Bernard Herrmann was perhaps one of the greatest musical all-rounders of the 20th century. Although he is best known for his scores to perhaps some of the most iconic films ever made (’Vertigo’, ’Citizen Kane’, ’Pyscho’),he was also a talented composer for the concert hall, with an early career marked out by his skill as a conductor - praised by Stravinsky amongst others,who autographed Herrmann’s score for his symphony in 3 movements with ’To the excellent musician and conductor, Bernard Herrman. Cordially, I Stravinsky. The Tippet Quartet capture the energy and music finesse of Herman’s works in this recording, accompamied for Souvenirs de Voyage by the clarinetist Julian Bliss and featuring a new arrangement of his score for ’Pyscho’.
"The Tippett Quartet gets intimate with the shower scene in a thrilling chamber suite arrangement of Psycho. " ****
James McCarthy - Limelight Magazine - 30 June 2011
"There’s more to Bernard Herrmann than Psycho, thrillingly as its played here ... Recommended."
David Gutman - Gramophone - June 2011
"Across all three works, the Tippett Quartet lucidly communicates Hermann’s themes of mystery and paranoia..." ****
Anna Britten - Classic FM Magazine May 2011
"...Herrmann’s famous monochrome string score for Psycho is heard in a neat arrangement for double-tracked string quartet. The aggression is more of a shock when the microphones are placed this close; pizzicato notes have a powerful snap and it’s wonderful to hear Herrmann’s dissonant chords spelt out so clearly and cleanly. All three works are given exemplary performances by the Tippett Quartet and Julian Bliss’s liquid legato in the quintet is seductive." Graham Rickson
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Stephen Pettitt
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Andy Gill
