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"Sargon is an outstanding composer. This album contains four of his song cycles, with music that is at times beautiful, at times dramatic, and always faithfully reflective of the poetic text... Throughout this album, the music for piano demonstrates that Mr. Sargon is a savvy accompanist, both as composer and performer."
Dallas Morning News/January 1999
"Drawing on some of the best poetry of the English language, and of the most poignant of Yiddish poems of the Holocaust, Sargon has turned his considerable talents as composer to enhance the recital literature for voice. Lyrical, melodic, spare yet fitting the voice perfectly, Sargon's songs can stand easily with the best the twentieth century has to offer. This important compilation of Sargon's vocal music deserves to be widely heard and frequently performed. Extremely satisfying both for the performers and listeners, his songs elegantly combine word and music into almost visual emotion. With the composer at the piano, we here have an authoritative archive of his work... The recording is top notch in every respect."
National Association of Teachers of Singing, Journal of Singing/June 1999
"The trios recorded here are wonderfully inventive examples of Reinecke's musical syntax, exhibiting his complete command and mastery of form...I found myself plunging headlong into this one and coming back for more, captivated by Reinecke's arching phrases and the immaculate interpretations served up by these artists. Klavier's sound is rich and full, favoring a blend. This is some of the best chamber music I have heard in a long time."
American Record Guide/ Nov. - Dec. 1994
"Masterful... gorgeous performances introduce music that is straightforward, satisfying, and uncommonly beautiful. Each work features different instrumentation, piano being the only constant...Violist Barbara Sudweeks and clarinetist Stephen Girko work together magnificently in the A-major trio... Gregory Hustis is a standout on the other two pieces...he displays versatility and virtuosity throughout. Rounding out the players are Eric Barr, whose poignant, singing oboe graces the A-minor trio, and pianist Simon Sargon, who plays with a keen sense of ensemble, knowing instinctively which phrases should be soloistic and which should be integrated and subdued."
theMet/1994
"Vigorous, leonine readings of cornerstones in the clarinet repertoire sit comfortably alongside Jonathan Cohler's world premiere recording of Simon Sargon's recent work 'Deep Ellum Nights.' This evocative three-movement suite...is skilfully crafted and convincingly performed. There's an enticing, street-wise colloquialism in Cohler's playing...The F minor Brahms Sonata is commandingly played...With excellent support for the pianist Judith Gordon, this is playing of real distinction. Weber's Grrand Duo Concertant, Op. 48, finds these artists in total command of every demonstrative and virtuosic gesture in this taxing three-movement work; scintillating playing..."
BBC Music Magazine/ 1993
"This fine collection marks the recording debut of an outstanding, Boston-born, American clarinetist. He has a splendid technique and a lovely tone, and he is already master of an extraordinarily wide range of repertoire. The opening Brahms 'F minor Sonata' is a supreme test, and he passes with distinction...The Baermann 'Adagio' shows how ravishingly Cohler can shape a melting legato line with a breath-catching pianissimo at its peak. He then throws his hat in the air in the three exuberant '[Deep Ellum Nights] Sketches' of Simon Sargon...Only an American musician could play this with such understanding spontaneity. "Highest Rating.""
The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs 1994
"With a clear, ringing tone, combined with technique and taste, Cohler has produced a disc that features the finest in clarinet playing...Cohler delivers a full-blown, dramatic and forward-moving performance. Cohler then makes seemingly effortless work of Carl Maria von Weber's The Grand Duo Concertant (Op. 48), a virtuoso piece from beginning to end. This is music in the grand tradition, requiring absolute control of the instrument from high to low end, and Cohler achieves this brilliantly...'Deep Ellum Nights' by Simon A. Sargon...[is] a wonderful piece played to perfection which, fittingly, ends this recital on the highest note of the clarinet's range-- double-high C. A great disc!"
Windplayer Magazine/ February 1994
" ...thoughtfully planned and marvelously executed...the disc should appeal to a wide range of listeners. The singing is of a high standard, as is the sound. Recommended."
Fanfare/July-Aug. 1997
"This is an anthology of contemporary sacred choral music that makes you say 'oh my God' for the right reasons. [The selections] convey an impression that they were composed for real people to connect with and worship to...I found plenty to admire and enjoy. From the Yom Kippur liturgy ('Eil Nora Alilah') to the gospel of Luke (Zwilich's 'Magnificat'), Judith Clurman and her troops sing with great feeling and commendable technique."
