PRESS REVIEWS

“…rising stars in their field, the Castalian String Quartet…The Clarinet Quintet, a desert island choice for many of us, was given a desert island-worthy performance here…To hear this music, so full of poetry, joy and sorrow, realised to such perfection, felt like a miracle.”

The Observer – Fiona Maddocks / Wigmore Hall with Michael Collins / January 2020

 

“They’re terrific: violinists who seem capable of anything, layering a gleaming finish (often the key to a really luminous quartet sound) on viola a player with a tone like crushed velvet and a cellist who sounds like old gold.”

The Spectator – Richard Bratby / Wigmore Hall / January 2020

 

“… a feisty group, with a real personality and strong interpretative ideas”

The Guardian – Andrew Clementis / Wigmore Hall with Stephen Hough / January 2020

 

“The music making is technically near-perfect, and an analytical sharpness is combined with emotional generosity.”

Hufvustadbladet – Mats Liljeroos / Finland / November 2019

 

“The Castalian Quartet were livelier still in Saturday’s concert in Aldeburgh church, wonderfully expressive in looks and sound in Britten, Haydn and a festival commission from Edmund Finnis”

The Times – Geoff Brown / Aldeburgh Festival / June 2019

 

“…the Castalians, led by the seraphic Sini Simonen who seems to pull her inspiration straight down from the skies, lived every moment. Depth came in the moving introduction of Schumann’s First, A minor Quartet and more surprises in his slow movement, even if the final impression is one of manic exuberance.”

The Arts Desk – David Nice / East Neuk Festival / June 2018

 

“The real treat of the day came in a brilliant evening recital in Kilrenny Church by the excellent Castalian Quartet (*****). Playing quartets by Haydn, Caroline Shaw and Schumann, their unique style – a powerful individuality of sound matched by an instinctive singularity of musical intention – lit up every single moment… A terrific programme, amazing players.”

The Scotsman / East Neuk Festival / June 2018

 

“Their level of ensemble interconnectedness in the Ades and at times in the subsequent movements of Brahms and Schumann was truly remarkable in evincing a physics most rare and special, overlaid with an emotional world of similarly surpassing sublimity. There were times that I simply could not believe my ears.”

Calgary Herald / Banff International String Quartet Competition / September 2016