GEORG BENDA
Benda: Piano Concertos Howard Shelley (piano/conductor) / London Mozart Players [ Hyperion The Classical Piano Concerto Vol 8 / CD - released 1/Oct/2021 ] 'It's almost a commonplace to remark upon Shelley's unstinting advocacy of all‑but-forgotten and sometimes rather inconsequential music. That's to do Benda a disservice, however … where these works really score … is in the slow movements' Gramophone |
JOHANN NEPOMUK HUMMEL
Hummel: Ballet Suites / Twelve Waltzes and Coda London Mozart Players, Howard Shelley (piano/director) [ Chandos / CD - released 25/Apr/2007 ] "Howard Shelley's light touch, fresh and colourful orchestral playing, and excellent recording, make this very well worth hearing on its own account, not simply as a rediscovered rarity." BBC Music |
ALICE MARY SMITH
Smith: Symphony in A minor / Andante for Clarinet and Orchestra / Symphony in C minor Angela Malsbury (clarinet) / London Mozart Players / Howard Shelley, conductor [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 6/Mar/2005 ] Penguin Stereo Guide (Rosette Recording) - "The sound-quality nicely balances warmth and detail, and the music itself is undemanding if delightful to listen to" (MusicSource.com) |
HUMMEL
Piano Concerto in E major / Double Concerto Hagai Shaham (piano) / London Mozart Players / Howard Shelley (piano/director) with Hagai Shaham (violin) [ Chandos / CD - released 6/Apr/2008 ] 'Shelley… is outstanding in this music, synthesizing the classical and romantic elements perfectly.A natural Mozartian, he allies his poise and clarity to a fearless technique, and absorbs Hummels most ostentatious demands into the musical fabric,... |
JOHANN BAPTIST CRAMER
Cramer: Piano Concertos Nos 1, 3 & 6 Howard Shelley (piano/conductor), London Mozart Players [ Hyperion The Classical Piano Concerto Vol 7 / CD - released 2/Oct/2020 ] "the immaculate playing here is alert and personable in a way that transcends contentious issues of style." BBC Music |
JOHANN BAPTIST CRAMER
Cramer: Piano Concertos Nos 4 & 5 Howard Shelley (piano/conductor), London Mozart Players [ Hyperion The Classical Piano Concerto Vol 6 / CD - released 28/Jun/2019 ] Listening to these fluent, expressive performances, it's difficult to see how even Cramer-one of the great virtuosos of his day-could have matched the effortless mastery so characteristic of Howard Shelley's pianism. |
LEOPOLD KOZELUCH
Kozeluch: Piano Concertos Nos 1, 5 & 6 Howard Shelley (piano), London Mozart Players [ Hyperion The Classical Piano Concerto Vol 4 / CD - released 20/Jan/2017 ] 'It's impossible to imagine more compelling performances of this music-Howard Shelley is truly a rescuer of lost musical souls' (Gramophone) |
MENDELSSOHN
An introduction to Mendelssohn (Incls Piano Concerto No. 1 & Symphony No. 4 'Italian') Howard Shelley (piano) / London Mozart Players / Scottish National Orchestra / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Philharmonia Orchestra [ Chandos Intro / CD - released 1/Aug/2006 ] "Howard Shelley offers marvellous playing in every respect; fresh, sparkling and dashing in the fast movements, poetic and touching in the slower ones." (Penguin Guide Rosette recording for Piano Concertos) |
JOHANN NEPOMUK HUMMEL
Hummel: Potpourri, Op. 94 / Adagio and Rondo alla Polacca / Variations, Op. 115 / Violin Concerto in G James Ehnes (violin & viola) / London Mozart Players / Howard Shelley, piano & conductor [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 27/Aug/2004 ] "One of the most highly regarded composers during his life (1778-1837), Hummel's reputation has suffered neglect ever since. Chandos and Hyperion are now at the vanguard of a revival; this is a delightful collection of mainly concertante pieces,... |
HUMMEL
Piano Concerto in A flat / Concertino in G major / Gesellschafts-Rondo London Mozart Players / David Jurtiz (leader) / Howard Shelley (piano/director) [ CHANDOS / CD - released 6/Apr/2008 ] '…unfailing expertise by Howard Shelley… The recordings are exceptionally well balanced, the acoustic pleasingly spacious.' Gramophone |
JOHANN NEPOMUK HUMMEL
Hummel: Piano Concertos in A and F major / Theme and Variations in F major London Mozart Players, Howard Shelley [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 10/Mar/2001 ] 'And it receives eloquent advocacy from Howard Shelley, with his aristocratic command of the glittering Keyboard pyrotechnics'. Fanfare |
HUMMEL
Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 34 / Rondo brillant, Op. 56 in A major (premiere recording) / Rondo brillant, Op. 98 in B flat major London Mozart Players / Howard Shelley (piano and director) [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 6/Jul/2004 ] '...this one is every bit as fine as its predecessors, with full, open, well-balanced sound nand sparkling performances... These are rarities well worth sampling, unlikely to be performed or recorded better.' Gramophone |
HUMMEL
L'Enchantment d'Oberon, Op. 116 / Piano Concerto in A major / etc London Mozart Players, Howard Shelley (piano & conductor) [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 10/Aug/2007 ] 'Shelley's sparkling playing is winning… As ever in this Chandos series, the first-rate recording is clear and vivid, warm and full.' Gramophone.. |
JONANN BAPTIST CRAMER
Concerto No. 2, 7 & 8 London Mozart Players / Howard Shelley (piano/director) [ Chandos / CD - released 4/Oct/2002 ] 'Howard Shelley plays with dazzling brilliance throughout...' The Guardian |