“…definitive interpretations…The success of the collaboration
of these two world-class artists is unquestionable and on vivid display
throughout this CD. The duo's performances achieve an ideal blend of elegance,
delicacy, and joie de vivre. The listener is struck by the easy
virtuosity and inherent musicality of every performance, and by the sensitivity
and subtlety of Cohler and Vitkauskaite's ensemble work…flawless performances…dazzling…sensitivity and grace…sparkling…a
CD worthy of any collection.”
—The Clarinet Magazine
“Best
of the Year” Classical CDs 2008
—Classical 94.5/WNED, Buffalo/Toronto, Peter Hall
“His performance here makes the strongest case I have ever heard
for the piece [Saint-Saëns Sonata]; as he does throughout the
recital, he plays with a light touch and great sensitivity, as well
as a formidable technical control that never descends into simple
flashiness…Ms. Vitkauskaite displays a musical mentality that belies
her youth; she is never a mere “accompanist,” but a true
collaborator, making even the contest pieces sound like miniature
chamber works. She and Cohler sound as though they’ve been playing
together for years…Cohler’s is among the loveliest clarinet
sounds I’ve ever heard; unmistakably reminiscent of Harold
Wright’s unique tone but perhaps a bit more solid, it is incredibly
vibrant and focused…Cohler dispatches the most fearsome passages with a transcendent
technique and beautiful tone control. This is required listening for
anyone interested in the clarinet!”
—Fanfare
“The collaboration is excellent. Cohler’s is everything
French woodwind playing should be—expressive and colorful
with prodigious technique. His risks pay off too; his soft playing
is sometimes barely audible, bit it’s still there; and his
blazing tempos in 16th-note passages sound clean and effortless...Vitkauskaite
makes the most of them [the piano parts] with subtle musicianship
and exceptional skill…Cohler and Vitkauskaite’s commitment
to each work makes this recording not only a great model for younger
players, but an enjoyable disc to pop in at home.”
—American Record Guide
“Playing this lovely should appeal to any music lover…Jonathan Cohler appears to have it all: technique, a lovely sound which he can vary, a natural sense of phrase-shaping, and a lively imagination …I am familiar with recordings by Harold Wright, Richard Stoltzman, Karl Leister, Sabine Meyer, and Gervase de Peyer, and it is high praise that Cohler’s can stand up to any of them…played with brilliance and affection, beautifully recorded…Recommended with genuine enthusiasm.”
—Henry Fogel