Out today is a new album of world premiere recordings of piano quintets by British composers performed by Peter Donohoe with I Musicanti and Leon Bosch
The two quintets by Percy Godfrey (1899-1945) and Richard Walthew (1872-1951) fall within a post-Romantic idiom reminiscent of Rachmaninoff’s music, while those of John McCabe (1939-2015) and Ivor Hodgson (b.1959) share terrific rhythmic vitality and modern harmonies whilst remaining entirely accessible.
The recording has recently been reviewed in Gramophone and Classical Music Daily:
“the performances…seem to be entirely worthy of the music, presenting all four works in the best possible light. The strings are forthright and closely integrated, with Peter Donohoe’s piano very much in the midst of that tight ensemble…much to enjoy…it’s a real gem.”
Jeremy Nicholas, Gramophone
“a very interesting disc and the addition of the double bass, minus the second violin gives quite a different sonic character… Peter Donohoe is at his electric best, and he is always a performer who inspires me.”
Geoff Pearce, Classical Music Daily
More information can be found on the Somm Recordings website:
somm-recordings.com/recording/piano-quintets