Arthur Fagen and his Orchestra accompany with a fine sense of ensemble.
Jan Smaczny, BBC Music Magazine, February 2011
“clarity and precision of touch is evident in the playing throughout, allied to a natural musicality, and a positive sense of structure shared by conductor, Arthur Fagen, who supports in exemplary fashion”.
Gramophone, January 2011
Und das Orchester aus dem mittelstädtischen, östlich von Brünn gelegenen Zlin sorgt unter Fagen für ein sauberes und detailgenaues Mitgehen.
Ingo Harden, Fonoforum, July 2010
Arthur Fagen obtuvo un buen resultado al mando de la orquesta, brindando hermosos y homogéneos pasajes en todas sus secciones.
Ximena Sepulveda, Pro-Opera, July-August 2010
Koukl and Fagen tackle the music with crispness, verve, and electric wit. They let Martinu sound like Martinu, without bombast, despite the echoes of Shostakovich in Concerto 5. […] Pianist and conductor make the most of lyrical moments, a listener’s mind isn’t tempted to wander. As one might expect, the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic offers first-rate accompaniment.
American Record Guide, June 2010
Koukl receives splendid support from the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra under Arthur Fagen and Naxos’ sound is first rate, clear and bright with the right balance between soloist and orchestra. Warmly recommended.
Guy Rickards, Gramophone, March 2010
….. this version is as good because of the contribution of Arthur Fagen. Fagen, who has recorded all the Martinů symphonies, is a real master at obtaining the correct balances in the orchestral textures, and the Bohuslav Martinü Philharmonic Orchestra plays as if the spirit of the composer hovered above. The Naxos sonics are vivid and powerful. Highly recommended.
Robert Cummings, www.classical.net
Arthur Fagen already demonstrated his credentials as a Martinu conductor with his generally excellent complete symphony cycle for Naxos, and this first installment of the piano concertos also is very fine……..The players know the music, project it well, and have the composer’s perpetually syncopated rhythms in their bones. The slightly dry but very clear sonics complement the rhythmic clarity of the conducting and the solo playing, and earn this disc an easy recommendation.
David Hurwitz, Classicstoday.com, February 2010
Big dynamic range and an accompaniment to match comes from the outstanding Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra. Immaculate sound quality.
David Denton, David’s Review Corner, January 2010
Koukl is aided by recording quality generally of a high standard… and by an orchestral partnership under Arthur Fagen (who has recorded Martinů’s Symphonies for the label) that is—especially in the more intricate Fifth concerto—generally first class.
Robert Matthew-Walker, International Record Review, February 2010
Con l’ottima Orchestra Bohuslav Martinu di Zlın, diretta da Arthur Fagen, suona il pianista boemo Giorgio Koukl ….
Riccardo Risaliti, Musica, May 2010
Both he [ Koukl] and conductor Arthur Fagen have considerable experience in Martinů’s music. The orchestra also accompanies well…. it plays well in tune and obviously has the idiom in its blood.
Leslie Wright, www.musicweb-international.com, May 2010
Fagen, por su parte, realiza tambien un gran trabajo, y es que se nota que el neoyorquino sabe lo que trae entre manos en cada momento, sin dejar nada a la improvisacion.
Jordi Caturla González, Ritmo, May 2010