31-01-2019 Amadeus Magazine
"A firm reading in the whole, and refined in the search for nuances. This is especially true for The Tragic: in the alternance between major and minor pitch, in the choice to use a wider orchestra"
11-01-2019 Fono Forum
"The gnashing character of the harmonies is uncompromisingly emphasized by the Dutch orchestra…"
01-12-2018 Crescendo
"De Vriend's incredibly fresh and pulsating interpretation resolutely corrects the old resentments…
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21-09-2018 Pizzicato
"With fluid, agile and vivid performances, Willem de Vriend and The Hague’s Residentie Orkest take a promising start into a new compete cycle of the Schubert symphonies.
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30-08-2018 HR Audio
"I think that we have here a most promising start, doing not only justice to a composer that merits all our attention, but also satisfying all Schubert followers by putting together the various strands of vision in comprehensive settings. I’ll be looking forward to de Vriend’s account of the ‘Unfinished’ - “the sad music that makes one happy” - and ‘The Great’. But in the meantime it is a pleasure to congratulate all those participating in this first release for already lifting two of the 5 youth symphonies a cut above the rest.
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30-07-2018 NRC Handelsblad
"Hannes Minnaar and conductor Jan Willem de Vriend understand each other flawlessly in Mozart's 'Jeunehomme'. The settled game of Lover sometimes seemed like a nightly prayer."
27-02-2018 Crescendo
"Hannes Minnaar was so lucky to study with Alfred Brendel and he owes him a lot. Surely he owes him the beethovenian feeling of balance and, even more, the beethovenian outstanding clarity."
09-01-2018 Music Web International
"All three are highly recommendable modern cycles in top-notch sound, and Minnaar’s very satisfying cycle might yet prove to be the more central recommendation among them."
06-10-2017 Luister
"A grand performance of a conductor with vision, a pianist radiating peace and control and a label with guts. And last but not least, an orchestra to treasure."
09-09-2017 Pizzicato
"Choosing his own musically very rich way, Hannes Minnaar is very well supported by Jan Willem de Vriend, and both sign an unconventionally personal account of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos, the first reference recording of this cycle in the 21st Century.
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01-09-2017 Fanfare Magazine
"The chorus sings very well, the orchestra (also known as the Residentie Orkest) is very good, and the soloists are excellent."
28-08-2017 WDR3
"These are the ultimate Beethoven concerts for the second decade of the 21st century!"
04-08-2017 Klassieke Zaken
"The pianist is a true performer, a musician who is not in the forefront, but uses the golden interpretations of the music."
05-07-2017 De Groene Amsterdammer
"Between the two creates a tension of plus and minus ends that the most exquisite interplay gaining force against time. Minnar makes the light heavy, De Vriend the heavy light."
12-06-2017 Radio 4
"CD of the week at Radio 4 - Hannes Minnaar | Beethoven Piano Concertos
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04-06-2017 Classic FM
"The album of the week, a 3 cd box, containing Beethoven's five Piano Concertos performed by Hannes Minnaar and The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jan Willem de Vriend."
01-06-2017 Opus Klassiek
"The members of the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra are playing on the edge of their Chair. And Hannes Minnaar follows that same steep path perfectly! Nothing is flattened or updated. Then there was Bert van der Wolf who has immortalized this extremely colorful and engaging piece in a beautiful recording."
14-01-2017 Pizzicato
"This Dutch production of Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem deserves praise for its rhythmic pulsation and its clarity. It is a felicitous interpretation.
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16-11-2016 HR Audio
"A realis!c sound stage and surround depth, with no disturbing noises from the audience or unwanted echoes from the walls. But with Bert van der Wolf (NorthStar Recording Services BV) in charge, that does not surprise.
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01-11-2016 Opera Nederland
""Conductor Jan Willem de Vriend seldom led a contrast rich performance with the 'Residentie Orkest', where he is conductor since 1st August 1st 2015.""
30-09-2016 Katholiek Nieuwsblad
""De Vriend and Minnaar are a good duo. They give each other space, but - if necessary - they are firmly on each others skin.""
08-07-2016 Luister
"" [...] Both the performance and the recording quality are great, which makes that the countermelodies and the rhythmic variations can be heard beautifully [...] ""
25-05-2016 Opus Klassiek
"" [...] An album that makes you curious to the next one, but also stimulated to follow De Vriend at Den Haag with the best of interest. [...] ""
01-05-2016 gramophone
""[...] Again, his range of touch is highly effective, and there is a pleasing mix of finesse and drive in the concerto’s closing moments.""
08-04-2016 Luister
"LUISTER 10 *****
" What a joy to listen to! Everything is right. [...] ""
01-04-2016 Crescendo
""Minaar interprets both pieces with rare calm and composure, giving them an almost narrative character.""
01-04-2016 Klassieke Zaken
"" [...] What a poetic pianist! The technique seems effortless, the phrasing is thought out and at the same time spontaneously (Yes it's possible!) and the result sounds pleasant [...] ""
01-04-2016 Luister Magazine
"Luister 10 - "This seems to be a complete series that belongs in the premiere league of the discography of these concertos.""
10-03-2016 Friesch Dagblad
""The recordings of both concerts are beautiful.The cd has SACD-quality. This gives it a fullness in sound which is compelling. In short, wonderful cd. "
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19-02-2016 Trouw
""The musical covenant that the pianist and the conductor have concluded, is clearly audible. Minnaar gives great direction to everything he plays. So here too, and his solo cadenza in the second concerto is a smart example of that. De Vriend stirs it all up wonderfully.""
30-01-2016 HRAudio.net
"''Best is to play Beethoven as it is indicated in the score. That's precisely what Hannes Minnaar is doing. Middle of the road? In my view his' is the road.''"
01-09-2015 Gramophone
""Beginning a Beethoven cycle with the Fourth and Fifth Concertos is a bold move but one that pays off in all sorts of ways.""
