«I don´t want people to think Ravel is any less good on this (album) - It holds its own with some of the great recordings.»
«Absolutely worth your attention»
BBC Record Review
(Ravel Piano Concerto for Left Hand and Orchestra)
«Beautifully played»
Andrew Kershaw, Audiophelia
(Ravel Piano Concerto for Left Hand and Orchestra)
«Halvorsen and Tausk make something truly special out of both concertos»
Peter van der Lindt, Throuw
(Ravel Piano Concerto for Left Hand and Orchestra)
«Such is the emotional commitment of the two musicians, the sense of immediacy in the recording, and the lush, dynamic playing inspired by performers from Puccini’s own era such as Fritz Kreisler and Leopold Godowsky, that by the time we reach the end it is quite possible to forget that we have not been listening to ‘the real thing’. Bravi, van Bellen and Halvorsen, for this ravishing achievement.»
Alexandra Wilson, BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★ Chamber Music Choice of the month
(La Boheme)
“Purists, brace yourselves. Yes, the list of personnel written out above comprises just the two players. This audacious enterprise by the Dutch violinist van Bellen and the Norwegian pianist Halvorsen is possibly the first to tackle the transcribing of an entire opera. And here's the thing: it takes absolutely nothing away from Puccini's miraculous score. On the contrary, through musicianship that at times takes the breath away, the pair's reworking acheves an astonishing (and deeply affecting) fullness and richness. Never do you feel a lack of narrative heft or emotional engagement. Indeed, in Che gelida manina. Quando me'n vo' and Donde lieta usci, violin and piano "sing" so lyrically that Rodolfo, Musetta and Mimi are right there before you.“
The Sunday Times ★★★★★
(La Boheme)
«With his 'Well Prepared Piano' (Halvorsen) cleverly saws the legs of the eternal question 'can you play Bach on a modern concert grand piano?'»
NRC.NL
(The Well - Prepared Piano vol. 1)
«But the greatest strength of this album lies in the extremely tight ensemble playing. It is rare that I hear violin sonatas where the musicians are so well locked in together. Everything is done with a crystal-clear conviction that they hold the truth about what the correct musical choices are. There is no hesitation in the playing. The music is full of romantic passion, with both double stops and dotted rhythms. But the passion is delivered with a precise seriousness: no swooning showmanship — only a thoroughly cultivated seriousness.»
Ola Nordal, Ballade.no
(Christian Sinding: Violin Sonatas)
«Simply put: They have crafted meaningful chamber music for piano and violin out of the operatic form. Not least, the transitional sections are intriguing – all the passages that don’t feature the most famous melodies but instead serve to advance the dialogue and text. This is where Puccini pushed the furthest in letting the orchestration become the narrative element. In these sections, van Bellen and Halvorsen have truly let loose with an imaginative use of their instruments, which is crucial for the drama to sustain itself over the release’s 90 minutes. Several other critics have compared the transcription to silent film music, but I think this is a work that stands on its own. We don’t need to envision anything else while listening to the richly varied movement. Moreover, the two musicians perform at such a high artistic level that this has become a drama deserving of its very own genre designation.»
Magnus Andersson, Klassekampen
(La Boheme)
“The pieces reveal a filmic soundscape of stark beauty. ‘Numbers’ beguiles us with long ostinato passages and again the minimalist approach allows us to explore the sonic subtleties. ‘Running’ takes us closer to a known form but then injects long bars of silence between the phrases. ‘Together’ comes closer to Jazz sensibilities with its resonant voicings, which dance. Everything merits a deeper listening here as the journey is in part, subliminal; it will stretch some listeners toleration as avant-garde music frequently does. It worked for me and took me back to the extraordinary Bley/Giuffre/ Swallow albums such as ‘Freefall’ (ECM).”
John Fenton, jazzlocal32.com
(On Goldberg Variations)
“Technically, the two are on a very high level. And when it comes to conveying the music, it is insight and intensity that shine through. The recording is simply a small delight to listen to. So, let your curiosity take over. The music is beautiful, and the playing is excellent!
It will be incredibly exciting to follow these musicians in the future! This is a very fine album I highly recommend!”
Trond Erikson, (den klassiske musikkbloggen) ★★★★★
(Christian Sinding: Violin Sonatas)
«It wasn't really an opera year. maybe it had something to do with the lockdowns: after all, many opera albums are live recordings. But there was a very original opera project without vocals.
Violinist Mathieu van Bellen and Mathias Halvorsen made a virtuoso arrangement of Puccini's La Boheme - the entire opera, yes, for piano and violin. Vocal playing, all the characters retained their own character: insanely successful.»
deVolkskrant - 40 best albums of the year, no. 23
(La Boheme)