BBC Music Magazine
HAYDN Mass in D minor (Nelson)
WANCZURA Symphony No.2 (Russian)
Patrizia Kwella (soprano), Mark Chambers (countertenor),
Nicholas Hurndall Smith (tenor), Simon Birchall (bass),
Colin Lawson (basset clarinet); Fiori Musicali Orchestra and Choir/Penelope Rapson
Metronome MET CD 1024

'A spirited version of Haydn's Nelson Mass, with crisp, punchy orchestra and chorus and good soloists. Ernst von Wanczura's Russian Symphony, featuring basset clarinet, makes a lightweight yet likeable appendage.'

Graham Lock

The Strad
BACH Concerto in D minor (reconstructed by Linder-Dewan)
Brandenburg Concerto No.2
ZELENKA Sinfonia in A minor
Kerstin Linder-Dewan (violin), David Staff (trumpet),
Pamela Thorby (recorder), Paolo Grazzi (oboe),
Fiori Musicali, Penelope Rapson (director)
Metronome MET CD 1019

'For her new violin version of Bach's D minor Concerto Kerstin Linder-Dewan has attempted to emulate the idiomatic figuration of Bach's presumed original concept. Her musical text serves the work well and this invigorating recording is particularly impressive for her relaxed virtuosity and articulated rhythmic playing in the outer movements, her skillful appreciation of the harmonic complexities and conceits of Bach's art and her supple view of the work overall. Fiori Musicali, under Penelope Rapson's careful direction, fields a small but able body of period instrumentalists, whose careful punctuation and sensitive interaction with the soloist make for a rewarding coherence.
The account of Bach's second Brandenburg Concerto is accomplished rather than distinguished. Not so the performance of Zelenka's A minor Sinfonia, whose brilliant Vivaldian opening movement and Bohemian central Capriccio and final Menuettos are eloquently performed, and whose sonorous bassoon-cello duet in the Aria da Capriccio is a sheer delight.'

Robin Stowell

Leicester Mercury
Lifting veil on unsung Maestro

'Jan Dismas Zelenka is a composer we do not come across every day. In fact chances are that most people will know nothing about this prolific Bohemian who began his career as a double bass player in Prague and lived from 1679-1745.
He was very highly regarded by his more famous contemporary JS Bach. If your curiosity is aroused, you will be pleased to hear than some of his music is to be performed in Leicester. We shall, in fact, hear one particular work before anyone else in this country as Fiori Musicali will be giving the very first performance in Britain of Zelenka's C minor Requiem at the church of St James the Greater on Saturday 9 October.
Fiori Musicali's founder and artistic director Dr Penelope Rapson believes the rich sonorous texture of this work is marvelously suited to the spacious acoustics of St James. '

Neil Crutchley

Northampton Chronicle & Echo
Fiori Musicali is well established as an early music ensemble.

'Although originally specialising in baroque music, over the years their range has widened, with music by Tudor composers and classicists like Mozart becoming part of their programmes. Now comes music from today with Fiori Musicali commissioning a piece from Geoffrey Burgon, and presenting it in the new Cripps Theatre at Northampton School for Boys.'

Maurice Dunmore