Elgar - Pleading, Op. 48 No. 1

Newby, who turns 30 this year, has the kind of powerful natural presence that also belongs to Bryn Terfel, and the timbre of his voice has come to resemble Terfel’s in its plummy warmth and... — Fanfare, Sep/Oct 2023 More…

The performances of the songs are ardent, warm and full of conviction. As ever Roderick Williams sounds completely on the composer’s side. But after Falstaff it’s all too clear that they really... — BBC Music Magazine, January 2018, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Exceptional Elgar. ‘Nimrod’ has the grandeur of a Bruckner slow movement. — BBC Music Magazine, December 2016, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Johnson's full, lustrous tone and floating higher notes, decidedly unlike today's typical 'English' tenor, suit this repertoire well. With James Baillieu's strong if unobtrusive support, he... — BBC Music Magazine, March 2016, 4 out of 5 stars More…

It’s all nicely played, but perhaps the best way to appreciate this album’s merits is by way of a track here and there, rather than as an end-to-end listen. — Gramophone Magazine, November 2018 More…

Throughout Gritton is musically purposeful… while Martyn Brabbins and the BBC players do a fine job. — BBC Music Magazine, October 2009, 4 out of 5 stars More…