Reflections

"There isn't a single dud item here...Jones's playing of both instruments enthrals. His viola tone is different from the turbocharged massiveness of many of today's soloists; instead he searches out the instrument's capacity for gentle light and shade." (Five Stars Chamber Choice BBC Music February 2014)

"Jones's performances here, well accompanied by Annabel Thwaite, are sometimes more expansive but have a sure feel for Britten's idiom. His playing of the Suite for violin and piano, Op. 6, is alive to its quick-fire kaleidoscope of styles...It is good of Naxos to give us Britten's solo violin and viola repertoire so neatly packaged." (Gramophone)

"This is all wonderful for those who are just beginning a Britten collection, or who wish to investigate some area of the composer's output that they haven't already explored. But here violinist/violist Matthew Jones and pianist Annabel Thwaite offer something for those who already have, but want more. Britten, especially in his early composing years-namely his teens-wrote a lot of music that either was performed and more or less forgotten, re-used in some form in later pieces, or was shelved and unpublished until after the composer's death. On this excellent recording, we get an enlightening look at some of those forgotten or neglected gems." (9/9 ClassicsToday)