Clifford Benson – Reviews
"I was lost in admiration for the elegance of Clifford Benson’s playing".
Gramophone
"Both works were given fine-grained performances, in which Clifford Benson was the
excellent pianist."
Daily Telegraph
"Mr Benson continued the French theme with imaginative and accomplished performances
of two piano solos by Debussy."
Daily Telegraph
"Clifford Benson’s playing is splendid throughout, and among many notable moments
is the ease and skill with which he negotiates the fluid semiquaver decorations in
the finale’s opening tune."
Music and Musicians
"….. Clifford Benson, whose lucidity in a variety
of recitals has earned consistent respect."
Music and Musicians
"The evening’s pianist was Clifford Benson who played
as if he had composed the music himself, here and in older works as well."
The Times
"Clifford Benson showed himself an equally graceful
and adept pianist in every style required of him."
Sunday Times
"Heroic proportions require a heroic, powerful soloist
and Benson was up to the demands. He was unfailingly competent and sensitive.
His complete technical assurance was complemented by close, but not constricting
attention to detail."
Memphis Commercial Appeal
"With a touch as soft as velvet, he opens to his
listener a dimension in the piano and pianissimo realm, one can say almost
a whole cosmos of unforeseeable breadth, colour and beauty. The Freiburg
solo debut proved that Benson is no mere ‘technician’. It would be more
accurate to describe him as a ‘poet of the piano’. His language has rarity
value. One would search high and low to find his peer."
Badische Zeitung
"Even among the most discriminating audiences, the
piano concertos of Mozart seldom rate a standing ovation, but Clifford
Benson got one on Monday night for a performance of the K467 C major concerto
with the Atlanta Chamber Orchestra that was smooth and confidently stylish."
The Atlanta Constitution
"In introducing a Chopin etude, Benson said it required beautiful sound, proper phrasing and balancing of parts, and his playing had those qualities throughout. But it had passion too."
The News, Portsmouth
"Last night, Benson showed why he is so much in demand for his performances around the world and why his masterclasses are so popular."
Bermuda Royal Gazette
February 2005
h