Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence

Dance! and African Pianism are Textura’s Top Releases of 2022

Canada’s Textura Magazine has released their Top Albums of 2022, and Rebecca Omordia’s African Pianism (#4) and the Minerva Piano Trio’s Dance! (#16) are both in their Top 20 Classical (Instrumental) albums of the year!

“No one would seem to be better equipped to present the music of African composers Akin Euba, Ayo Bankole, Christian Onyeji, David Earl, Fred Onovwerosuoke, J. H. Kwabena Nketia, and Nabil Benabdeljalil than Rebeca Omordia.… Omordia has created something truly special. Not only does she bring attention to figures whose names might be new to many a Western listener, she also presents a compelling argument on behalf of the classical music originating from their homeland, especially when so much of it entices for its distinctive melodic quality, rhythmic drive, and folk-influenced tone.… Regardless of differences in tone, dynamics, tempo, and character between the works, Omordia delivers each unerringly and with conviction and concerted attention to detail.… the remarkable music and Omordia’s sterling realization thereof that most recommends the release.”

—Ron Schepper, Textura 

“On their smartly curated debut release Dance!, Minerva Piano Trio members Annie Yim (piano), Michal Cwizewicz (violin), and Richard Birchall (cello) couple pieces by Stravinsky and Ravel with new works by Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Caroline Shaw, and Birchall himself.… Blending the familiar and the novel works strongly in the trio’s favour.… the trio plays all of the album material with conviction and sensitivity, their deep grasp of each piece’s character never in doubt. Dance! is a strong and accomplished statement and impresses all the more for being Minerva Piano Trio’s debut recording.”

—Ron Schepper, Textura