“Deep Light” distinguished as “Melómano GOLD”

“Deep Light” (Ibs Classical), the CD that Cristo Barrios recently published with pianist Andrew West, has just been distinguished by the Digital Melómano magazine as “Melómano GOLD”. More information here: http://ibsclassical.es/product/deep-light/.

“It is not intended to draw up a historical or stylistic narrative that fits some works with others, nor is it intended to give an academic justification to the choice of the same. On the contrary, what we would like to put into value is the musical commitment of Deep Light: a simple and direct bet that is attractive for the subtlety and emotional journey of the works that make up this careful selection of pieces for clarinet and piano. As a result, we expect the listener to find what the title of this CD, in its English version, wants to evoke: on the one hand, the luminosity that lies in the depth of feeling, represented here by two major works of the German repertoire for clarinet, the Grand Duo Concertant by Carl Maria von Weber and the Fantasy Pieces by Robert Schumann; on the other hand, and playing with the semantic duality of “light”, the contrast between the deep and the light, provoked in this recording by the opposition between the works already mentioned and the Introduction, Theme and Variations by Jean Françaix, the Five Bagatelles by Gerald Finzi and the Six Studies on English Popular Pieces by Ralph Vaughan-Williams.” (Cristo Barrios).

REVIEWS

“The interaction between the two musicians is perfect. It is an essential disc for any music lover. ”(MELÓMANO)

“Barrios plays with a pure tone and lots of technique.” (FANFARE MAGAZINE)

“What an exciting listen this is. Superb programming of clarinet works by primarily English and German composers, with intimate sound and fabulously controlled playing.” (BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE)

“Right out of the box this sounds like classic Living Stereo and Masterworks recordings both in heart and in soul.” (MIDWEST)

“This outstanding CD from IBS Classical [...] The virtuosity of the present soloists is obvious from the first to the last bar. Both survive the tremendous complexities of this piece with assurance [...] The duo plays them with great skill and a tender enthusiasm.” (MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL)

“The gift of sensitivity and refinement must be possessed, as the case may be, to arrive at such a result of subtlety and refinement.” (RITMO)

“Barrios and West certainly more than convince in these gentle, evocative yet highly expressive performances. In particular, Barrios makes the emotions implicit in the music come over well without overdoing things”. (PLANET HUGILL)

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