Radio 3 Record Review
23rd October 2021
Record of the Week

BBC Music Magazine
January 2022
Recording of the Month

Eusebius Quartet, Alisdair Beatson (piano)

Korngold: Piano Quintet in E major, Op. 15
Korngold: Much Ado About Nothing, Op. 11: suite for violin (or cello) & piano
Korngold: String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26

"SOMM Recordings throws new, invigorating light on the Chamber Music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold, performed by the Eusebius Quartet and pianist Alasdair Beatson. Hailed by musicologist Nicolas Slonimsky as 'the very last breath of the romantic spirit of Vienna', Korngold’s stellar beginnings in Europe’s concert halls and opera houses were later overshadowed by his success in America where his soaring symphonic signature forged the template for the Hollywood soundtrack. Praised as 'excellent' by The Sunday Times, the Eusebius Quartet was formed in 2016 and is making its debut on SOMM Recordings. Alasdair Beatson’s previous SOMM releases include his enthusiastically reviewed recording debut, coupling Schumann, Grieg, Brahms and Berg (SOMMCD 086), and a Mendelssohn recital (SOMMCD 104) hailed by Classic FM for its 'highly sensitive playing of rare insight'."

"Eusebius-kvartetti tietysti nauttii näin sointuisasta ja musikanttisesta sävelkielestä ja saa Korngoldin värit ja melodiat hehkumaan juuri kuten pitää. Rikkeetön intonaatio ja kiinteä sointi onnistuvat muiltakin kvarteteilta, mutta Eusebius-kvartetilla tuntuu olevan ymmärrystä Korngoldin valoisaan mutta kiihkeään yleiskaraktääriin sekä 20-luvun viihteeseen, joka häilyy turmeltuneen ja siveän rajalla." - Kare Eskola, Yle Radio 1 Uudet levyt, 28. 10.2021