"There is something monumental about John Mark Ainsley’s Beethoven. Iain Burnside’s fluid playing is delightful, while Ainsley’s artistry is fascinating."
The Independent
"John Mark Ainsley’s instinctive musicianship at its best, perhaps, in ‘An Die Ferne Geliebte’, ‘To A Distant Beloved’, or as the poetic translation in the booklet would have it,’ To My Dear Girl, So Far Away’. "
BBC CD Review
"John Mark Ainsley’s delivery is faultless, his masterly control of the line revealing profound emotion in these often under-estimated gems; Burnside’s piano parts are beautifully judged, too. This joins the Goerne as one of the finest lieder recordings I have heard in years. Put them at the top of your list."
Klassisk Musikkmagasin
Opera Now Magazine, July 2009
***
Tenor John Mark Ainsley is already recognized as one of the most exciting talents around. I have seen him on the opera stage singing everything from Schubert to Henze, and here in an all-Beethoven programme he shows a masculine intensity that, particularly in ‘Abenstern’, proclaim loud ad clear that we have a first-class Florestan in the making. We get ‘Adelaide’ and An die ferne Geliebte here, among lesser-known works, all sung with a total vocal and emotional commitment. A riveting singer.
Tenor John Mark Ainsley is already recognized as one of the most exciting talents
around. I have seen him on the opera stage singing everything from Schubert to
Henze, and here in an all-Beethoven programme he shows a masculine intensity
that, particularly in ‘Abenstern’, proclaim loud ad clear that we have a first-class
Florestan in the making. We get ‘Adelaide’ and An die ferne Geliebte here, among
lesser-known works, all sung with a total vocal and emotional commitment. A
riveting singer.
Della Couling
The Independent, July 2009
There is something monumental about John Mark Ainsley’s Beethoven. Iain Burnside’s fluid playing is delightful, while Ainsley’s artistry is fascinating.
