (01/06/2019)

Pédale légère, doigts discrètement invincibles, allure décidée mais jamais trop rapide, merveilleux sens théâtral nuancé avec un tact et un amour de l'instrument auquel il m'est impossible de résister. —Alain Lompech *****  (01/06/2019)

"Les disques du mois." Dumont souligne une pureté de son et un respect absolu des limites sonores de l'instrument. L'écriture dense est sculptée par une économie de pédale et une polyphonie lucide [...]. —Melissa Khong ****/4  (01/05/2019)

This is an outstanding, exceptionally atmospheric account of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. —Alain Steffen 5/6  (28/03/2019)

Entre pureté et émotion, le langage proposé ici jouit d’une certaine liberté qui se conjugue avec justesse au discours de Chopin. Tout est dosé, réfléchi et toujours à propos. Du très beau piano, à nouveau, de la poésie en musique. —Ayrton Desimpelaere 10/10  (24/10/2018)

Vittorio Forte uses his pianistic skills to differentiate Chopin’s Waltzes, thus reflecting the various moods of the music. A very personal and overall superb recording! —Remy Franck 6/6  (15/10/2018)

De la poésie, les doigts de Vittorio Forte n’en manquent pas. Elle sert un discours musical élégant, fascinant de spontanéité, d’immédiateté, voire d’urgence, comme si ces Valses « éphémères » portaient en elles une fragilité irrémédiable. —Jean-Jacques Millo   (05/10/2018)

Cette élégance sans fard, cette très grande simplicité qui rubatise a minima pour parfois suspendre mieux le temps, le style exemplaire des phrasés, la franchise des couleurs. [...] —DR   (01/10/2018)

[...] the rising French pianist François Dumont with a stunning new version [...] a clarity, momentum and coherence that immediately grab the ear. His controlled pianissimos imbue the melodies with tender sweetness. —Michael Johnson ****  (01/09/2018)

Dumont, capace di dominare la materia sonora. Davvero degna di nota la presa del suono. Dinamica precisa, dotata di una sua naturalezza e debita velocità [...] —Andrea Bedetti *****  (15/08/2018)

It’s a dark-toned work and Dumont renders its particular drama, with its occasional near explosiveness and tenderness, remarkably. [...] His performance is equally convincingly. His tone is beautiful and his piano is clearly and warmly recorded. —Michael Ullman   (02/08/2018)

Leroy Shield, uncredited composer of the background music by legendary comedy Laurel & Hardy. Simonetto is a super talented pianist with a deep love for the silent films. He had a mentor in Eric James, Music Associate of Charlie Chaplin. —Nick Luscombe   (26/06/2018)

Leroy Shield, uncredited composer of the background music by legendary comedy Laurel & Hardy. Simonetto is a super talented pianist with a deep love for the silent films. He had a mentor in Eric James, Music Associate of Charlie Chaplin. —Nick Luscombe   (26/06/2018)

Erik Satie: Early & Esoteric Works, seem(s) to really capture the mystical spirit of this bizarre music. [...] And, for Satie's early, mystical, and esoteric works, I really, really, really do like that wonder from Simonetto! —Robert Malone   (07/06/2018)

[...] which is up to the high standards of what remains my choice for early Satie music, that of Alessandro Simonetto Erik Satie: Early & Esoteric Works. —Robert Malone   (22/05/2018)

The King of Instruments, as praised by Mozart, unveils its beauty through an invigorating reading of some of the most notable music of the Baroque era, such as Toccata & Fugue! —   (16/04/2018)

L'éclectique François Dumont privilégie una atmosphère douce, un peu effacée, non sans charme. L'ensemble, sage et uniforme, finit par nous plonger dans une confortable lassitude. —Bertrand Boissard ****  (01/04/2018)

With bell-like melodic lines, Dumont elicits a singing tone from the piano. Emotions are to the fore, without the undue histrionics of many Chopin performances. —OC ****  (01/04/2018)

