Five years on from his debut recording, James Rhodes has firmly established himself in the classical world as a pioneering figure – reaching out through concerts, recordings and television documentaries to create new classical music fans whilst remaining unabashedly dedicated to the core repertoire that he performs.
In his fifth recital album from his new label Instrumental Records, he returns with a sumptuous programme of works of Bach, Beethoven and Chopin, the Gluck–Sgambatti ‘Orfeo Melody’, and Liszt’s arrangement of Robert Schumann’s ‘Frühlingsnacht’.
This engaging CD suggests Rhodes is finally comfortable in his skin. His readings of Bach’s Partita No. 1 and Beethoven’s Pastoral sonata are fresh and lovingly detailed, while his Chopin Third Ballade is both fiery and judicious. The Gluck encore is exquisite – BBC Music Magazine
A sincere, communicative and mindful musician. He always holds your attention, whether or not you agree with each interpretative notion…Rhodes’s fusion of instinct, mindfulness and individuality stand out in any era – Gramophone
