Dupont & Benoit: Piano Concertos

'Hyperion's Romantic Piano Concerto series stops off in 1850s Belgium … soloist Howard Shelley adds plenty of sparkle' (BBC Music Magazine)

'In the hands of a master like Howard Shelley, there is never going to be a chance of the music or performer running out of steam. Equally, the Sinfonieorchester St Gallen is on first-class form … of the two works on the CD, my vote would go to the Dupont, largely because it appears more finely-crafted in nearly every respect, and comes over as altogether more homogenous. But Benoit's finale is great fun, too, and it's also got that lovely melody in the slow movement to its credit. Hyperion's recording and presentation are everything you've come to expect from a class operation, and both performances could hardly be bettered.' (MusicWeb International)

'Once more, one can only marvel at Howard Shelley's industry in the triple role of musical archaeologist, conductor and pianist. It is not just the fluency, power and precision of his playing that elevates both scores but the little understated moments when he pulls back to let the music breathe with exquisitely sensitive phrasing. And all this from a musician who is shortly to celebrate his 70th birthday' (Gramophone)