The work itself, as well as the performance, captivated the audience. It wasn’t one
of those concerts where I find at some point I have switched off: all three works
commanded my full attention, the Bliss more than the others. They have much in common,
and my neighbour in the comfortable seats (not the pews) extolled as one virtue of
the Festival the way it brought out the connections between the featured works. Bliss
later travelled a long way from this early work, but here it could be appreciated
in context. My neighbour was also full of praise for the players who acquitted themselves
brilliantly and with palpable and infections enthusiasm. It felt as if they were
truly engaged with the works, and they attacked them with gusto. How nice it would
be to able to revisit the performance in recorded form -
Peter Groves
Review of recital at the 2010 English Music Festival on 29th May 2010 with the Violinist Rupert Luck.
March 2011 -
The present disc opens with the impassioned single movement Bliss violin sonata.
This is a red-
The Walford Davies Sonata in A
major is one of three that Rupert Luck has been invited to edit for the RCM. This
grand-
The Bowen is romantic and stormily Tchaikovskian with the torrential tendencies of
a Rachmaninov and the expressionist mien of Szymanowski; the latter especially in
the middle movement. It’s a heatedly volatile mix that flares, smoulders, smokes,
swoons and blazes. ... The Bowen is a very fine, moving and exciting work – no half
measures! The performance is fiery to the point of molten. Breath-
There is nothing tentative about these performances which are highly skilled and
completely dedicated and immersed. ...
EM records have started out magnificently with this disc. We must hope to hear much
more of Luck and Rickard. Let them continue to explore and harry the periphery rather
than being drawn to the well-
Rob Barnett
Review of CD made with violinist Rupert Luck of English Violin Sonatas for EM Records (EMR CD001)
Please click here to read the review in full on the MusicWeb International website.
April 2011 -
A warm welcome for the first release in the English Music Festival’s recording label,
EM Records. Three violin sonatas kick-
With fine and committed performances, and a full and well-
Review of CD made with violinist Rupert Luck of English Violin Sonatas for EM Records (EMR CD001)
Please click here to read the review in full on the Classicalsource.com website.
May 2011 -
This is a most imaginative and rewarding release: the world première recording of a significant unpublished work by Bliss, along with violin and piano sonatas by Walford Davies (another première recording) and York Bowen...
The performance by Rupert Luck and Matthew Rickard has an inspiring confidence and commitment that characterizes their approach throughout. ...
This first release from the English Music Festival label deserves the warmest possible welcome. Not only do the performances have real authority but the recorded sound is excellent...
The EMF has announced plans for several more interesting releases in the near future and the series could not have made a stronger start than it does here: Luck and Rickard offer an ideal combination of enterprising programming, some impressive musical archaeology to bring these works to life, and superb playing. This fine disc is a complete success and can be very warmly recommended to anyone with a serious interest in British music.
Nigel Simeone
Review of CD made with violinist Rupert Luck of English Violin Sonatas for EM Records (EMR CD001)
November 2010 -
July 2011 -
Luck and Rickard make a strong case for the piece [the Walford Davies] and I enjoyed both the music and their performance very much. ...
The finale [of the Bowen] is a bravura, often fiery creation, which is tossed off
with fine virtuosity by these two players.
This is an outstanding disc. Rob Barnett
beat me to it in designating it as a Recording of the Month but my welcome for it
is no less strong. Both Rupert Luck and Matthew Rickard are fully on top of and responsive
to this music and their performances are not only skilful and very musical but also
full of commitment. I sense they are delighting in unveiling to a wide audience this
unknown repertoire – certainly the description ‘unknown’ applies to the Bliss and
Walford Davies works. The performances have been splendidly recorded in the sympathetic
acoustic of the Wyastone Concert Hall and the documentation is excellent.
This release
is a most auspicious launch for EM Records and I look forward eagerly to future releases.
In the meantime I hope collectors of English music will reward the enterprise of
the label and enrich their own experience by hastening to add this CD to their collections.
John Quinn
Review of CD made with violinist Rupert Luck of English Violin Sonatas for EM Records (EMR CD001)
Please click here to read the review in full on the MuiscWeb International website.
October 2011 -
Violinist Rupert Luck and pianist Matthew Rickard, give dedicated performances of all three works. ...
The piano is well rounded and perfectly balanced against it. [the violin]
Bob McQuiston
Review of CD made with violinist Rupert Luck of English Violin Sonatas for EM Records (EMR CD001)
Please click here to read the review in full on the Classical lost and found website.
November 2011 -
[the acoustic of the hall] allows Matthew Rickard’s heroically impressive piano playing
to register with power and attractive sonority – in both works the pair of players
are excellent at negotiating the numerous transitions between sections with perfect
accord and musical conviction.
This is a well-
Nick Barnard
Review of CD made with Rupert Marshall-
Please click here to read the review in full on the MuiscWeb International website.
January 2012 -
Matthew Rickard’s piano-
Edward Greenfield
Review of CD made with Rupert Marshall-