Reviews
CD of the Week!
Not many pianists can make your listen to all five concertos as if for the first time. Well, Nick van Bloss can. Whatever alchemy he brings to the piano, and his life has been turbulent, Van Bloss finds a quiet certainty in Bach that few others match. David Parry conducts the English Chamber Orchestra. Norman Lebrecht, The Lebrecht Report
Van Bloss performs these works more in the András Schiff vein, with the piano seamlessly integrated, phrase shapes clear and intelligent, articulation crisp and never intrusive, and the whole thing held together by and underlying sweetness. Under David Parry, the ensemble is smartly balanced, the soloist and intonation is clean. Phillip Kennicott, Gramophone
This fine recording is unusual thanks to van Bloss's approach to ornamentation, which doesn't always follow the conventional practices. He has a way of putting a bloom on the notes in the slow movements, which sing beautifully: the music emerges with pristine freshness. Michael Church, The Independant "Album of the Week"
Nick’s recording of Bach’s ‘Goldberg Variations’, NI 6136, released in January 2011 by Nimbus Records, was met with universal acclaim:‘Blissful freshness of approach... delicious... Fascinating...’ International Piano Magazine ‘..sublime poetry, playfulness and, above all, a relish of what the modern piano can bring to this music in terms of dynamics, colour and articulation.’ The Sunday Times ‘...precision is paramount, and Van Bloss employs it here to mesmerizing effect...’ The Independent
“Not many pianists can make your listen to all five concertos as if for the first time. Well, Nick van Bloss can. Whatever alchemy he brings to the piano, and his life has been turbulent, Van Bloss finds a quiet certainty in Bach that few others match. David Parry conducts the English Chamber Orchestra.” Norman Lebrecht