James Altena reviews Margo Garrett and Paul Neubauer’s recording of Ernest Bloch: Music for Viola and Piano in the July/August 2018 issue of Fanfare Magazine:
“This is exquisite playing and musicianship of the highest order. … Pianist Margo Garrett immediately arrests one’s attention by emphasizing the brittle dissonance of the initial arpeggiated opening chord, with Neubauer then stealing in with a uniquely shaded tonal color of positively spectral eeriness that raises the hackles on the back of the neck in unnerved anticipation, which is then entirely fulfilled
.… “This is merely one instance of a multitude of such moments … Neubauer makes the cascade of notes positively fly off the page with brilliant panache. … On every page of each score, Neubauer evinces sovereign interpretive and technical majesty. A matching word of praise is also due to pianist Margo Garrett. This is truly a collaboration of two equals … Delos has captured the proceedings in beautifully clear, ungimmicky, well-balanced sound. This disc is an imperative not just for fans of Bloch’s complete viola music, of the viola in general, but for anyone and everyone who loves chamber music; five stars across the board!”
—James A. Altena, Fanfare Magazine
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