Una bella proposta dell’etichetta OnClassical con la clavicembalista Elisabetta Guglielmin che nelle note non manca di ringraziare il suo Maestro Kenneth Gilbert che l’ha guidata alla scoperta della musica francese [...] —Guido Zaccagnini   (06/03/2018)

Elisabetta plays these with apt gravitas and majesty. A former pupil of Gilbert, she has inherited much of his sobriety and restraint and throughout proves to be a fluent and persuasive interpreter of Jacquet de la Guerre’s distinctively French idiom. —Kate Bolton-Porciatti ****/*****  (22/02/2018)

L'extrême clarté enfin pour faire saillir le lyrisme fondamental de ces morceaux, et un travail fouillé sur la dynamique, depuis des pianissimos envoûtants jusqu'à des orages grandioses et contrôlés dans les épisodes médians. —Jean-Pierre Robert *****  (19/02/2018)

Devrions-nous Evoquer, distinguer un Nocturne plus qu'un autre que cela serait presque indélicat et spécieux. De bout en bout, la tenue du jeu est irréprochable, le toucher resplendissant, les respirations appropriées. —Jean-Paul Bottemanne Lex News   (09/02/2018)

OnClassical presents a tribute to the beauty of Scott Joplin's pianos compositions, which will immerse you in typical old Saloon's atmosphere! —   (27/12/2017)

Revisiting the beautiful piano compositions of Frédéric Chopin, Debussy - Composer and Ravel, indie label OnClassical brings harmony, affinity and enjoyment to our ears through classical music! —   (13/12/2017)

Revisiting the beautiful piano compositions of Frédéric Chopin, Debussy - Composer and Ravel, indie label OnClassical brings harmony, affinity and enjoyment to our ears through classical music! —   (13/12/2017)

Elisabetta Guglielmin, [...] talentuosa e raffinata musicista veneta, che alle Pièces de Clavecin di questa compositrice del ‘600 ha dedicato un affascinante lavoro discografico. —Barbara Tartari   (01/11/2017)

Elisabetta Guglielmin, clavicembalista di indubbio talento ed elevata sensibilità. [...] La presa del suono a cura del mai abbastanza lodato pianista Alessandro Simonetto che dimostra anche qui qualità e sensibilità al pari delle sue interpretazioni... —Edmondo Filippini *****  (24/10/2017)

Late Beethoven has rarely sounded more lyrical and songful. Even the most virtuoso passages - which are played with technique to spare - do not become show effects or mere ornaments, but are part of a continuous melodic and rhythmic development. —Herbert Zoellner *****  (17/10/2017)

The young Italian pianist (and computer scientist) Giovanni Mazzocchin takes on quite a challenge with these 'mature' Beethoven works. The Bagatelles are marvelously interpreted. It is also a joy to listen to the Diabelli Variations. [...] —Herbert Zoellner *****  (12/10/2017)

Album der Woche. Elisabetta Guglielmin überzeugt gerade dadurch, dass sie dabei auf jede Effekthascherei verzichtet. Die vielen Verzierungen, Schleifen und Schlenker dieser Musik, die schnell gestelzt wirken können, fließen hier ganz natürlich. —Dorothee Riemer ****  (10/10/2017)

Simonetto, artista in grado di far raggiungere al pianoforte momenti di pianissimo quasi inudibili che, giocando su un uso sapiente del pedale di risonanza riescono a creare un’atmosfera quasi impalpabile [...] —Edmondo Filippini *****  (23/09/2017)

Maurizio Zaccaria nimmt vom ersten Titel an für sich ein durch eine pianistisch hochran- gige und ebenso fantasievoll sensible wie locker überlegene Vortragsart. —Ingo Harden 4,5/5  (01/09/2017)

Alessandro Simonetto has the required technique to do justice to these works and he [...] knows how to capture the audacity and depths suggested by these enigmatic pieces very well, providing an absorbing and meditative stillness. The sound is also great! —Pyotr Petrovich *****  (02/08/2017)

