Reviews

'The real drama, however, was always in Stravinsky’s music, by turns abrasive, witty and lyrical. The seven elite musicians of the band were led by Nicola Benedetti from the all-important violin, sounding fantastic in the double-stopped frolic that the soldier plays to the sick princess.'

'For violinist Nicola Benedetti's final appearance of her Edinburgh International Festival residency, the assembled cast for Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale was something of a dream team ... an engaging and warm-hearted performance.'

'But the sheer energy of this recording is infectious. With so much going on throughout, it will certainly be a candidate for repeated listenings.

'The soldier’s fiddle has magical powers, and so it seemed did Benedetti’s playing, enchanting not only the characters in the drama, but also those of us there just to witness Satan’s triumph.'

'The second, Allegro scherzando, movement was buoyant, though with a dark edge to it ...'

'In the company of comedian Alex Vizorek, who offers a funny and modern text, the Lille National Orchestra, under the sparkling direction of Lucie Leguay, and the piano duo Játékok give a new lease of life to this little musical gem that will appeal to young and old alike.'

'Pentatonic patterns matched with jazz-tinged harmonies were abundant in this mellow, richly hued work.'

'Ayanna Witter-Johnson's Blush, an attractive new piece ... using lots of percussion, its rhythmic pulse swung from lively and open to darker hues.'

'A Spell for Green Corn continues the string motif as the lashing sounds of the Scottish landscapes are soothed and tamed by the island’s ancient ties to the fiddle and folk music.'