Klassik-begeistert (Germany) - 2025
Dirk Schauß
" At the center: Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle. Two pianists who play as if they have nothing to lose. Sometimes, listening to them, one gets the impression that the two are sitting opposite each other at the piano and have forgotten that the microphones are running. They listen, laugh, flirt, argue – all via the keys. A duo like this is a stroke of luck. The Orchestre Victor Hugo? Solid and colorful. (...) The pianists throw themselves into it as if their lives depended on it. (...) And what remains after listening? Above all, amazement. This music—by Suesse, Beach, and Babin—deserves to be played more often. Berlinskaya and Ancelle are more than just performers; they seem to be true believers. They play with brilliance, yes, but also with soul. (...) So this CD is not just a recording, it is a reference. (...) And best of all, this CD doesn't sound like “required listening for specialists,” but like music that is simply a pleasure to hear. Lively, surprising, sometimes a little unwieldy, but always gripping. In short: a real discovery."
