Cramer: Piano Concertos Nos 4 & 5

'It takes a special kind of pianist to make certain pieces sound better or more important than they actually are, and Shelley certainly knows how to sell Cramer. His inflections of phrase convey palpable tension and release, while long, sustained cantabiles unfold with vocally orientated modulation. Both as soloist and conductor, Shelley pays special attention to the timing and articulation of embellishments, ornaments and roulades, as borne out in the Fifth Concerto's zesty main theme, plus the brass and timpani's cutting brilliance. Jeremy Dibble's superb and musically detailed annotations are most welcome, and so is Hyperion's well balanced, judiciously resonant sound' (Gramophone)

'Both concertos have irresistibly charming Romance-style slow movements, while the outer movements are flawlessly constructed. Howard Shelley plays and conducts with such serene control that piano and orchestra seem to become one single instrument' (BBC Music Magazine)