Glowing praise for Sphinx Virtuosi’s debut album “Songs for Our Times”

Sphinx Virtuosi released their debut album with Deutsche Grammophon on July 28, 2023.

Sphinx Virtuosi’s Debut Album: A Resounding Success
Sphinx Organization September Newsletter
September 5, 2023

The debut album of Sphinx Virtuosi, released in collaboration with Deutsche Grammophon on July 28, 2023, has been met with accolades and admiration. Here are some of the highlights from leading reviews:

Financial Times writes of an “engaging musical journey,” pointing out the “uplifting showpiece” in Valerie Coleman’s “Tracing Visions” and praising the “joyous” rendition of Aldemaro Romero’s “Fuga con Pajarillo.”

I Care If You Listen describes “Songs for Our Times” as “sprawling, contradictory, and wonderful.”

Pizzicato emphasizes the “sensitive performance” of Andante cantabile from Florence Price’s String Quartet No. 2, and notes the spirited finale of Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 9, arranged by Venezuelan violinist Rubén.

Musical America speaks of “a disc that boasts infectious energy throughout” and highlights the “virtuoso performance” by Cuban American cellist Tommy Mesa. Additionally, Carlos Simon’s ‘Between Worlds’ receives praise, being described as “played with a fiery passion by Sphinx Competition Junior Winner Amaryn Olmeda.”

Gramophone Magazine praises the debut recording as “a knockout. The programme offers a satisfyingly wide range of styles, and the ensemble’s performances are as consistently polished as they are passionate. Kudos to DG for seizing the opportunity to widen the Sphinx Virtuosi’s audience and the Sphinx Organisation’s invaluable continuing achievements.”

Listen to the full album here.