American Record Guide/Sept.-Oct. 1997
"Judaica is the unifying theme here... these compositions show a loving connection to the Jewish experience in all its stunning diversity. Many expressive styles are on display here as well...Everything is well played by these estimable musicians. Mark Kashper is especially good in 'Reb Mendele,' which speaks of a universal experience, even amid all the ethnically charged writing. His playing is a very classy element in an enjoyable, unusual, and admirably diverse program."
American Record Guide/ May-June 2001
"'Homage to Hafiz' is full of exotic and Eastern sounds with lyrical and haunting melodies. The music and Hannigan's playing is fluid and very attractive. 'Haas Trio' contains jaunty, carefree themes, intense lyric emotion in the second movement, and impudent humor in the final movement. The playing of Hannigan and Walzel is engaging and flexible, especially with the interchange of jazz rhythms and slow eulogy music when the second movement's theme is restated... Hannigan and Sargon perform 'Duologue' with tasteful precision and elegance. Their performance is very engaging and delightful to listen to... I recommend this disc for a number of reasons: Erin Hannigan's fine playing; the variety of works performed; new and interesting works that are recorded for the first time."
The Double Reed/September 2008
"Hannigan presents a user-friendly recital designed to showcase her talents, and like DeAlmeida, her playing is accomplished, beguiling, and both demonstrates and celebrates the high level of musicianship found in our current American orchestras... Sargon's 'Homage to Hafiz' ...is well served by Hannigan's flexible phrasing and warmly plangent tone."
Fanfare Magazine/September 2008
"[Hannigan's] tone is supple and sweet..and she seems to easily navigate the difficulties of the instrument through a variety of styles while projecting an unerring confidence no matter what she is playing...I can heartily recommend the two works by Simon Sargon (also the pianist here) as being completely involving and lovely works..."
Audiophile Audition/Aug.-Sept. 2008
"Another well annotated anthology from Crystal. I held onto this disc for review because of the Dunhill but discovered Sargon. I hope to hear much more of Sargon."
MusicWeb International/June 2008
" ...oboist Erin Hannigan...has a warm, liquescent tone and expressive eloquence...Simon Sargon...is a warmly expressive pianist, as well as a deft composer..."
Dallas Morning News/July 2008
"Gregory Hustis, principal horn of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra since 1976, has it all: nimbleness and unfailing expressivity, bright shiny tone where called for, mellow fluency elsewhere... Buy it. You'll like it."
Dallas Morning News/February 2006
"Gregory Hustis gives solo performances that are masterful. He exhibits abundant control, flexibility, power and expressiveness. The Dallas Philharmonia, conducted by Paul Clifford Phillips, is an excellent ensemble. The Philharmonia has moments as an accompanying ensemble and moments when it serves as an equal partner to the soloist. Both roles are filled beautifully. The recorded sound is present with ample clarity and richness to the sound."
The Horn Call/February 2006
"Because of the special character of the music spanning three centuries, nearly every work on this record is a discovery, and all demonstrate how effective this unusual combination can be... color and elasticity is heard in Mr. Hustis's suave playing, which is never simply supportive, but equally limpid and dramatic. Mr. Sargon, too, is a strong presence on this recording and the wealth of unusual material it contains is in itself enough to assure the disc widespread appeal."
Dallas Morning News/June 1992
"The performers are outstanding. Nancy Keith is a fine soprano with a voice that is warm, clear and true in pitch. Gregory Hustis...demonstrates the same perfection of tone shown on his fine recording of a couple years ago."
American Record Guide, Sep/Oct 1992
"While many may not know the name Simon Sargon, the horn-playing community can thank...Greg Hustis for introducing him to us (on this CD). Sargon is intuitively creative - he knows what sounds good and what will succeed on stage."
The Horn Call/ ed. 2013
"Soprano Nancy Keith, hornist Gregory Hustis and pianist Simon Sargon succeed where many better-known performers have failed, sustaining a difficult program of music for this unlikely combination..."
Turok's Choice, June 1992
"This striking CD contains 17 songs by eight composers. Unified by one theme, the agony of the Jews in the 20th century, they vary widely in expressiveness and textual approach to the subject...[T]he best are strikingly beautiful as well as bleak. Among the latter is 'Shifreles Portret' by Dallas composer Simon Sargon, whose ambiguity is heightened by the music. 'Kadesh,' by Mr. Sargon, is more direct and bleak."
Dallas Morning News/ April 2003