‘This disc is one of Howard Shelley’s finest… the recorded sound is excellent.’
Classic CD on CHAN 9558 (Hummel)
‘These are absolutely superb performances and make it evident that the performers have much empathy and enthusiasm for this neglected but captivating music. The recorded sound is as laudable as the performances.’
American Record Guide
‘The BBC Symphony Orchestra responds magnificently to the best hands for such a task, those of Richard Hickox…The Chandos recording engineers deserve particular praise… an unimprovable result… But the day belongs utterly to Howard Shelley… This demands to be heard. Buy!’
International Piano Quarterly
‘Howard Shelley, a still widely underrated and sensitive virtuoso, responds brilliantly to the challenge, and the BBCSO play well for him under Richard Hickox’.
BBC Music Magazine
‘An excellent disc’
Noteworthy Australia
‘Long-buried, Herbert Howells’s First Piano Concerto, with its final pages now restored by John Rutter, is a revelation… Howard Shelley as soloist and Richard Hickox as conductor hold the structure superbly together’.
‘You want a single-word summation of this disc? Thrilling… I don’t apologise for my raucous enthusiasm: this one is a must-buy’.
Fanfare
Richard Hickox brings passionate commitment to his performance and shapes Howells;s long. Long lines lovingly.’
BBC Music Magazine on CHAN 9744 (Howells)
‘Howard Shelley is an ideal advocate of this music, keeping the textures lucid, honing the be canto melodies elegantly and tossing off the virtuoso pyrotechnics with verve and finesse.’
BBC Music Magazine on CHAN 9807 (Hummel)
‘…Howard Shelley as soloists is clearly passionate and committed, and Richard Hickox obtains playing from the BBC Symphony Orchestra that sounds wholly secure… A great start to 2001 for lovers of British music…
International Record Review