The Milivojević and Callaghan duo performances are tight, balanced and expressive.
These wonderfully idiomatic performances and the recording are outstanding, and Simon Callaghan plays reflectively when needed but also with great power and agility. Snap it up.
The keen-edged and eager performances convince you that Callaghan, the BBC NOW (who as a broadcasting ensemble are well used to breathing fresh life into music outside the mainstream) and the two conductors are everything you might cherish for such a project.
Wallfisch and Simon Callaghan are in full sympathy both with one another and with the music, lavishing fullness of tone and subtlety of nuance on both sonatas.
Gramophone
Monday, 1 May 2023Outstanding pianist meets excellently prepared orchestra
Callaghan... is spry, vivid and full of optimistic romance and is clearly the superior technician...These are strong works in their own right and deserve a good hearing and in Callaghan’s expert performances that is precisely what they receive.
the technically brilliant Simon Callaghan
Simon Callaghan, a devoted specialist in forgotten British repertoire, tackles this varied fare with aplomb.
BBC Music Magazine
★ ★ ★ ★★ ...here, thanks to Harry Potter actor Miriam Margolyes’s artistry and Simon Callaghan’s excellent pianism, is Poulenc’s delightful musical response. And as I listened to this recording, I found the original drawings reappearing in my mind with all their detail intact – extraordinary. It lasts just 30 minutes, but my god does it resonate.
He gets to the very essence of each individual piece, skilfully crafting them. All the energy and ebullience is tangible.
Possibly the biggest takeaway of this release, however, is the superb artistry of Simon Callaghan. Already represented by two discs in Hyperion’s Romantic Piano Concerto series, it is a pleasure to encounter his solo work. Clearly a musician of curiosity and discernment, Callaghan’s robust piano-playing is also thoughtful, subtle and refined. I look forward to hearing whatever he does next.
An excellent sound... well thought out programme
Le Coin de l'Art
Wednesday, 5 September 2018The performance of the British pianist, Simon Callaghan, was sublime
Schleswig-Holsteinischer Zeitungsverlag
Tuesday, 4 September 2018...bombastic virtuosity, which Callaghan addresses with consummate ease and brilliance...luminous sonorities
One only can wonder what Simon Callaghan will turn his attention to next. Whatever it is, I’ll bet his performances will be as rapturous as those on the present CD. Highly recommended.
Fanfare Magazine (USA)
Friday, 31 August 2018...Simon Callaghan played with breathtaking nuance in the extremely complex, intricate "Le Jardin parfumé" by Kaikhosru Sorabji.
Callaghan makes the case... with flair and conviction.
The handful of recordings that already exist... are sent into the shadows by Simon Callaghan.
...this new CD is a gem. Simon Callaghan is a brilliant musician who stands out with the highest pianistic competence for the rarities of Scholz and Rheinberger
Callaghan has the technical wherewithal to encompass all its challenges – from big chordal textures to glistening passagework... the supremely gifted Ben Gernon coaxes terrifically colourful playing from the BBC Scottish SO.
Simon Callaghan’s interpretation was superb: absolute clarity, absolute precision. The swift straightforwardness was refreshing – no romantic relaxations here, just powerful Beethoven.
Callaghan and conductor Martyn Brabbins fashion performances that are completely idiomatic, while the fervor of the BBC Scottish Symphony is wonderful.
Fanfare Magazine (US)
Wednesday, 28 February 2018quick and witty pianism...such graceful technique, an acute sensibility that carries a strong awareness for the core meaning behind the work
Record Geijutsu (Japan)
Thursday, 1 February 2018I have nothing but praise for the performances... impressive pianism
BBC Radio 3 Record Review
Saturday, 2 December 2017...the highlight of the afternoon. Callaghan immediately showed with his commitment that instrument and player were in good shape
Noordhollands Dagblad
Monday, 27 November 2017...one of the leading young British pianists with a wonderfully wide range of tone colours and a sure understanding of the structure and passion of the scores.
British Music Society
Monday, 20 November 2017He throws himself into the concerto's physically taxing, Scriabinesque sound world with passion, total commitment and, it seems, heartfelt affection.
...velvet-gloved pianism of ravishing sensitivity
The Strad
Thursday, 7 September 2017✶✶✶✶✶... lovely performances... delightful listening
The Straits Times (Singapore)
Tuesday, 5 September 2017Simon Callaghan was the ideal recording colleague. 100% prepared, totally unflappable, and playing with imagination, flair and colour.
He is a musician of depth and sincerity. One of the UK's finest young pianists.
Martyn Brabbins
...utmost elegance and an exemplarily controlled piano sound.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Wednesday, 28 September 2016✶✶✶✶✶ ...very fine pianism...strongly recommended
Musical Opinion
Wednesday, 30 September 2015Simon Callaghan extracts every ounce of eloquence and fantasy from this intriguing repertoire.
Gramophone
Friday, 31 July 2015Callaghan's spirited and skilful playing is impressive
The Birmingham Post
Sunday, 31 May 2015Callaghan's judgement is proved spot-on, and he makes an eloquent advocate
The Sunday Times
Thursday, 30 April 2015very much a new figure, and force, in recording and performance
Quarterly Review
Thursday, 30 April 2015a musician of the highest calibre...elegant phrasing and subtle rubato
Ivor Gurney Journal
Wednesday, 1 January 2014notable artistry... I look forward to more CDs from this fine player.
Musical Opinion
Thursday, 28 January 2010I was very impressed by his fluent, skilful pianism and his innate musicality. He plays with intelligence and conviction and I wish him much success in his musical career
Stephen Hough
What a wonderful pianist, who combines complete understanding of the style of music he is playing with a rare subtlety and brilliance of execution
Sir Roger Norrington