Lawrence Power Viola
Discography
Fin de siècle: Music for viola and piano
Hyperion, 2016
Lawrence Power (viola), Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano)
"Power's capacity for spinning seamless melodies is as crucial to these stylish performances here as his and Crawford-Phillips's virtuosity."
Erica Jeal, The Guardian
"The players' enthusiasm is self-evident, and Power tempers his sweet, full-throated tone (listen to him soar from 2'00" into the Enescu) with a lovely inwardness in the quieter music."
Richard Bratby, Gramophone
BENJAMIN: Violin Sonatina & Viola Sonata
Hyperion, 2014
Lawrence Power (viola), Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano)
"Power is perhaps the outstanding British instrumentalist of his generation, and not only a viola player but, as this disc richly demonstrates, a violinist, too. Hans Keller long ago observed that the distinction is, anyway, fatuous. Power's viola sound has a notable seductiveness, a sort of electric sweetness, but his genius for phrasing is as effective in Benjamin's 1924 Violin Sonatina (more substantial than the title suggests) as in his searching 1942 Viola Sonata, the focus here. A virtuosic arrangement by the sonata's dedicatee, William Primrose, of Benjamin's 'hit', Jamaican Rumba, ends the sequence."
Paul Driver, The Sunday Times
Strauss: Don Quixote
Hyperion, 2013
Gurzenich-Orchester Koln, conducted by Markus Stenz
TURNAGE: On Opened Ground
LPO Live, 2012
London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Markus Stenz
Shostakovich: Music For Viola And Piano
Hyperion, 2012
with Simon Crawford-Phillips - piano
The Sunday Times classical CD of the week.
"[Viola Sonata] Power and Crawford-Phillips leave us in no doubt of the stature of this final masterpiece ... One of Power's most compelling recordings yet for Hyperion"
The Sunday Times
Britten: Violin / Double Concerto
(Violin Concerto / Lachrymae)
Hyperion, 2012
with Anthony Marwood - violin
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra • Ilan Volkov - conductor
International Record Review 'outstanding' award.
Sunday Times classical CD of the week.
"[Double Concerto] Marwood and his viola colleague Lawrence Power prove to be the most outgoing soloists on disc so far ... There is an extra spontaneity here that helps give this youthful music a welcome lift. With the rich-toned Power returning to give an eloquent performance of Lachrymae, this disc offers a trio of highly characterful performances"
Gramophone
J S Bach:
Goldberg Variations
Hyperion, 2011
with Leopold String Trio
"This arrangement has been recorded several times ... but the Leopold's belated entry into the field eclipses all others ... the hushed withdrawing of the Aria's ultimate reprise is spellbinding ... for listeners, there are times when holding one's breath is inescapable"
BBC Music Magazine
Vaughan Williams:
Flos Campi / Viola Concerto
Hyperion, 2011
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The Sunday Times classical CD of the week.
Gramophone Choice.
Gramophone Critics' Choice 2011.
"Lawrence Power is the perfect advocate for both works, with his rich, warm, sensuous tone and flamboyant virtuosity ... Brabbins and the BBC NOW are in complete sympathy with his musical aims"
The Sunday Times
Hindemith: Complete Viola Music Vol.3
Hyperion, 2011
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
"Real musicality shines through ... Lawrence Power lends poignancy to the slow movements and tremendous drive to the fast ones, and the BBC SSO under Atherton gives those machine rhythms real relish"
The Daily Telegraph
Hindemith: Sonatas For Solo Viola
Hyperion, 2010
"Power's performances - characterised by his trademark tonal richness and easy, almost nonchalant technical brilliance - leave no doubt about the weighty seriousness of the music, and its significance for Hindemith"
The Guardian
Rózsa/Bartók: Viola Concertos
Hyperion, 2010
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra • Andrew Litton - conductor
"Listening to Lawrence Power's committed performance of both works leaves one grappling for reasons for the comparative neglect of the Rózsa ... Power delivers a highly charged account of the solo part maximising emotional contrasts in the music to an even greater extent than the impressive Gilad Karni on a rival Naxos disc. The Bartók is equally compelling"
BBC Music Magazine
Beethoven:
Piano Quartet & String Quintet
Hyperion, 2008
with The Nash Ensemble
"The Nash musicians play everything so delightfully, with such perfect control and subtle shadings ... the String Quintet offers the best music: as for playing, the crown's won by Lawrence Power and Paul Watkins in the Duo"
The Times
Hindemith: The Complete Viola Music
Vol. 1 - Sonatas
Hyperion, 2008
with Simon Crawford-Phillips - piano
Gramophone Editor's Choice
"Not since the days of William Primrose have I heard Hindemith's viola music played with such warmth and conviction"
Gramophone
Bowen: The complete works for viola & piano
Hyperion, 2007
with Simon Crawford-Phillips - piano
Sunday Times Classical CD of the week.
