CD ST PETERSBURG

".. The excellent London Conchord Ensemble puts us all in its debt in offering this repertoire. .. They all play with great intelligence and musicianship and are blessed with a natural recorded balance and vivid sound recording. .. Recommended with enthusiasm." International Record Review, June 2010.

"CD of the Week" in The Daily Telegraph, Five Star review: ".. This disc unearths some real rarities, which the Conchord Ensemble plays with an aplomb, sensibility and purposefulness that suggest a genuine enthusiasm rather than mere disinterment for the sake of being different. .."

... highly entertaining ... played with style and verve by the London Conchord Ensemble... a rare treat ... The Observer 25 April 2010 More press details on the Orchid Classics website.


CD PARIS chosen as ‘The Strad Selection’ of the month

»Sumptuously engineered and glowingly played, this recital disc simply oozes class. The Poulenc Sonata (unaccountably neglected by comparison with its wind-instrument cousins) is often played very cool as though any hint of espresssivo indulgence would ruin the effect. Maya Koch and Julian Milford really have their fingers on the pulse, however, tantalisingly infusing this glorious music with about as much warmth and interpretative vim as it can take without losing its neo-Classical poise. The opening movement is no faceless 'non troppo' but a true 'con fuocco' while the Presto finale is played 'tragico', just as indicated.

It was a suggestion of Diaghilev's that led to Stravinsky composing Pulcinella (1920), based on music that was then ostensibly thought to be by the Italian composer Pergolesi. He later arranged a suite of the most popular movements for violin and piano as the Suite Italienne, a work which is extremely tricky to bring off. Stravinsky's love of piquant wind articulation is ever-present, yet with so many wonderful melodies to wallow in it is difficult not to lapse into cantabile indulgence from time to time. Koch seems completely unfazed, however, playing with an elegance and natural warmth that is delectable.

Milhaud's Le Boeuf sur le toit is one of the few pieces of music that really is genuinely 'laugh-out-loud' funny with a rollicking rondo theme that once heard is impossible to forget. It is also fiendishly difficult (with a firecracker solo cadenza), yet Koch and Milford hardly seem to notice, so infectious are their fine-honed musical responses. Bravo!«

Julian Haylock
The Strad, April 2007


».. 27 year old violinist Maya Koch roused the audience with her powerfully gripping solo. Shining, big sound, secure interpretation - what more do you want?«
STUTTGARTER ZEITUNG, 03.12.2005


»... Beethoven's Violin Concerto ... with young violinist Maya Katharina Koch who impressed with expressive sound and virtuosic brilliance..«
STUTTGARTER NACHRICHTEN, 03.12.2005


»..almost vibrating intensity..«
»..an admirable sense of style and perfect violinistic abilities..«
BADISCHE NEUESTE NACHRICHTEN


»Maya Koch: a musical bundle of energy with enormous charisma«
RHEIN MAIN PRESSE


»..immaculate technique combined with a pure and sensuous sound..«
BÖBLINGER KREISZEITUNG


»Beethoven would have dedicated his Kreutzer Sonata to her«
RHEIN ZEITUNG


».. brilló con perfeción..«
EL PAIS