Borletti-Buitoni Trust
Press Room

BBT Track Record

Select year:

Alexei Ogrintchouk oboe

Mozart Oboe Concerto, Quartet & Sonata, CD on BIS

“While this is a disc of fairly central repertoire, it is also one of uncommon distinction in terms of performance. Alexei Ogrintchouk’s mature oboe timbre, iridescent of colour and deployed with tasteful discretion and supple shading, is probably the main potential focus of attention…The perspective is properly that of an intimate chamber work; nothing is overstated or inflated, but equally nothing in terms of expression goes by without the performers finding a sympathetic, natural way of voicing it.”
Geoffrey Norris, Gramophone October 2013

“Ogrintchouk’s technique and phrasing is matchless throughout these three works. His beautiful tone is no better displayed than in the lovely K378 Sonata, which started life as a showcase for violin and piano. The oboist’s father Leonid joins him for this lovely work where the soloist’s technique is put to a severe test.”
Limelight Magazine July 2013

Borletti-Buitoni Trust Celebrated

Queen Elizabeth Hall, London 17-19 May 2013

“Like spring flowers, young performing talents just keep appearing, unbidden. And every year the Borletti-Buitoni Trust picks a goodly handful and helps them on their way… No dark side of Schubert here [Trout Quintet], just an unending stream of relaxed charm…It was an astonishing display of collective virtuosity.”
Ivan Hewitt, Daily Telegraph 20 May 2013

“…and if it was the participation of BBT’s founding trustee, Mitsuko Uchida at the piano that ensured a packed hall, she was by no means the only star…Frost was consistently mesmerising in Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet… Alexei Ogrintchouk harnessed a huge range of tone colour for Britten’s Temporal Variations… Ibragimova’s E majorPartita had the deceptive simplicity and vivid character – bordering on insouciance in this case – that are this violinist’s hallmarks in Bach…It (Schubert’s Trout Quintet) was buoyant and punchy – yet each irresistible melody was played unassumingly at first, almost as a thought in progress.  That touch of understatement only added tot he impact of the whole.”
Erica Jeal, The Guardian 20 May 2013

“…it was Martin Fröst’s exquisite phrasing and creamy tone which stood out. Musically alert to Mozart’s changing mood he seems to have every technical tool at his disposal, and in the second movement larghetto his breath control and keen ear for the shape and contour of the musical lines was simply a wonder to behold.”

Mundo Classico 31 May 2013

“…a wonderfully spirited performance of superb chamber music, capturing the delightful intimacy of the smallest moments as well as the grand sweep of Schubert’s quasi-symphonic scheme with equal success.”
Jack Smith, Bachtrack 21 May 2013

“…In the second half, the great Schubert Trio in B flat , Mitsuko Uchida with Veronika Eberle and Marie-Elisabeth Hecker: very good balance of sound, flawless technical brilliance, and the second movement in particular really magical, with a touching intimacy, with those continual returns to the theme presented ever new. A performance clear in purpose, executed with great skill, and warmly applauded.”
Nicola Catto, Musica September 2013

Hannes Minnaar piano

Bach Inspirations, CD on Cobra

“…inspirational fantasy with unfailing structural flair. His golden touch and linear sensitivity highlights the music’s internal logic, yet like a true Romantic he creates the impression that underlying Bach’s contrapuntal wizadry is a compelling emotional narrative.”
Julian Haylock, BBC Music Magazine March 2014 (Instrumental CD Choice of the Month)

“…every single performance by this 28-year-old Dutch pianist is out of the top drawer…After Minnaar’s debut disc, this makes it two hits in a row.”
Jeremy Nicholas, Gramophone January 2014

“The title indicates the nature of this disc: music by Liszt, Busoni, Franck, Rachmaninov, Bauer, Vaughan Williams and Grainger which has been inspired by Bach. Minnaar’s interpretation of the Busoni reworking of Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland is restrained yet intense. He plays through a phrase with a sense of continuity and purpose and his musical intelligence sings out.”
Fiona Maddocks, The Observer 13 October 2013

Tine Thing Helseth trumpet

Bent Sørensen’s Trumpet Concerto
co-commissioned by Borletti-Buitoni Trust & premiered with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

“Much excitement was attached to the World Premiere of the Danish composer Bent Sørensen’s new Trumpet Concerto, commissioned for trumpet virtuoso Tine Thing Helseth… Inspired by Hummel’s and Haydn’s classical trumpet concertos, Sørensen has composed a robust work quite typical for our time – a work which I absolutely believe will find its place at the great concert venues in the time to come… first and foremost full of devious musical expressions which attracts attention and stimulates curiosity… Tine Thing Helseth performs magic with her trumpet.”
Bergens Tidende 21 September 2013

Adam Walker flute
James Baillieu piano

Vocalise, CD on Opus Arte

“He is a superb player, with a tone that is slightly cool, and there is much delicacy of nuance in his phrasing…the programme could not be more enticing. Poulenc’s Flute Sonata has one of those exquisite, unforgettable cantilena slow movements, and it is played here quite magically. The work then ends with a delicious Presto giocoso which brings stunning virtuosity from Adam Walker… James Baillieu provides accompaniments with just the right degree of often gentle support, balanced with the flute to perfection.”
Ivan March, Gramophone July 2013