Zaccaria plays all this music with plenty of skill. [...] The consistency of these pianists’ performances is truly remarkable. — infodad.com ++++/4  (22/07/2017)

Done wonderfully by Alessandro Simonetto the way the music would sound BEFORE recorded for Roach. You get the music as MUSIC without the 1930s type orchestra. This will be out of print and be a collectors item. —Joel L. Gandelman *****  (03/07/2017)

Done wonderfully by Alessandro Simonetto the way the music would sound BEFORE recorded for Roach. You get the music as MUSIC without the 1930s type orchestra. This will be out of print and be a collectors item. —Joel L. Gandelman *****  (03/07/2017)

Simonetto fait sentir la profondeur habitée de ces pages énigmatiques, qui vaut bien les versions de référence [...] tout en y ajoutant une singulière quiétude, méditative et intense. —Romaric Gergorin ****/4  (01/07/2017)

Nevertheless, Zaccaria has a light touch well suited to Massenet’s underrated piano music. The delights come in many forms: Un momento musicale (1897) is a terrific piece, and deserves to be heard more. The delights come in many forms. —Colin Clarke ****  (01/07/2017)

Great! [...] everything very well done. [...] All enjoyable listening, nothing less than exceedingly fine performances. [...] presents some of the best I have yet heard in this particular repertoire. —Robert Malone *****  (18/06/2017)

Simonetto's interpretation is quite pleasant. The recording quality is excellent, with beautiful clear tone and deep and natural left hand notes. The sound is considerably richer and more natural than the CDs used as a comparison. —Roger McCuaig   (11/06/2017)

The recording quality is excellent - as is usually the case with Aevea releases, - the piano shines with clarity and depth of tone. Maurizio Zaccaria has a clean and controlled touch on the keyboard. —Roger McCuaig   (01/06/2017)

There is something of the spirit of musicology here. Simonetto's performances carry astonishing power at times; at others, there is pure tomfoolery afoot. Specialist repertoire, certainly, but give it a go! —Colin Clarke *****  (01/06/2017)

There is something of the spirit of musicology here. Simonetto's performances carry astonishing power at times; at others, there is pure tomfoolery afoot. Specialist repertoire, certainly, but give it a go! —Colin Clarke *****  (01/06/2017)

Simonetto fait sentir la profondeur habitée de ces pages énigmatiques, qui vaut bien les versions de référence [...] tout en y ajoutant une singulière quiétude, méditative et intense. —Romaric Gergorin ****/4  (01/06/2017)

Pianist Maurizio Zaccaria hat es gewagt und erfol greich die Stimmung, ja das typisch ame- rikanische bensgefühl der George Gershwin 1920er Jahre ein Gershwin's Songbook, gefangen. —Isabel Fedrizzi   (01/05/2017)

The best recording of the Piano Trio that I have heard, and some less well-known works by Granados. The playing is first-rate throughout. The recorded sound is very good. —Stuart Sillitoe   (04/04/2017)

The delightful result gives indications of what it might have been like to be in the company of Leroy Shield as he gave a piano rendering of his own compositions. Simonetto is tough his own musician; he brings something new and valuable to the music. —Glenn Mitchell The Laurel & Hardy Magazine   (01/04/2017)

The delightful result gives indications of what it might have been like to be in the company of Leroy Shield as he gave a piano rendering of his own compositions. Simonetto is tough his own musician; he brings something new and valuable to the music. —Glenn Mitchell The Laurel & Hardy Magazine   (01/04/2017)

The final result of Alessandro Simonetto's work is truly superlative, because the music — animated by varied rhythms, from ragtime to waltzes — come alive in all its pleasant freshness and variety, highlighting the melodic imagination of the composer. —Gilberto Mion   (01/03/2017)

Het gehele ensemble munt uit in een sterk ontwikkeld intuïtief gevoel voor deze muziek. Alessandro Simonetto legde dit kleurrijke spel niet minder kleurrijk vast. In een woord prachtig! —Aart van der Wal Opus Klassiek   (01/03/2017)

