Trumpet Concertos by Haydn, Albinoni, Neruda & Hummel

“…listeners will find in this 20-year old Norwegian a musician who plays with an especially beguiling, sweet and shimmering line, nonchalant technical authority and stylish understatement.” --Gramophone Magazine, March 2008

“- Helseth relishes Haydn’s epoch-making excursions into chromaticism with alacrity, especially in the slow movement, which she shapes with disarming naturalness. A splendid début disc. More please!“ " --International Record Review

Tine Thing Helseth (trumpet)
Norwegian Chamber Orchestra

The young trumpet virtuoso Tine Thing Helseth came to the attention of audiences and critics when she was awarded 2nd prize in the 2006 Eurovision Young Musicians finale in Vienna. With her debut CD, which includes a stunningly fresh new recording of the ever-popular Haydn concerto as well as terrific performances of works by Albinoni, Hummel and Neruda, she seems destined to take the world of classical music by storm.

Hummel, Dussek & Onslow: Piano Quintets

The Dutch classical music magazine 'Luister' (March 2007) awarded this CD with top marks: 10

"This disc presents major piano quintets of three central European composers: Hummel, Dussek, and Onslow. Their work is situated in the transition period from the Classical to the early Romantic. All three composers made their way up to the courts of Vienna, Paris, or London, and were very successful at the time.

The sound of this recording is quite impressive too; the level of detail is amazing, and the spatial depth is compelling. The engineers at Brilliant know their job very well. This is a very valuable release. Presented with an interesting booklet (with pictures), this disc will be very hard to beat if you’re looking for an original performance of some great music." FANFARE: Bart Verhaeghe

Beethoven & Hummel: Piano Trios

“…these are really impressive and vibrant accounts that bring out all the abrupt contrasts that so shocked the works' Beethoven first audiences… If you prefer these pieces on period instruments, you're unlikely to find them better done… Beside Beethoven, Hummel's G major Trio is small beer, though its scherzo-like- finale is fun, and Staier wittily invokes the piano's built-in percussion effect for the concluding chords.” --BBC Music Magazine, February 2008 *****

BBC Music Magazine Chamber Choice - February 2007

“This bold juxtaposition of Beethoven and Hummel resurrects a real-life musical rivalry… Equally bold are the timbres displayed by this vividly imaginative trio of period instrumentalists.” --Gramophone Magazine, March 2008

Hummel: Ballet Music

“Howard Shelley's light touch, fresh and colourful orchestral playing, and excellent recording, make this very well worth hearing on its own account, not simply as a rediscovered rarity.” --BBC Music Magazine, August 2007 ****

“Hummel is shown in a new light in these premiere recordings. Shelley lends a his usual classy touch to these attractive works.” --Classic FM Magazine

For the most part the music as pastoral and engaging, with plenty of opportunities for sol orchestral contributions. Cheerfully urged on by Howard Shelley, the London Mozart Players rise to these occasions with relish, and the Chandos recording is careful to keep them lucid but still within an orchestral balance. --International Record Review

Romantic Oboe Concertos

Composers in the Romantic era were entranced by the sublime sound of the oboe and many wrote their finest works for that instrument. In this extraordinary collection of concertos from the early nineteenth century, Australian oboe star Diana Doherty plays masterpieces by Bellini and lesser-known composers alike.

"... a brilliant instrumentalist and an exceptional musician..." --The New York Times.

"... monster technique... a truly remarkable debut..." --New York Concert Review.