MONICA HUGGETT |
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RE BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE, APRIL 2004 Arion, Agnès Mellon, Matthew Wihte / Maria, Madre di Dio CD / Early Music Monica Huggett’s direction is acutely sensible to the needs of singers and texts and this, too, contributes towards a first-rate recital.
INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW, MARCH 2004 Sonnerie / Handel Trio Sonatas CD / Avie Sonnerie’s violins dance nimbly or swoon deliciously in Handel’s rich, graceful melodies. Their attractive tone is both astringent and sweet, luminous and full of shadows… their recorded sound is also impressively lucid… this disc far outshines the competition.
SCOTISH NEWS, MARCH 2004 Sonnerie / Handel Trio Sonatas CD / Avie The present work is a powerhouse of thematic invention. Sonnerie directed by Monica Huggett play beautifully... This combination of excellent musicianship and the latest scholarship makes this a very attractive set.
GFHANDEL.ORG, FEBRUARY 2004 Sonnerie / Handel Trio Sonatas CD / Avie Sonnerie’s vibrant new recording of Opus 2, their debut on the Avie label, has revealed these sonatas afresh. Violinist Monica Huggett is a musician who is both incisive and insightful, and her playing is delightful whether it is animated or reflective. The other members of Sonnerie are comparably skilled at making the music come alive… Sonnerie sound as if they are actually enjoying themselves, and their manifest pleasure in the music is infectious.
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2004 Sonnerie / Handel Trio Sonatas CD / Avie ***** Huggett and Emilia Benjamin carefully match their tone and phrasing and characterise with real imagination. Underpinned by crisp continuo playing, the Allegros have an exhilarating snap and spirit, while the intensity of the amorous or affecting slow movements will surprise those who think that authentic mean austere. The recorded sound is warm yet aptly intimate. A thoroughly delightful disc.
GFHANDEL.ORG, JANUARY 2004 Arion, Agnès Mellon, Matthew Wihte / Maria, Madre di Dio CD / Early Music Agnès Mellon and Arion are particularly outstanding… Much of the credit must go to Monica Huggett, who directs Arion to play brilliantly, emotionally, and with impeccable style… this is an exceptionally fine recital of baroque sacred vocal music that deserves all the recognition it can get. THE
SUNDAY TIMES,
Sonnerie / Handel Trio Sonatas CD / Avie The Trio Sonnerie’s performances are immaculate in style, and infectious in Handel’s exuberant allegros.
THE
INDEPENDENT,
Sonnerie / Handel Trio Sonatas CD / Avie **** Monica Huggett and her young players certainly know their way around Handel’s wonderful set of six Trio Sonatas, and that care and attention results in some lovely music-making… this is playing of real elegance, and nicely recorded too.
GRAMOPHONE, JANUARY 2004 Sonnerie / Handel Trio Sonatas CD / Avie These are polished and sophisticated performances, with much exquisitely turned detail, precisely echoed between the two violinists, who play as if identical twins. There is a great deal of subtle timing, graceful shaping and delicately moulded detail, as well as a happy sense of the musical logic… You won’t often hear this music more attentively, more lovingly played.
CLASSIC FM MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2004 Sonnerie / Handel Trio Sonatas CD / Avie ***** Leading Baroque violinist Monica Huggett and her group Sonnerie perform with dazzling skill the six Trio Sonatas of Handel’s Op. 2… A winner.
INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW, OCTOBER 2003 Hausmisik London / Cherubini String Quartets / CPO … the first violin has a lot to do and Monica Huggett and Pavlo Beznosiuk taking turn-about from quartet to quartet, do it superbly. These are first-rate, extremely stylish performances on period instruments, which have surely set the standard in these pieces for many years to come.
GRAMOPHONE, JULY 2003 Monica Huggett, Bruce Dickey, Galatea / Buonamente CD / Stradivarius The principal joy of this CD is to hear the instrumental sound produced by Galatea and their two distinguished guest players, Monica Huggett and Bruce Dickey. Huggett’s well-nourished tone gives a strong lead to her colleagues –the sound of three violins in the CD’s opening track is a real delight.
