International Piano‘s December Issue reviews Samantha Ward and Murray McLachlan’s Dora Bright and Ruth Gipps Piano Concertos Recording
“A treat for fans of English music: two piano concertos by two ladies, Dora Bright (1862-1951) and Ruth Gipps (1921-1999). Bright’s writing in the concerto is highly Romantic, gesturing towards Schumann and Brahms, but the material is undeniably English. … [Samantha] Ward is a fine player… finding just the right flow for the appealing melodies. … Bright’s Variations are splendidly imagined, incuding a deliciously tripping waltz. … The indefatigable McLachlan shines in the solo part of Gipps’ postwar concerto. Soloist and orchestra work in communion, exuding a sense of discovery; the Finzi-like Andante is a dream. Both concertos benefitted from musicological input from Valerie Langfield. Unmissable.”
—Colin Clarke, International Piano
See the full review in International Piano‘s December 2019 “CDs in Brief” section.