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'An excellent record, which I enjoyed very much, [...] Indeed, so impressed have I been by this disc that although these concertos have been recorded many times, I cannot recall a set of performances which has satisfied me so much. [...] The recording balance is equally first-rate' ★★★★★ Musical Opinion Quarterly, October-December, 2022 (Robert Matthew-Walker)
'Le claveciniste Andrew Arthur a réalisé ici un travail de préparation important pour résoudre les problèmes d'équilibre entre les cordes et l'instrument à cordes pincées. Le traitement des basses dans le mouvement initial du BWV 1058, la mise en valeur du contrepoint dans les parties inter-médiaires, la pertinence des phrasés forcent l'admiration [...] Les mouvements lents bénéficient d'un soin scrupuleux et d'une recherche poussée sur la couleur harmonique, le geste expressif est très abouti.'
★★★★★ Coup de coeur, Classica (France) - No. 251, Avril 2023 (Phillippe Ramin)
'[…] Bach used only single stringed instruments for each orchestral part, a limitation respected on these recordings. It turns out to be no limitation at all, in fact the intimate and finely-detailed weave of the five string players of the Hanover Band is one of the recording's chief pleasures […] Another is the playing of harpsichordist Andrew Arthur, which always feels alert and responsive to the orchestral parts, and has just enough tempo flexibility and ornamentation to bring Bach’s aural designs to life. The sheer sensuousness of the slow movements, which are taken at a luxuriously slow pace, should win over even hardened harpsichord sceptics. ★★★★ The Telegraph, July 28, 2022 (Ivan Hewett)Critic's recommendation: Best Classical CD releases of July 2022
This is a fine new recording of the Bach harpsichord concertos with the Hanover Band in good form. [...] Andrew Arthur is a fine player, and the Garlick harpsichord sounds very well. [...] if wanting stylistic performances of these four concertos, this is well worth considering.' ★★★★ Choir & Organ, November/December, 2022 (Douglas Hollick) 'This fine first CD – the second will include the other three harpsichord concertos and Brandenburg V – was recorded in the admirable acoustic of St Nicholas, Arundel and uses a harpsichord by Andrew Garlick, built in 2009 and after Jean-Claude Goujon, 1748. What is particularly good is the splendid balance between the single strings of the Hanover Band’s A team and the harpsichord – a resonant and singing instrument, well able to hold its own.[...] It is now largely accepted that using single strings is the best way to balance these exquisite concerti, the majority of which had earlier lives as concerti for violin before being re-scored for a six-instrument ensemble for Bach’s concerts in Zimmermann’s coffee-house. [...] what is so beguiling about these performances is the absolute integration of the players with one another. Not one player fails to contribute and the way the first violin and the right hand of the harpsichord play in complete sync – even when negotiating slight inégales in the rhythms – is so elegant and makes for that fluidity which only one-to-a-part can give. Although the excellent performance by Francesco Corti and Shunsuke Sato uses a second harpsichord to play the continuo of BWV 1055 for All-of-Bach, this marvellous performance beats it for natural clarity and for the way all the players – even when they appear to be just filling in the realisation of the continuo – shape their lines to make them sing in response to one other and to the free but perfectly rhythmic playing of Andrew Arthur. This is not only a very ‘correct’ textbook version that I shall enjoy returning to for a long time, but it is fluid, inventive and utterly musical.[...] Andrew Arthur is not a soloist in the modern sense of the word – out to stamp his personality on this music: he is content to help the ensemble to listen to each other and above all, to listen to Bach. There are no grand gestures or extremes of tempi. This is the best we are likely to get and I look forward to the second CD immensely.'Early Music Review (David Stancliffe)
'An enjoyably no-nonsense kind of playing makes the opening movement of Bach's Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052, extremely striking. Soloist Andrew Arthur and the one-to-a-part strings of the Hanover Band play with a feisty swing. Like windows flung open after the rain, there's a matter-of-fact muscularity to the performance, and continuo team Henrik Persson and Kate Brooke provide copious flexing. It's fun. Incredibly funky playing from Arthur, too, makes this movement - particularly the cadenza-like peroration that drives into the final recapitulation of the main - perhaps the album's highlight. [...] Arthur's ornamentation is interesting yet delicately scented, and his trills keep the harpsichord's line singing in the most spectacular fashion.' Gramophone, September 2022 (Mark Seow)