Leroy Shield's mellifluous, jocular, sentimental tunes for early '30s Hal Roach comedies, re-played in their original piano forms. Includes first full recording of theme for 1931'2 laugh-riot Laughing Gravy. —IH ****/4  (01/03/2017)

Leroy Shield's mellifluous, jocular, sentimental tunes for early '30s Hal Roach comedies, re-played in their original piano forms. Includes first full recording of theme for 1931'2 laugh-riot Laughing Gravy. —IH ****/4  (01/03/2017)

Italienische Pianist Alessandro Simonetto, One-Man-Show abliefert, die night nur Spass macht, sondern auch pianistisch 'alle Register' zieht, alle möglichen Stile bedient und nicht zuletzt auch klanglich sehr schön dargeboten wird. Prädikat: Kult! —Burkhard Schäfer   (01/03/2017)

The final result of Alessandro Simonetto's work is truly superlative, because the music — animated by varied rhythms, from ragtime to waltzes — come alive in all its pleasant freshness and variety, highlighting the melodic imagination of the composer. —Gilberto Mion   (01/03/2017)

Italienische Pianist Alessandro Simonetto, One-Man-Show abliefert, die night nur Spass macht, sondern auch pianistisch 'alle Register' zieht, alle möglichen Stile bedient und nicht zuletzt auch klanglich sehr schön dargeboten wird. Prädikat: Kult! —Burkhard Schäfer   (01/03/2017)

Si arricchisce di una nuova produzione la carriera del violinista Paolo Ghidoni che per la etichetta OnClassical ha realizzato le 6 Sonate di Ysaÿe: scelta coraggiosa per le notevoli difficoltà che presentano per l’interprete... — Gazzetta di Mantova   (24/02/2017)

This disc is clearly a labour of love by pianist Alessandro Gioele Simonetto, who studied film music with Charlie Chaplin's associate composer Eric James. Captivating and completely idiomatic performances. They are recorded, moreover, in very fine sound. —Rob Maynard   (20/02/2017)

This disc is clearly a labour of love by pianist Alessandro Gioele Simonetto, who studied film music with Charlie Chaplin's associate composer Eric James. Captivating and completely idiomatic performances. They are recorded, moreover, in very fine sound. —Rob Maynard   (20/02/2017)

Un lavoro davvero certosino quello che ha portato Alessandro Simonetto con lo studioso Piet Schreuders a ridare vita alle musiche originali di Leroy Shield, grazie alle trascrizioni ricavate dalle pellicole originali anche mediante l'uso di spettrogrammi. —Valentina Lo Surdo   (31/01/2017)

Un lavoro davvero certosino quello che ha portato Alessandro Simonetto con lo studioso Piet Schreuders a ridare vita alle musiche originali di Leroy Shield, grazie alle trascrizioni ricavate dalle pellicole originali anche mediante l'uso di spettrogrammi. —Valentina Lo Surdo   (31/01/2017)

Simonetto, en véritable amoureux, a donc, pour plusieurs pièces, réécouté les films et reconstruit la musique entendue à travers les effets sonores et les dialogues. —Frédéric Cardin   (19/01/2017)

Simonetto, en véritable amoureux, a donc, pour plusieurs pièces, réécouté les films et reconstruit la musique entendue à travers les effets sonores et les dialogues. —Frédéric Cardin   (19/01/2017)

Simonetto con più diplomi al conservatorio ci tiene a sottolineare la sua attitudine ad un incontro con la musica puramente spontaneo preferendo - così si legge - un approcio spirituale, istintivo, empirico, insomma pratico, con le cose della musica. —Valentina Lo Surdo   (17/01/2017)

Zaccaria has won prizes at many competitions and brings technical and musical abilities to this music. Performance and sound quality is very good. —James Harrington   (01/01/2017)

Simone Stella's playing is marked by artistic panache and animation in contrast with the rigidity and lack of personality that characterizes the playing of so many early music specialists. —William J. Gatens   (01/01/2017)

