“The robust central core of the recital is Britten’s Suite for violin and piano. Sir’s performance points up the work’s dry, alert qualities and she also creates an air of hushed mystery in the central Moto perpetuo. Sir ends on a high with Le boeuf sur le toit, replete with Latin American flavour and an often breathtaking command of Honegger’s wild candenza.”

“Joo Yeon Sir has a light, delicate tone, which suits Alfred Schnittke’s Suite in the Old Style with its Stravinskian neoclassical politeness. She turns phrases elegantly, ably supported by Irina Andrievsky’s stylish piano accompaniments. Michael Kennedy viewed Britten’s Suite for violin and piano as the last of his ‘prentice instrumental works’. It charts a course between charm and abrasiveness and is given a committed reading here.”

“This first disc by the young British Korean Joo Yeon Sir is impressive, showcasing a firm-toned, agile and fearless playing style by a violinst who is willing to take risks on unfamiliar works, and who has a clear rapport with her pianist.”  ***

“Joo Yeon Sir clearly has a bright future. This young player melds technical assurance with rare artistic sensibility in this showcase debut album...She displays real poise in her reading of Alfred Schnittke’s nostagic Suite in the Old Style … Irina Andrievsky makes an ideal partner at the keyboard …” ****