Interpretation ****      Sound ******      Repertoire ****

“… These are serious, stylish readings that are faithful to Haydn and yet also responsive to Stegmann’s efforts to create a pianistic counterpart to Haydn’s orchestral experience. For example, in the latter part of the Andante con variazioni of Symphony No. 75, Ilic embraces the filigree writing with tenderness and clarity.”

“… This is a major accomplishment, another engaging act of musical archaeology from a very smart musician. It’s superbly performed and warmly recorded too, and will hopefully prompt you to listen to Haydn's originals with fresh ears.”

Editor’s Choice

“Prepare to be surprised by the finesse and fluidity on display in three choice works” ****

 

“Here we are in for a treat… it [Sym. No. 92] is a wonderful mature work. Right at the outset we are struck by the pianist’s enthusiastic and joyful approach, a feeling of discovery, grasping the essence of Haydn and his sense of humour. With immaculate, highly precise pianism he emphasizes the clear melodic line and delves fearlessly with his strong left hand into the complex architecture of the contrapuntal middle part. By this time the piano literally sings, and how charming that little closing subject sounds!...

“… the more I listen, the more I like it… A fascinating disc with a terrific sound.”

“… these are very well done, played with total commitment, and offer a different slant on music that we don’t even hear often enough, even in its symphonic origin…”

Album of the Week

“…These excellent transcriptions are full of these kinds of detail, and you can have lots of fun comparing orchestra with piano and enjoying a skilled artist’s solutions for music with which he had a clear and abiding affection. Ivan Ilic’s performances are of course highly sensitive and appealingly lively, creating plenty of contrast but without any kind of artificial forcing of an orchestral sound from the Potton Hall Steinway D. These are concert performances of chamber music scores, and very much in scale to the realistic ambitions of both publisher and arranger.”

“…Ivan Ilic never succumbs to the urge to show off exaggerated tempi and brilliant virtuosity. He leads us with a sensitive playing to the essential, invites us again and again to persevere and ponder, gives us musical beauty in its purest form. His playing always remains fluid and lively in articulation, rich in nuances and pleasantly expressive. But there is also an energy in this playing that is in search of this or that detail to be emphasized, with a freedom of formulation that would seem audacious if it were not so controlled… an intelligent, creative, knowledgeable artist. And his interpretation therefore grows naturally from the musical event and never possesses anything looked-for or artificial…” ****

“…this investigation into a once-popular genre is certainly worthwhile.”    ****