Stella plays with moderate tempos, offering an interpretation that is free of eccentricities, full of delicacy and grace. The overall character is gentle geniality, not aggression. [...] —Bradley Lehman   (01/11/2016)

Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (4/2016). Nominated @ Jury Klaviermusik category! (See more @ http://www.schallplattenkritik.de/component/docman/doc_download/162-longlist-42016/) — Schallplattenkritik   (01/10/2016)

The interpretive quality of the recordings is outstanding, especially for such a young ensemble. Confident and concentrated, the three musicians play with a lot of heart and brilliant technique. Absolutely audible! —Maxi Einenkel ****  (31/08/2016)

Zaccaria’s intégrale is well worth your attention [...] [Massenet']s complete solo piano works comprise 12 titles composed between 1867 and 1907 (they break down into 29 separate short works) and fit conveniently on to one CD. —Jeremy Nicholas   (01/08/2016)

Duo Rùnya turns in a performance of ravishing beauty and quiet intensity, admirably captured by the microphones. [...] Stand-out items in a most welcome programme devoted to this gifted composer-violist. All in all, something of a treat. —Andrew Achenbach Classical Ear ****  (04/07/2016)

D'une extrême précision, en parfaite adéquation aver la virtuosité de la Toccata, impressionne plus encore dans la 'Valse lente'... Et Maurizio Zaccaria, en s'inscrivant dans cette lignée, apparaît particuliérement en phase avec la musique de Massenet. —Gérard Condé *****  (01/07/2016)

La versiòn de los dos miembros del Trio Rodin es magnìfica por su brillantez, ayudada por una excelente toma de sonido de A. Simonetto. Solo por ese inédito Scherzo merecerìa aplauso el disco, si no lo mereciese tambiòn por la excelente interpretaciòn. —Andràs Ruiz Tarazona   (29/06/2016)

This fiery reading by the Roman sisters Diana and Arianna Bonatesta. Italian sisters enter ably into Clarke's English idiom. The recording is perfectly balanced, allowing for plenty of detail that often gets obscured. —Carlos Marìa Solare   (27/06/2016)

All three performers here produce a beautifully refined sound – I’m very impressed by pianist Mengotti – and the audio quality is excellent. The notes are informative. I loved this recording! —David Barker   (26/06/2016)

A very logical program. The performances are wonderful, Ms Garcia a standout, well capturing the Spanish flavor of her cello pieces. The sound is clear, warm, pristine. —Stephen Wright   (24/06/2016)

Granados tuvo gran reconocimiento en vida como pianista de cámara y consideraba este tipo de composiciones como fundamentales para la regeneración musical española. De ahí la importancia de estas obras y de agradecer que vayan saliendo ya a la luz... —Luis Suarez Rivista Ritmo   (01/06/2016)

Cammarano and Deljavan have a very different vision. They offer Grieg on a grand scale. This is passionate music, played aggressively. They bring these sonatas into the world of Grieg’s String Quartet, with brooding, double-stopped romanticism. —Richard Kraus   (01/06/2016)

This is a volatile, passionately committed performance, the ebb and flow of energies managed with instinctive fluency. Violist Diana Bonatesta relishes the marvellous range of timbres so expertly written into the score. — ***/4  (01/06/2016)

The string players each have a lovely tone and musical phrasing and the pianist is nimble and imaginative. This disc is a worthwhile calling-card for them. The recording was made in a good acoustic for chamber music. —Stephen Barber   (01/05/2016)

Inattendu, inspirant, le premier album des jeunes sœurs italiennes bouscule la routine, têtes d'affiches et grands classiques ! La synergie de leurs talents donne un vrai sens au mot duo ! —Claire Wyniecky *****  (01/05/2016)

Tenint en compte tots aquests elements, el Trio Rodin ha treballat intensament des del punt de vista interpretatiu i també històric. —Jordi Martí Fabra   (01/05/2016)

An alluring compositional voice that works on many levels. There's the dreaming, whimsical side, the uncompromising grasp of structure, the impressionistic fascination with image; this portrait of her chamber works from Duo Runya is a welcome novelty. —Hannah Nepil   (01/05/2016)

