Press
Acclaim
Musical America
Swensen proves to be not just a bold programmer, but a mature artist with a bold, rounded sound and the emotional chops to back it up.
Swensen proves to be not just a bold programmer, but a mature artist with a bold, rounded sound and the emotional chops to back it up.
,
Musical America
Feature
BBC Music Magazine
His high-voltage focus hit me between the ears in Ligeti’s fiery early Sonata, and he captures the risk and frenzy of Dutilleux’s Variations on a theme by Paul Sacher.
His high-voltage focus hit me between the ears in Ligeti’s fiery early Sonata, and he captures the risk and frenzy of Dutilleux’s Variations on a theme by Paul Sacher.
Helen Wallace
,
BBC Music Magazine
Feature
Gramophone
As for the Kodály itself, Swensen’s interpretation can stand with the best of them. He always leads with the melody, no matter how complex the texture, creating a vigorous narrative current that runs through each movement from beginning to end – yet, at the same time, his playing is illuminating in its detail, aided by what’s clearly a formidable technique.
As for the Kodály itself, Swensen’s interpretation can stand with the best of them. He always leads with the melody, no matter how complex the texture, creating a vigorous narrative current that runs through each movement from beginning to end – yet, at the same time, his playing is illuminating in its detail, aided by what’s clearly a formidable technique.
Andrew Farach-Colton
,
Gramophone
Feature
The Strad
The Kodály Sonata presents a stiffer if familiar challenge, which Swensen meets by taking his time to enjoy the slow movement’s soulful nocturne and articulate every gesture of the finale’s rough good humour.
The Kodály Sonata presents a stiffer if familiar challenge, which Swensen meets by taking his time to enjoy the slow movement’s soulful nocturne and articulate every gesture of the finale’s rough good humour.
Peter Quantrill
,
The Strad