Solway Suite once again demonstrates Dodgson’s impeccable credentials for creating haunting melody, pastel colours and agreeable illustration, and for varying moods... Given the top-notch gallery of players, it is only necessary to relate the excellence of the performances, individually impressive and with meaningful interaction, and the recording captures every sound and nuance.
"Stephen's Concerto No.1 is modern but very appealing – melodic without being ingratiating. The orchestral writing is beautiful but still allows the guitar to cut through. Much as I like the concertos by Rodrigo et al, I find Stephen's work more interesting and concise. I was itching to play it."
These two discs comprise over two and a half hours of Stephen Dodgson’s strongly crafted music, beautifully played... Both discs are an absolute joy, the performances little short of ideal, perfect in intonation and ensemble, lively and delicate as required.
On a personal note, I absolutely love Stephen's Dormi Jesu, and it works so well in this programme – it's a wonderful moment when, at the end of the unconducted trio which has them absolutely mesmerised, you can hear the audience's audible exhalation and you realise they've been holding their breath in wonder!
This disc is a valuable addition to the composer’s growing discography and one that should be snapped up by all devotees of Dodgson’s and twentieth century English music alike.
Those who gravitate to the serious chamber intimacies of the Modern-Tonal yet expect there to be a consistently intricate edge and would like another twist to a kind of Neo-Classical outlook, seek no further.
Violinist Harriet Mackenzie and pianist Nikolai Medvedev perform Stephen Dodgson’s Five Occasional Pieces and Violin Sonata No. 1 in a concert that explores and celebrates works by English Masters. The pair are going on to record a complete album of Stephen Dodgson works this summer. Nikolai Medvedev – ”a mesmerizing combination of technical mastery and emotive depth” – Berliner Morgenpost Harriet Mackenzie “A knock-out from start to finish” – Guardian Programme: English Masters Dowland – Flow my Tears & Now Oh now Eccles – Mad Lover’s Suite, Ground (Aire V) Dodgson – Five Occasional Pieces Elgar – Chanson de Nuit Dodgson – Sonata No.[...]
On the eve of the longest day of the year, London chamber choir Vivamus present a special programme which celebrates light in all its forms, from pale morning rays to gleaming stars at night including Stephen Dodgson’s three-song cycle Canticle of the Sun. Beginning with Macmillan’s O Radiant Dawn, they explore musical manifestations of sunlight with Ešenvalds Rivers of Light, Dodgson’s Canticle of the Sun, and organ solo Lumière by Demessieux. Via Saari’s Sunset they then journey through dusk to the lights of the night sky, including piano solos Moon over Westminster by Bingham and Clair de Lune by Debussy, alongside Time, an original[...]
Violinist Harriet Mackenzie and pianist Nikolai Medvedev perform Stephen Dodgson’s Ten Variations & Violin Sonata No. 2 in a Berlin concert which sets the works aside those of other masters, Bach, Mozart and Grieg. The duo are also going on to record a complete album of Stephen Dodgson works this summer. Nikolai Medvedev – ”a mesmerizing combination of technical mastery and emotive depth” – Berliner Morgenpost Harriet Mackenzie “A knock-out from start to finish” – Guardian Programme JS Bach – Sonata in G major BWV 1021 Stephen Dodgson – Ten Variations Mozart – Sonata in E minor , no 21, K304 Stephen Dodgson – Sonata no. 2[...]
In a second German concert, violinist Harriet Mackenzie and pianist Nikolai Medvedev perform Stephen Dodgson’s Ten Variations & Violin Sonata No. 2 in Bamberg, setting the works aside those of other masters, Bach, Mozart and Grieg. The duo are also going on to record a complete album of Stephen Dodgson works this summer. Nikolai Medvedev – ”a mesmerizing combination of technical mastery and emotive depth” – Berliner Morgenpost Harriet Mackenzie “A knock-out from start to finish” – Guardian Programme JS Bach – Sonata in G major BWV 1021 Stephen Dodgson – Ten Variations Mozart – Sonata in E minor , no 21, K304 Stephen Dodgson – Sonata no. 2[...]