Chosen by Times critics as one of the best Classical albums of 2020

***** Coup de Cœur

“… The soloist John Haveron is a very versatile soloist and concertmaster as well as chamber musician. Together with the musicians of the RTE orchestra he delivers an appealing and pulsating account of the Concerto. In the Sextet Haveron is joined by five musicians from the Sinfonia of London. Together they play this not so catchy yet stylistically demanding music with lively accuracy.“  ****

“… The members of the Sinfonia of London Chamber Ensemble perform brilliantly throughout, their playing divulging much meaningful detail and with proper instrumental balances. Their tempos appear to be slightly on the brisk side, but perfectly appropriate for this exuberant music. I would surmise that Andrew Haveron, on Violin I, had the greater say in interpretation. His playing throughout is most impressive too: try the haunting second movement where in several key passages he makes his violin sing exquisitely above the other instruments, fittingly so. This is my first exposure to this work, and I must say I am fully convinced by this performance of it… The sound reproduction on this CD is quite vivid and well balanced in both works… coupled with a brilliant, spirited performance of the String Sextet, a most intriguing and worthwhile early work.”

“… Haveron is a charismatic and brilliant soloist who needs fear no comparison and Wilson’s committed advocacy is evident throughout.”

“… This disc offers an unexpected pairing of works but it works extremely well and both performances are excellent.”

“… It’s  [Sextet] performed here, exquisitely, by members of John Wilson’s newly revived Sinfonia of London. Depths are plumbed in Korngold’s angst-ridden slow movement and there’s some exhilarating playing in the finale’s busy closing bars. Korngold usually wrote good endings, and the Sextet’s is no exception… Andrew Haveron’s sultry introduction [Violin Concerto] hits the spot for me, his rich, generous tone ideal for the work. But nothing’s forced or overblown, making this a recording which might convert naysayers. Listen to the way Haveron phrases the slow movement’s opening theme, John Wilson’s RTÉ Concert Orchestra providing indecently warm support. This is a hugely enjoyable performance, capped with a spectacular finale. The Dublin horns don’t disappoint near the concerto’s close, and Chandos’s sound is suitably sumptuous in both concerto and sextet. A winner. “

“…Haveron’s instrument sounds glorious too, tonally bewitching, never too gloopy and impeccably in tune. The performance of this movement [Romanze] alone makes the release a compulsory purchase… Recommended for sure …” ****

Editor's Choice - Orchestral Section

“… I love that there’s a modesty about Haveron’s performance. It’s so easy to overcook this piece [Concerto]. His unaffected delivery is key here and Wilson’s characteristic fastidiousness with regard to clarity and transparency ensures that his soloist (and subsequently all of us) is always aware of the harmonies that move beneath and around the solo line… The 17-year-old Korngold’s String Sextet is the headiest and most precocious of confections, the effusive love-child of Strauss’s Metamorphosen and Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, and something whose passionate imperative seems hardly credible from one so young. It gets an absolutely cracking performance here from key members of Wilson’s newly reformed Sinfonia of London led by Haveron …”

Recommended

“… They [RTÉ Concert Orchestra] play with real beauty and imagination, and all the details of Korngold’s orchestration are splendidly realised. The partnership formed between Haveron and John Wilson seems ideal, and the accompaniment of the solo line is always sensitive and responsive… An outstanding issue – marvellous music, superbly played and in top-notch Chandos recorded sound.”

“… The Sinfonia of London Chamber Ensemble delivers a spirited performance, with several movements standing out. The Moderato is well-balanced with an excellent performance from the lower strings. They provide just the right amount of power to complement their upper counterparts, while still allowing the delicateness of the violins to come through even in the most intense sections. The performers also show the melodic sophistication with which Korngold writes. Individual lines are interwoven throughout and the ensemble certainly pays attention to this, allowing each instrument outside of the upper strings to have their moments.”

Recording of the Week

“…Another triumph for Wilson and Co., then – and further proof, if proof were still needed, that both composer and conductor’s gifts extend well beyond the Hollywood film-scores with which they are primarily associated.”

“… This new iteration [Violin Concerto], impeccably played by Andrew Haveron, is notably enhanced by the sympathetic accompaniment of John Wilson and the RTE Concert Orchestra, the latter playing with suitably passionate commitment. The versatile Wilson, of course, has the full measure of Korngold’s serious works along with his influential film scores, and that particular combination of skills services the music very well here. The composer’s String Sextet is a welcome companion piece…”