Borletti-Buitoni Trust
Press Room

BBT Track Record

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Simon Crawford-Phillips and Philip Moore piano duo

Detlev Glanert’s Double Piano Concerto, co-commissioned by BBT and the BBC

“Glanert whisks us on a journey through space – to Mars… The seed material is a little scale in thirds, running up and down… Glanert the magician turns it into a pulsing particle of matter, constantly mutating and exploding. Moore and Crawford-Phillips proved ideal spacemen, with Brabbins and the orchestra riding alongside.”
Geoff Brown, The Times March 2008

“…an initial musical cell – in this case a simple scale in thirds – is varied or permutated to create a sequence of episodes of stunning diversity. The huge technical demands placed upon both soloists were met with great distinction.”
Brian Davidson, International Piano Magazine May/June 2008

Christian Poltéra cello

Three CDs on BIS: the cello works Othmar Schoeck, Frank Martin and Arthur Honegger.

“I was quite bowled over in discovering the Cello Concerto [Frank Martin], so eloquently and sensitively played here. It is no exaggeration to say that this rapt performance presents this noble concerto with an inspirational intensity to compare with the celebrated Du Pré/Barbirolli recording of the Elgar Concerto.”
Ivan March, Gramophone April 2008

“Poltéra delivers an utterly compelling and committed performance… a wonderful disc [Christian Poltéra Plays Frank Martin]”
Erik Levi, BBC Music Magazine April 2008 (BBC Music Choice)

“If you want a superb collection of Honegger’s music for cello, both chamber and orchestral, then this CD is just the ticket… by any standard this is a sensational performance.”
David Hurwitz, Classics Today November 2007

Colin Currie percussion

Simon Holt’s a table of noises, co-commissioned by BBT with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

“Currie’s virtuosic performance confirmed that the percussion repertory has been enriched.”
John Allison, Sunday Telegraph May 2008

Andreas Brantelid cello

Wigmore Hall debut recital with pianist Bengt Forsberg, 28 June 2008

“The best thing about Brantelid’s playing is his intonation, which matches any string player in the world in its effortless precision. Next is his unforced beauty of tone: always in perfect taste. When it is so easy to over-sentimentalise Schubert, Brantelid’s performance was striking in its expertly judged restraint.”
Ying Chang, Classical Source

“His playing – warm and supple of tone – has the lyrical allure, lithe technique and discreet dramatic flair to give this familiar music a fresh impetus.”
Geoffrey Norris, Daily Telegraph 21 June 2008

Andrew Kennedy tenor

The Dark Pastoral with Julius Drake and Simon Russell-Beale, CD on Altara Classics.

“deeply felt performances which make the most of these songs…cleverly put together and sensitively performed”
BBC Music Magazine November 08

“A great deal of thought has gone into this recital reflecting on the First World War and its legacy in British song and poetry. Fine musicianship too, with Julius Drake’s accompaniments matching Kennedy’s tenor in subtlety.”
The Times June 2008

Lavinia Meijer harp

Divertissements, CD on Channel Classics

“An enchanting and diverting harp recital that can leave you breathless….A bewitching recital from first note to last.”
Andrew Farach-Colton, Gramophone May 2009

“If you have room in your collection for only a single solo harp recital, then let it be this disc. It features magnificent performance of real harp music…She (Meijer) plays with consummate virtuosity…and with a positively luscious tone”
David Hurwitz, Classics Today 10 November 2008

Quatuor Ébène

Debussy, Fauré & Ravel String Quartets, 
CD on Virgin Classics (now Warner Classics)

“They have such an extraordinary range of tone colour combined with a suppleness of rhythm which gives their playing a kind of serendipity as though they had just chanced on one achingly beautiful sound after another. The result is unforgettable.”
Faure Quartet No 1 RECOMMENDATION, BBC Radio 3 Building a Library 28 March 2009

“Three French masterpieces (Debussy, Fauré, Ravel) played by young musicians with a rare degree of expressive subtlety, blended sonorities and electrifying joy. The late Fauré quartet achieves a fine balance between sounding suave and pulsing with life. Debussy quivers with febrile emotions, while the Ravel soars to heaven with refinement and poise.”
***** The Times September 2008

“A virtuosic, highly intelligent performance”
Anna Picard, Independent on Sunday 12 October 2008

Jörgen van Rijen trombone

Sackbutt, CD on Channel Classics

“The agility of his playing…is impressive…Fans of the trombone will no doubt find this of interest, but the music turns out to be far more worthwhile and rewarding than just a sackbut showcase”
David Vickers, Gramophone October 2008