MADELEINE DRING

"This is delightful. Madeleine Dring was a very gifted artist — composer, singer, pianist and actress — whose music is well written, immediately communicative and attractive; the work of a composer who knows precisely what she could do, and did it to the best of her considerable ability. Her sudden death in I977, at the age of 54, robbed Britain of one of its most admirable composers, yet her music remains little known except to enthusiasts and performing musicians (her husband was the oboist Roger Lord). There are four main works in this first rate collection alongside three miniatures. Dring’s command of her craft and of her splendid material are admirable qualities, and if her art can be compared with composers of a more established school, Françaix and Poulenc come most readily to mind. The Trios (for flute, oboe and piano and for oboe, bassoon and harpsichord or piano – the latter on this disc) are so attractive that, like everything here, they will continue to give pleasure for years to come, This is the kind of music that will never fade; subtle, cleverly written and designed to enhance the listener’s pleasure without patronising anyone. The performances are exemplary and the recordings are excellent."

Robert Matthew-Walker