Celebration of 100 Recitals at Breinton
Some of the special performances from our first 100 recitals at Breinton since 2008.
Jess Gillam MBE, saxophone
June 2021
"...the live setting last Sunday presented Jess Gillam's true magnetic nature, literally 'infectious' personality, the enthusiasm to share her music with the audience, no hesitation to give everything to connect, bursting stamina and energy to keep going, all on top of her apparently outstanding talent and ability..."
Sir Stephen Hough CBE, piano
September 2020
"A brave endeavour saw the pianist inside and the audience outside, but, as the first chords of Bach-Busoni’s Chaconne burst into the open air, an absolute silence prevailed in the garden. Even the birds stopped chirping; there was nothing but the piano sounds played by Stephen."
Benjamin Grosvenor, piano
January 2019, February 2017
"...17 minutes of madness, but this seemingly humanly-unplayable piece of music was unlocked by the hands of Benjamin, offering a spellbinding operatic elegance, vibrant vividness and majestic beauty... a musician with an outpouring musicality and his own very clear musical ideas, and most importantly, excellent technique that matches and executes them."
Emma Johnson MBE, clarinet
October 2018
"...a most pleasant intimacy and ultimate musical dialogue; whisperingly delicate sounds produced by musicians with the utmost care such that you could hear a pin drop; moments where we held our breath in anticipation for what would be come next; impeccable timing achieved naturally by a spirited partnership in front of our eyes..."
Noriko Ogawa, piano
October 2014
"She really went for a huge sound, taking the opportunity to play our gorgeous piano to full... while displaying natural swings between forcefulness and lyricism... a fantastic finish to our season opening concert, showing off her virtuosity."
Alina Ibragimova MBE, violin
May 2014; with Cédric Tiberghien January 2019, January 2013
"...[the piano's] variety of tone, sometimes warm and caressing, sometimes crisp and distinctive, was the most valuable gift to match Alina’s sublime clarity and deeply engaged sounds. In the serene third movement... the violin tone was eternally sincere and silvery. And it felt as if the piano part was gently and preciously dressing it to complete the beauty"
Dame Felicity Lott, soprano
Angela Hewitt OBE, piano
June 2014
"Felicity Lott was all natural. There was nothing artificially created or fake about her voice and performance – it was simply, naturally, astounding. Using her magnetic elements and warm charm, the audience was drawn in completely. There was that smile and eyes that killed, and the control over her glorious voice which took our breath away. "