01-11-2020 Musicweb International
"This is Challenge Records' contribution to the 250th anniversary celebrations of Beethoven's birth, and a very fine one it is as well. All of these recordings have been released over the years in single and/or box sets of SACD multi-layer discs, and this all-inclusive box is a more budget-friendly release on standard CDs.[...] All things considered this is a collection that is well worth having.[...] These are all excellent recordings, with a very high standard of performance and a consistent sound that blends period-informed transparency with satisfyingly modern sonorities.
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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."
28-09-2017 WDR3
"The young Dutchman Hannes Minnaar faces the challenge with an overall recording; with the conductor and Beethoven expert de Vriend."
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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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."
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."
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.""
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.''"
01-08-2015 Gramophone
"["].. The piano passagework, too, invariably bubbles with energy and subtlety of detail in Minnaar's hands, not least in the finale of the Fourth, where the timpani and brass add a pungent earthiness to the proceedings."
“The pacing into the finale is well managed, and again there’s a terrific sense of energy and interplay that is very winning.”"
01-07-2015 GRAMOPHONE
"''Here we have a ligt-footed, modern-instrument account which gently projects the textural divergence and melodic simplification of 'awkward' Baroque contours, although 'Erbarme dich' for soprano rather reverses the trend with its extrovert reworking''"
01-06-2015 Klassieke Zaken
"In the opening movement of the fifth wants De Vriend every time a little faster than Minnaar, which inhibits him - an amusing detail for the listener. The recording quality of this production is exeptional: a perfect balance of sounds and a nice acousics.
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01-06-2015 Crescendo
""Rarely these two war horses sound so "freed", so pinpoint accurate, so aerial beautiful and so visinoary modern.""
01-06-2015 Luister
""Lets hope that Minnaar and De Vriend can finish their Beethoven cycle."
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01-06-2015 Luister
""They seem so simple and quietly moving, but the power of music is also in the seemingly rolling obvious sovereignty that subtle takes obstacles."
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01-06-2015 Early Music Review
"''So this is not really an 1841 performance in the expected sense of the word, but a good and clear account of the 1841 Mendelssohn version on modern instruments, played with a good deal of awereness of historical performance style.''"
01-06-2015 Early Music Review
"["].. So this is not really an 1841 performance in the expected sense of the word, but a good and clear account of the 1841 Mendelssohn version on modern instruments, played with a good deal of awareness of historical performance style.""
18-05-2015 Crescendo Magazine
""A recent other recording that these two concerts feedback is that with Till Fellner (ECM) and he has probably has some more depth, but the spontaneity and naturalness of lover-it was a convenience without superficiality that irresistible reminds Arthur Rubinstein-its really enchanting."
[…]
Jan Willem de Vriend conducted his Orchestra with great rigour and intelligence [...] "
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01-04-2015 Opus Klassiek
""So for someone who delicious and shamelessly dares to indulge in the good voice in an on top and highly romantic translation of this adaptation."
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01-04-2015 BBC Music Magazine
"4****
["].. Supported by alert orchestral playing, he reveals a style closer to Beethoven than is often the case in these two symphonies.""
24-03-2015 BR Klassik
""The pianistic standard concert repertoire by Beethoven rarely approches one in such a energetic and fresh way as it does on this CD of Hannes Minaar, Jan Willem de Vriend and the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra.""
05-03-2015 Pizzicato
""De Vriend and his orchestra present volume 3 with the symphonies of Mendelssohn, that already has reference status just as the complete Beethoven symphonies."
"A fresh, dynamic and often surprising Mendelssohn."
"Jan Willem de Vriend demolishes the image showing Mendelssohn as a nice and romantic composer with a flowery sound. His Mendelssohn is modern, dynamic virile and peppery."
Highest ranking: 'Pizzicato Supersonic'"
01-03-2015 Gramophone
"["]...I concluded that, 'for a fresh immediate statement that compels one's attention from start to finish, I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed by this new release'.""
14-02-2015 Trouw
""Things work better if they happen to you. In this way I also want to make music: it's about passing music on instead of imposing my interpretation on the listener. The best moments are the unexpected ones."
"Music is a kind of dream, in the same way immaterial and slippery. I live in my dream - or does this sound cheap?""
06-02-2015 Trouw
""As well as with the Symphonies of Beethoven De Vriend has removed the dust from these works."
"A splendid plea for this unjustly forgotten music.""
09-10-2014 Crescendo
""The first symphony has never sounded so harsh, so exciting, so loaded and with so many contrasts.""
14-08-2014 MDR Take 5
"Friends of powerful and straight lined interpretations will get their money's worth."
03-08-2014 Words&Music
""The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra under conductor Jan Willem de Vriend succeeds in finding the drama and wit in Mendelssohn's symphonies.""
09-11-2013 NRC Handelsblad
"4-star review ****
"The songs were composed for Kross, that were converted in symphonic songs by producer Reyn Ouwehand and arranger Bob Zimmerman, balance between pop and Puccini. Golden Leaves is beautifully fragile and Undyed (with string intro) sounds warm. That also applies for Rebiba: melancholic love music by Lucky Fonz III and texts by Kross herself.""
03-10-2013 Luister
""The vision of Jan Willem de Vriend, is original, energetic, daring and compelling""
03-10-2013 Luister
""Evensong is a great CD, created for music lovers of all ages and all denominations""
01-09-2013 Crescendo
"A Beethoven-interpretation, so modern but also timeless, it is somewhere between a hysterical tightrope and deep felt intensity and emotion - which seeks its equal!"