"If
classical music has a dynamic future, it's artists like the Pavão
who'll deliver it. The Quartet's passionate commitment to the
highest standards, whilst boldly pushing repertory boundaries in
new directions, must be the way forward. The Pavão
are the polar opposite of dumbing down"
John
Brunning, Classic FM
*5
stars*
The Financial Times
‘Intoxicating warmth and emotional spontaneity that is
irresistible…velvet-toned, beguilingly responsive playing ’
Strad Magazine
‘A
passionate and penetrating performance. The warmth of their
playing disarms criticism, especially in the most moving account
of Bax’s tender slow movement it’s been my luck to encounter.
The Pavãos love this work, and they want us to love it too. The
sheer, purple passion of the Pavão’s vision swept me along as
never before in this most approachable of the composer’s three
essays in the medium, and I commend it as heartily as I feel he
would have done himself. This is a thrilling issue from a
Quartet clearly worth watching for more than their contemporary,
crossover charms, and it deserves every success.’
Christopher Webber, The Sir Arnold Bax website
'This
can certainly be compared favourably to recordings by better
known quartets. Their tone is full and rounded, with impeccable
intonation throughout. Equally delightful is their understanding
of the composer's myriad tempo markings which are observed so
naturally and seemingly spontaneously that the work unfolds in
all its autumnal glory. I enjoyed this enormously, and I feel
sure that the stature of the quartet has been enhanced by this
new recording. Strongly recommended.' -
Barry Collett, The Elgar Society Journal, July 2008
‘Exceptionally talented’
BBC Music Magazine
‘A
sparkling performance’
Sean
Rafferty, BBC Radio 3
‘An
ensemble of real depth and musical distinction.’
Classic FM Magazine
‘Four
finer musicians you could not come across’
Henry Kelly, Classic FM
‘The
smooth-toned Pavão’
The Guardian
‘I
hope the Pavão continue to wow!’
Elaine Paige
‘A
sound to melt the heart. I love it!’
Aled Jones
A
truly fabulous disc! A real must-have! A record of the year. I
think you understand me.’
MusicWeb
‘The
young and glamorous Pavão Quartet leave us in no doubt about
their understanding of the personality of these two composers.
The Pavãos deserve credit for championing Arnold Bax's first
quartet - and it receives here a performance of sensitivity and
conviction. Bax dedicated it to Elgar, so the latter composer's
sole quartet makes a natural companion, especially in the Pavãos'
refreshingly uninhibited performance.’
The Financial Times
‘With
a light, beautifully integrated sound, their account of Bax's
First Quartet is a real winner (try the sorrowful slow movement
or the lively finale). They bring to the exactly contemporaneous
Elgar (1918) a grace and emotional intensity that is quite the
equal of other more established quartets'
Jeremy Nicholas – Classic FM Magazine (5 stars)
‘A
dream of a string ensemble. Simply world class. Chamber music
for a new century'
Desmond Carrington, BBC Radio 2
‘…the
talented Pavão Quartet never resort to superficial gimmicks,
offering playing that is extremely assured with a meticulous
sense of ensemble.’
BBC Music Magazine
‘An
ensemble of real depth and musical distinction. With a light,
beautifully integrated sound, their account of Bax's First
Quartet is a real winner (try the sorrowful slow movement or the
lively finale). They bring to the exactly contemporaneous Elgar
a grace and emotional intensity that is quite the equal of other
more established quartets'
Classic FM Magazine
‘There’s plenty of energy, precision and clarity, with an
impressive sense of lively rapport between four players.’
Stephen Johnson – BBC Music Magazine
…but
it’s the music which truly matters, and musically, this disk is
an unqualified success. A truly fabulous disk! A real must-have!
A record of the year. I think you understand me.’
Music Web International
‘You’ll be hearing more from this sassy young female string
quartet. This new release fulfils all the promise of their
first, Someone to Watch Over Me, a hit on Classic FM. From the
lively opening bars of Bax’s String Quartet no 1, we are in the
presence of an alert, accomplished ensemble. Their Bax is the
most persuasive performance I’ve heard, warmly romantic in the
slow movement and a riot of gutsy rhythm in the rondo. Elgar’s
more enigmatic, melancholy work requires a mercurial response,
and the Pavão, led with distinction by Kerenza Peacock, have all
the necessary suppleness, every nuance lovingly handled.
Impressive.’
Ros Kavanagh, Saga Magazine
‘An
ensemble that hasn’t forgotten how deeply sensual and
emotionally liberating playing in a string quartet can be. The
Pavão could hardly have chosen two more interpretatively
challenging works for its classical debut album, yet the players
sound as completely at home in early Bax as they do in late
Elgar. Whatever the emotional upheavals in his personal life,
the quartet is one of the most blissfully contented works Bax
ever penned…the Pavão relishes this underrated score with an
intoxicating warmth and emotional spontaneity that is
irresistible. The Elgar has enjoyed a distinguished recording
history...yet once again the Pavão Quartet’s affectionate
detailing of the works expressive undercurrents proves highly
persuasive. This luxuriously engineered disc projects the
ensemble’s velvet-toned, beguilingly responsive playing to
perfection.’
Julian Haylock – The Strad Magazine
