Volupté

01/07/2010
Howard Smith
Music and Vision Daily (UK)

Melba Recordings is providing CD exposure for some of the finest OZ musicians... Here Melba introduces one of its most outstanding releases, distinguished with superlative, glowing performances by an expressive, discerning, musically consummate duo partnership...a truly outstanding recital, magnificently recorded (and not for a moment missing Melba's more customary SACD format).

The performing spotlight here is on violist Benedict ...This Franco-Belgian programme requires an unusual and balanced degree of technical assurance from both viola and piano. Collaborative pianist Timothy Young is consistently both robust and in perfect interpretative sync with the alto instrument...It takes a giant imaginative leap to recall or envisage a more superlative, commanding viola and piano recital than Volupté. This release is one of Melba Recordings' loveliest unchallenged winners.