BRAHMS Violin Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3

“[a] beautifully balanced performance, and the warmth and intimacy of the recording is an excellent match.” --CD Review, 5th September 2015

“Melnikov’s 1875 Bösendorfer piano sounds splendidly grainy, transparent and powerful, often overwhelming Faust’s gut-stringed violin in Brahms’s louder moments, but blending ideally in the elegiac slow movements.” --The Guardian, 27th September 2015 ***

“Enthralling, lovely performances.” --Gramophone Magazine, October 2015

BBC Music Magazine Chamber Choice - November 2015

“The first Brahms sonata recorded by Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov on period instruments made a big impression...Melnikov’s 1875 Bösendorfer piano sounds splendidly grainy, transparent and powerful, often overwhelming Faust’s gut-stringed violin in Brahms’s louder moments, but blending ideally in the elegiac slow movements.” --The Observer, 27th September 2015 ***

“Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov (playing an 1875 Bösendorfer) make a strong case for the work as a whole, though even their impassioned advocacy can’t quite save Dietrich’s opening movement from sounding long- winded. In Brahms’s Second and Third Violin Sonatas, the players’ sound world may be a little too muscularly lean for some tastes. Still, the musical argument is always lucid.” --Irish Times, 21st October 2015

SCHUMANN, VOLKMANN, DIETRICH & GERNSHEIM Cello Concertos

“Gerhardt invests Volkmann's mixture of melodic lyricism, wit and technical bravado with a brilliant sense of pacing and the urgent accompaniment of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra under Hannu Lintu easily outclasses the rival account on CPO.” --BBC Music Magazine, April 2007 *****

“Alban Gerhardt throws himself into the fray with thrilling virtuoso abandon and the recording is out of Hyperion’s top drawer.” --Classic FM Magazine

“The continuous offerings of Hyperion to music culture are admirable.” --ClassicsToday.com

“Alban Gerhardt’s playing is rich-toned, impeccably judged even in the most obscure works, and completely assured … [Dietrich]’s Cello Concerto is relatively accessible music but boasts plenty of subtlety and fine melodies; the Romance is a particular gem and must have been a joy to rediscover … Gerhardt’s performance makes it sound (in the best way) as if it had always been there … even for a Volume 1 this would have been a fine programme; for a Volume 2 it is indecently good and the performances are both brilliant and committed. I can only look forward to Volume 3” --International Record Review