SOLO
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In April 2008, Julian Perkins released
his first solo recording for Avie Records
of
James Nares’s harpsichord suites on two original
English instruments at Kew Palace, London. The CD is available
directly from Avie
Records, price £12.49.
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Played
on a Shudi double-manual harpsichord (1740) - the Royal Harpsichord
Both
movements are taken from Eight
Setts of Lessons for the
Harpsichord (London, 1747), by James Nares (1715 – 1783).
This
recording was featured on Radio 3's CD
Review and The Breakfast Show, and
has attracted much
positive feedback:
"This is
a very fine
debut solo recording from Perkins who has been increasingly prominent
as a harpsichord player in recent times. He displays great panache in
the opening bravura
prelude and keeps
this high standard throughout,
helped by a very secure technique and a real sensibility for this
music... The booklet is beautifully presented and the whole project
introducing Nares’ music is a very worthwhile one."
- Early Music
Review, No. 125, June 2008, pp. 39-40
“Julian Perkins deserves nothing but praise for this
undertaking. There
is much complaining about the demise of the classical recording
industry. One of the main reasons is the continuous release of the same
repertoire. With enterprising musicians like Julian Perkins one need
not fear: it is this kind of creativity which keeps the recording
industry alive. It shows there is still a lot to be (re)discovered, and
it also shows one shouldn't always believe those musicologists who tell
us that what has been buried under the dust of history should stay
there because of a lack of quality. In addition Julian Perkins plays
very well: imaginative, with great rhythmic precision and fine and
well-chosen ornaments.
Perkins has done us a great favour by
recording these fine Lessons by
James Nares, by playing them so beautifully and by using these two
splendid harpsichords.”
- MusicWeb International, July 2008
“Perkins uses a 1764 Kirckman harpsichord
from the Royal Academy of
Music, and while it can have a muscly tone, his skilful command of
texture (along with Nares’s) ensures that it never tires the ear, while
his sound stylistic sense makes the best of the music’s robust
eloquence. A suite by Handel, placed halfway through the programme and
played on the lighter-toned “Royal” Shudi harpsichord built for the
Prince of Wales in 1740, provides a subtle gilding to this thoughtful
and well presented tribute.”
- The Gramophone, August 2008
ENSEMBLE
Julian Perkins has recorded in various groups for leading
international labels, including Decca, EMI and Hyperion.