‘It has a real freshness and excitement to it’ In Tune, BBC Radio 3, 15 July, 2022 (Sean Rafferty)
‘[…] a really rich sound, with enjoyable ornamentation - I like the balance as well’ Record Review, BBC Radio 3, 30 July 2022 (Andrew McGregor)
'The sound of this recording just glows! The pieces have such rhythmic drive - you can hear every detail'Sunday Morning, BBC Radio 3, 2 October 2022 (Sarah Walker)
'[…] Bach used only single stringed instruments for each orchestral part, a limitation respected on these recordings. It turns out to be no limitation at all, in fact the intimate and finely-detailed weave of the five string players of the Hanover Band is one of the recording's chief pleasures […] Another is the playing of harpsichordist Andrew Arthur, which always feels alert and responsive to the orchestral parts, and has just enough tempo flexibility and ornamentation to bring Bach’s aural designs to life. The sheer sensuousness of the slow movements, which are taken at a luxuriously slow pace, should win over even hardened harpsichord sceptics. ★★★★ The Telegraph, July 28, 2022 (Ivan Hewett)Critic's recommendation: Best Classical CD releases of July 2022
This is a fine new recording of the Bach harpsichord concertos with the Hanover Band in good form. [...] Andrew Arthur is a fine player, and the Garlick harpsichord sounds very well. [...] if wanting stylistic performances of these four concertos, this is well worth considering.' ★★★★ Choir & Organ, November/December, 2022 (Douglas Hollick) 'This fine first CD – the second will include the other three harpsichord concertos and Brandenburg V – was recorded in the admirable acoustic of St Nicholas, Arundel and uses a harpsichord by Andrew Garlick, built in 2009 and after Jean-Claude Goujon, 1748. What is particularly good is the splendid balance between the single strings of the Hanover Band’s A team and the harpsichord – a resonant and singing instrument, well able to hold its own.[...] It is now largely accepted that using single strings is the best way to balance these exquisite concerti, the majority of which had earlier lives as concerti for violin before being re-scored for a six-instrument ensemble for Bach’s concerts in Zimmermann’s coffee-house. [...] what is so beguiling about these performances is the absolute integration of the players with one another. Not one player fails to contribute and the way the first violin and the right hand of the harpsichord play in complete sync – even when negotiating slight inégales in the rhythms – is so elegant and makes for that fluidity which only one-to-a-part can give. Although the excellent performance by Francesco Corti and Shunsuke Sato uses a second harpsichord to play the continuo of BWV 1055 for All-of-Bach, this marvellous performance beats it for natural clarity and for the way all the players – even when they appear to be just filling in the realisation of the continuo – shape their lines to make them sing in response to one other and to the free but perfectly rhythmic playing of Andrew Arthur. This is not only a very ‘correct’ textbook version that I shall enjoy returning to for a long time, but it is fluid, inventive and utterly musical.[...] Andrew Arthur is not a soloist in the modern sense of the word – out to stamp his personality on this music: he is content to help the ensemble to listen to each other and above all, to listen to Bach. There are no grand gestures or extremes of tempi. This is the best we are likely to get and I look forward to the second CD immensely.'Early Music Review (David Stancliffe)
'An enjoyably no-nonsense kind of playing makes the opening movement of Bach's Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052, extremely striking. Soloist Andrew Arthur and the one-to-a-part strings of the Hanover Band play with a feisty swing. Like windows flung open after the rain, there's a matter-of-fact muscularity to the performance, and continuo team Henrik Persson and Kate Brooke provide copious flexing. It's fun. Incredibly funky playing from Arthur, too, makes this movement - particularly the cadenza-like peroration that drives into the final recapitulation of the main - perhaps the album's highlight. [...] Arthur's ornamentation is interesting yet delicately scented, and his trills keep the harpsichord's line singing in the most spectacular fashion.' Gramophone, September 2022 (Mark Seow)
‘It has a real freshness and excitement to it’ In Tune, BBC Radio 3, 15 July, 2022 (Sean Rafferty)
‘[…] a really rich sound, with enjoyable ornamentation - I like the balance as well’ Record Review, BBC Radio 3, 30 July 2022 (Andrew McGregor)
'The sound of this recording just glows! The pieces have such rhythmic drive - you can hear every detail'Sunday Morning, BBC Radio 3, 2 October 2022 (Sarah Walker)