Recording of the week - Classical Music Magazine
Class FM Magazine Instrumental disc of the month.
"All the pieces show Bowen's love of the instrument's capacity to unfold long-limbed, rhapsodic melodies ... Lawrence Power's richly expressive moulding of them is a rare treat in itself"
The Guardian
Rubbra/Walton: Viola Concertos
Hyperion, 2007
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra • Ilan Volkov - conductor
Gramophone Awards Shortlist 2008
Gramophone Recommends
Orchestral CD Of The Month (Classic FM Magazine)
Sunday Times Classical CD of the week
Building A Library recommended version
(BBC Radio 3)
'Supersonic' Award, Pizzicato Magazine
Daily Telegraph Classical CD of the Year
CD Compact 'Concerto' Award 2008
Mozart: Violin Concertos No. 2 & 4, Sinfonia Concertante
EMI Classics, 2007
with Maxim Vengerov - violin
UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra
Gramophone Editor's Choice
Brahms: Viola Sonatas
Hyperion, 2006
with Simon Crawford-Phillips - piano, Tim Hugh - cello
"It is hard to remember, when listening to this superb disc, that the three works, Brahms's last, were written with the clarinet in mind. Power is among the most persuasive instrumentalists of our day, and, with his unremitting eloquence, could make you believe the viola was a trombone, but his communicativeness is a matter of the deepest feeling."
Sunday Times
Bowen/Forsyth: Viola Concertos
Hyperion, 2005
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra • Martyn Brabbins - conductor
Gramophone Editor's Choice
"This new performance [Bowen] is beyond criticism ... the performance [Forsyth] is everything one could desire and the recording is wonderfully ripe and glowing to match. A fascinating coupling: hearty congratulations to all "
Gramophone
Whether playing his viola or violin, Lawrence Power is in total sympathy with Benjamin's shifting moods, and Simon Crawford-Phillips proves a lithe and responsive piano partner. A bouncy recording and excellent inlay notes offer more inducements for listeners to discover that the Jamaican Rumba man, composer of five operas and a powerful symphony, was far from a one-trick pony.
GEOFF BROWN, BBC Music Magazine
on Arthur Benjamin: Violin Sonatina & Viola Sonata
Power's exploration of the viola repertoire grows ever deeper, and this is one of his most compelling recordings yet for Hyperion.
HUGH CANNING, The Sunday Times
on Shostokovich: Music for Viola and Piano
Power's raptly beautiful account of the mysterious Lachrymae ... is a final bonus.
ANDREW CLEMENTS, The Guardian
on Britten Violin and Double Concertos; Lachrymae for Viola
His playing impresses by its aplomb in the face of passagework that takes him to the upper reaches of the viola, without for a moment compromising the beauty of his tone ... This CD can take its place alongside Power's benchmark recordings of the concertos by Bowen, Forsyth, Rubbra and Walton.
CAROLS MARIA SOLARE, The Strad
on Vaughan Williams/McEwen works for Viola and Orchestra