Fanfare Magazine’s March/April 2021 issue features an incredible review for Andrew Balio and Bruce Bengtson’s Soli Deo Gloria – Bach recording:
“My praise here is unabashedly stratospheric: This is, hands down, the most magnificent, eloquent, communicative trumpet playing I have ever heard in my life, and I have a whole shelf full of trumpet CDs by virtuosos past and present against which I am comparing it. … [Andrew Balio’s] tone is of absolutely ravishing sweetness; his legato is absolutely seamless, and his breathing seeming limitless; his tonguing and attacks are absolutely clean and devoid of any brittle edginess; his intonation and rhythmic precision are faultless. But most of all, he communicates the joy and glory of music: At every moment, this is playing of deep exaltation or contemplation, truly united with Bach in the goal of Soli Deo gloria, “to the glory of God alone.” I could fill a few pages marveling at what I hear in this set… If a CD were an LP, a stylus would have worn the grooves down to powder in the number of times I’ve replayed this—such perfect ebullience and jubilation, its chains of rippling 16th notes dispatched with perfect precision and beauty of tone, utterly free from any trace of harshness. Of course, Andrew Balio is not alone in this endeavor. Organist Bruce Bengtson is a fully worthy partner, whose support at every turn is completely stylish and in sync with Balio at every turn. Every such collaboration should be so happy and fruitful in its results. … The recordings were made at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center at Notre Dame University, using the Fritts tracker organ of the Reyes Choral Hall. The recorded sound has Balio to the fore, but not unduly so, and is resonant but clear. … I have listened to this set, or portions of it, literally dozens of times in the last few weeks; I never grow tired of it, and my sense of wonder at it only continues to grow. This is a major contender for my 2021 Want List; highest possible recommendation.”
—James A. Altena, Fanfare Magazine
See the full review in the March/April 2021 issue of Fanfare