THE
INDEPENDENT ON
David Owen Norris / Sonnerie / The World’s First Piano Concertos CD / Avie Norris’s playing is excellent; nimble and delightfully temperate, with Sonnerie taking a genial backseat to the delicate, silvery sound of the Zumpe pianos.
CLASSICAL NET, 2003 Sonnerie / William Lawes The Royall Consorts à 4 CD / ASV Gaudeamus ASV's recording is as clear as one would expect from this source and Huggett directs with consummate authority all around. For those who relish the prospect of hearkening back to those early days of Queen Elizabeth I, this collection is very representative of that period.
GRAMOPHONE, AWARDS ISSUE 2002 Sonnerie / Biber Violin Sonatas CD / Gaudeamus – Gramophone award winner 2002 So
it is especially pleasing to see this award go to Monica Huggett, one of
WILLAMETTE WEEK,
Having PBO’s ensemble to perform Unico’s masterworks was at least half the magic, particularly the solo work of Huggett, who dug in with her usual flair.
CLASSICS TODAY, 2002 Sonnerie / Mozart Piano Quartets CD / Gaudeamus These performances are an excellent reminder of some of HIP's (historically informed practice) benefits--in this case, laser-like focus and brightly tinted colors. Sonnerie plays a muscular, angular Mozart that throws the composer's ideas into sharp relief.
GRAMOPHONE, FEBRUARY 2002 Sonnerie / Pamela Thorby / Pamela Thorby performs Baroque recorder concertos CD / Linn Sonnerie provide the perfect substrate for Thorby’s excursions: stylish, precise and ideally balanced in the Linn recording.
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2002 Sonnerie / Pamela Thorby / Pamela Thorby performs Baroque recorder concertos CD / Linn ***** Thorby meets the challenges with aplomb, playing throughout with a supple finesse and deft authority, while Sonnerie offer a agile ans sensitive support. A delightful disc.
INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW, JANUARY 2002 Sonnerie / Pamela Thorby / Pamela Thorby performs Baroque recorder concertos CD / Linn Sonnerie’s smaller forces provide unfailingly balanced and sensitive support for Thorby, with delicately pointed rhythms (especially in the Telemann) and many attractive touches. Among these are the organ flourishes at the beginning of RV441’s middle movement and Monica Huggett’s violin ornaments deliciously complementing Thorbys in the Air of Telemann Suite.
CLASSICAL,
Arion Ensemble / Daniel Taylor / Handel Sacred Arias It’s easy enough to make Handel sound exciting. Capturing the joy and grace of his music is harder to do, and the Montreal-based period-instrument ensemble Arion. Led here by English violinist Monica Huggett, meets the challenge beautifully. Huggett’s solo violin in the allegro from Saul is one highlight.
LOS
ANGELES TIMES,
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Huggett and the LACO gave Georg Muffat’s Armonico Tributo Nº 2 in G minor a fast-paced, sweeping, lushly terraced ride… Huggett used her gut-stringed instrument in Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in D, RV 208, producing a slender, silky tone.
THE
TELEGRAPH,
Sonnerie / Biber Violin Sonatas CD / Gaudeamus Monica Huggett’s performances do this fine music the fullest possible justice, and are enhanced by the use of a varied selection of continuo instruments, including the gorgeously rich-sounding theorbo.
Sonnerie / St John’s Smith Square …
Sonnerie play as one, with a lightness of touch and flexibility that can stop
the breath… the lilt they put into the closing jig of the sixth
LA PRESSE / MONTREAL, 25 NOVEMBER 2000 Arion Ensemble / Handel programme Exceptionally conducted by the energetic Monica Huggett and with perfect technique. Always alert, consummately musical, expressive and moving. Lovers of Baroque music experienced two unforgettable hours of music.
THE OREGONIAN,
Recital with Hollis Taylor Watching Huggett blend seamlessly into the ensemble was a joy. She played with precision of course, but also with admirable swing, feel and flair… Huggett’s performance was another lesson about good musicians and their scope. |
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