Matthew Rickard
ProfessionalMembership
This is a most imaginative and rewarding release: the world première recording of a significant unpublished work by Bliss, along with violin and piano sonatas by Walford Davies (another première recording) and York Bowen. ... The performance by Rupert Luck and Matthew Rickard has an inspiring confidence and commitment that characterizes their approach throughout. ...
The most recent work here, first published in 1946, is York Bowen¹s E minor Sonata, a sweeping, ardent and exciting piece that will appeal to anyone familiar with Bowen¹s other chamber music: fiercely dramatic at times, making virtuoso demands on both players, it is most exciting.
This first release from the English Music Festival label deserves the warmest possible welcome. ... Luck and Rickard offer an ideal combination of enterprising programming, some impressive musical archaeology to bring these works to life, and superb playing. This fine disc is a complete success and can be very warmly recommended to anyone with a serious interest in British music.
Nigel Simeone - International Record Review - May 2011
Review of CD of English violin sonatas recorded for EM Records (EMR CD001)
==================================================================
A warm welcome for the first release in the English Music Festival’s recording label, EM Records. Three violin sonatas kick-start this welcome enterprise, Rupert Luck and Matthew Rickard securing persuasive renditions of pieces by Arthur Bliss, Henry Walford Davies and York Bowen. ...
With fine and committed performances, and a full and well-balanced recording, this release is a good start to a label that will hopefully run and run and indeed capture “The Spirit of England”.
Colin Anderson - classicalsource.com- April 2011
Review of CD of English violin sonatas recorded for EM Records (EMR CD001)
=================================================================
The Walford Davies Sonata in A major is ... [a] grand-scale four movement work is mellifluously forthright with a significantly Brahmsian-Stanford accent. Luck and Rickard hold nothing back and this is a highly emotional piece of writing which etches its way into the memory on first hearing. The romantic tendency is mixed with the piano’s heroic vehemence in a sturdy third movement. The finale mixes in a degree of desperation amid its hurly-burly clamour; a touch of the Brahms Hungarian dances perhaps but not light of heart. ...
The Bowen is a very fine, moving and exciting work – no half measures! The performance is fiery to the point of molten. Breath-taking stuff!
There is nothing tentative about these performances which are highly skilled and completely dedicated and immersed. ...
EM records have started out magnificently with this disc. We must hope to hear much more of Luck and Rickard. Let them continue to explore and harry the periphery rather than being drawn to the well-served ‘great and good’.
Rob Barnett - MuiscWeb International - March 2011
Review of CD of English violin sonatas recorded for EM Records (EMR CD001)
===============================================================
... the performance, captivated the audience. It wasn’t one of those concerts where I find at some point I have switched off: all three works commanded my full attention, the Bliss more than the others. ... My neighbour was also full of praise for the players who acquitted themselves brilliantly and with palpable and infections enthusiasm. It felt as if they were truly engaged with the works, and they attacked them with gusto. How nice it would be to able to revisit the performance in recorded form - one day, perhaps.
Peter Groves - The Arthur Bliss Society Newsletter, Vol. 8 No. 2 (Autumn 2010)
Review of recital with violinist Rupert Luck at the 2010 English Music Festival.
The most recent work here, first published in 1946, is York Bowen¹s E minor Sonata, a sweeping, ardent and exciting piece that will appeal to anyone familiar with Bowen¹s other chamber music: fiercely dramatic at times, making virtuoso demands on both players, it is most exciting.
This first release from the English Music Festival label deserves the warmest possible welcome. ... Luck and Rickard offer an ideal combination of enterprising programming, some impressive musical archaeology to bring these works to life, and superb playing. This fine disc is a complete success and can be very warmly recommended to anyone with a serious interest in British music.
Nigel Simeone - International Record Review - May 2011
Review of CD of English violin sonatas recorded for EM Records (EMR CD001)
==================================================================
A warm welcome for the first release in the English Music Festival’s recording label, EM Records. Three violin sonatas kick-start this welcome enterprise, Rupert Luck and Matthew Rickard securing persuasive renditions of pieces by Arthur Bliss, Henry Walford Davies and York Bowen. ...
With fine and committed performances, and a full and well-balanced recording, this release is a good start to a label that will hopefully run and run and indeed capture “The Spirit of England”.
Colin Anderson - classicalsource.com- April 2011
Review of CD of English violin sonatas recorded for EM Records (EMR CD001)
=================================================================
The Walford Davies Sonata in A major is ... [a] grand-scale four movement work is mellifluously forthright with a significantly Brahmsian-Stanford accent. Luck and Rickard hold nothing back and this is a highly emotional piece of writing which etches its way into the memory on first hearing. The romantic tendency is mixed with the piano’s heroic vehemence in a sturdy third movement. The finale mixes in a degree of desperation amid its hurly-burly clamour; a touch of the Brahms Hungarian dances perhaps but not light of heart. ...
The Bowen is a very fine, moving and exciting work – no half measures! The performance is fiery to the point of molten. Breath-taking stuff!
There is nothing tentative about these performances which are highly skilled and completely dedicated and immersed. ...
EM records have started out magnificently with this disc. We must hope to hear much more of Luck and Rickard. Let them continue to explore and harry the periphery rather than being drawn to the well-served ‘great and good’.
Rob Barnett - MuiscWeb International - March 2011
Review of CD of English violin sonatas recorded for EM Records (EMR CD001)
===============================================================
... the performance, captivated the audience. It wasn’t one of those concerts where I find at some point I have switched off: all three works commanded my full attention, the Bliss more than the others. ... My neighbour was also full of praise for the players who acquitted themselves brilliantly and with palpable and infections enthusiasm. It felt as if they were truly engaged with the works, and they attacked them with gusto. How nice it would be to able to revisit the performance in recorded form - one day, perhaps.
Peter Groves - The Arthur Bliss Society Newsletter, Vol. 8 No. 2 (Autumn 2010)
Review of recital with violinist Rupert Luck at the 2010 English Music Festival.
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