This is a most important recording, with first-class recorded sound, consistently fine playing from Simone Stella, and an organ and acoustics as near perfect as one could hope for. Very highly recommended. —Douglas Hollick Choir & Organ *****  (01/05/2016)

This is a most important recording, with first-class recorded sound, consistently fine playing from Simone Stella, and an organ and acoustics as near perfect as one could hope for. Very highly recommended. —Douglas Hollick Choir & Organ *****  (01/05/2016)

Um disquinho bonito.[...] equilíbrio, técnica e doses exatas de emoção. Outro fator importante no disco é o Trio Rodin. Não deixe de ouvir. Uma boa apreciação! Outro fator importante no disco é o Trio Rodin. [...] Uma boa apreciação! — O ser da Musica   (27/04/2016)

Beautifully played by Duo Runya, violist Diana Bonatesta and her pianist sister Arianna Bonatesta! The recording is outstanding. Alessandro Simonetto's production and engineering follows Aevea Classics' philosophy of minimum technical involvement. —Dean Frey    (20/04/2016)

Enrique Granados Chamber Music with Piano from the outstanding young Spanish chamber ensemble, Trio Rodin. This is their debut recording, also on a new label, Aevea (A6013) and I can report that it is outstanding. —Ray Picot ilams.org   (01/04/2016)

Les jeunes instrumentistes du Trio Rodin défendent ces pièces partumèes avec une énergie admirable. Ils évitent les écueils du sentimentalisme sans pour autant refuser de s'épancher quand il le faut; ... lecture légère, colorée, équilibrée. —Jérôme Bastianelli ****  (01/04/2016)

The works here are all finely crafted and beautifully played, with an exceptionally clean recorded sound. —   (01/04/2016)

The audio quality of this disk is squarely in the demonstration class, the performing ensemble is at the top of its game, and the result is a real jewel of a chamber music recording. Highest recommendation! —Henry S.   (14/03/2016)

The playing alone would be enough to make the new Aevea Classics recording featuring the Trio Rodin worthy of a strong recommendation – but the playing is only one of the many attractions of this unusually well-recorded CD. — infodad.com ++++/4  (01/03/2016)

Précis, Simone Stella met en valeur l’écriture en canon qu’affectionne tant Walther. Son style retenu se révèle efficace dans cet univers à la fois contraint dans sa forme, sobre et poétique. —David Loison ***/4  (01/03/2016)

Précis, Simone Stella met en valeur l’écriture en canon qu’affectionne tant Walther. Son style retenu se révèle efficace dans cet univers à la fois contraint dans sa forme, sobre et poétique. —David Loison ***/4  (01/03/2016)

Commendable, thoughtful readings, rising to the various challenges of the fast movements and responding well to the abundant lyricism in the slower ones. Their characterisation [and] expansive expressive range are especially admirable. —Robin Stowell   (01/02/2016)

Passionate, charming and ambitious... without any doubt one of the most promising young piano trios. — Edesche Concertzaal   (01/01/2016)

Saluons la réussite d'un interprète à suivre. — *****  (01/07/2015)

Sound is airlessly close, immediate, and detailed. —Adrian Corleonis   (01/01/2015)

A phenomenal group of players! I just have two requests. One to Brilliant Classics: please license and produce the Avos’s Mozart disc; and one to the Quartetto Avos: please give us as much of the piano quartet literature as you can. —Jerry Dubins   (01/10/2014)

They drive [...] with plenty of energy; and Cammarano’s authority—and the quality of her violin—allow her to hold her own with the declamatory piano part. Strongly recommended for program as well as for performances. —Robert Maxham   (01/09/2014)

I was impressed by the recording, which captures the piano’s timbres very well indeed. [...] I enjoyed this collection a great deal. The playing is assured, the recording is excellent and the Beiderbecke pieces actually work rather well in this context. —Dan Morgan   (01/08/2014)