Blue
Griffin Recording is an independent recording label and full service
recording company. We are located in Lansing, Michigan.
Recording engineer and producer Sergei Kvitko
has completed degrees in music from Russia and the US, including
Doctorate in Piano Performance from Michigan State University. (Read more...) BGR
uses the highest quality equipment to achieve the superb sound that has
been praised by Gramophone ("vividly detailed, vibrant sonics"), and American Record Guide ("The recording is
close to ideal, rich but clear, truthful, and immediate") among others.
(Read more reviews...)
Blue
Griffin is a unique label as it follows creation of the CD from
beginning to end, from setting up the microphones, recording, editing
and mastering, graphic design and printing, to distribution,
advertising and sales. (View full Catalog...)
BBC Music Magazine in August 2008 writes: "In their complete Beethoven Cello Sonatas and variations, Votapek’s crisp pianism perfectly complements Bagratuni’s clean, generous tone. Their approach is deft to every Beethovenian nuance, all three sets of variations particularly genial." (Read full review )
International Record Review in July/August issue of 2008 compares two sets of Beethoven' s Works for Cello and Piano and the verdict is clear: "...judged against one another, that of Suren Bagratuni and Ralph Votapek seems superior. For one thing there is the question of sound, not merely in terms of engineering but also in the tonal quality of the performers." (Read full review )
Beethoven: Complete Sonatas and Variations for Cello and Piano (2 CDs)
International Record Review (UK) July/August 2008:
The combination of flute, oboe and piano is a rare one in chamber
music and the Spectral Trio, from America, have ingeniously concocted
an electric programme of trios and fleshed them out with duos by the
same composers for oboe and piano, and flute and piano. They are
elegantly performed, with real relish and commitment, by flautist
Richard Sherman, oboist Jan Eberle and the late Kimberly Schmidt on
piano.
This is one of the most enjoyable two-piano records to come my way in a
long time. Four composers with different compositional styles makes for
a balanced and varied program, each one flawlessly performed.
This is very well recorded, bright and clear, and offers the
opportunity to hear all of the great detail that 20 fingers can conjure
up. Don’t miss it!
In July/August 2008 issue of American Record Guide Nicholas Roth's traversal of Complete Lyric Pieces was mentioned in a review of another recording. Here's what Donald Vroon had to say about Blue Griffin's release:
It was handy to compare to Nicholas Roth on Blue Griffin (July/Aug 2007). Immediately ou notice the wonderful sound of the Blue Griffin release. The piano is beautiful, in tune, and never clattery or irritating but still very immediate. Rarely do we hear such balanced, beautiful piano sound. I suspect that many people who record the instrument don’t really like it.
Then you notice that the pianist has a big range of sound. He can be quite gentle and delicate and yet quite emphatic in the same piece. You notice his sense of rhythm and flow, his phrasing. He is not especially gentle or pretty (as .... is), but he has character. Nor is he slow and meditative (as ....often is); his tempos are lively but not too fast, and the music has “swing”. Notice, please, that Mr Roth does all ten sets of Lyric Pieces. If you want a complete set —and eventually you should have them all— Roth is a good choice.
Blue
Griffin Recording is an independent recording label and full service
recording company. We are located in Lansing, Michigan.
