John-Henry Crawford: Voice of Rachmaninoff

“While cellist John-Henry Crawford is clearly capable of delivering exemplary performances of any number of composers’ works, his playing seems particularly well-suited to those of Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943).” “…distinguished by the romantic splendour of the Russian composer’s music and the lyrical expressivity of Crawford’s playing.” “A charismatic and polished performer who possesses a warm, vibrato-rich sound…” “…the singing character of Rachmaninoff’s music, something the cellist amplifies beautifully in his performances.” “The combination of Crawford’s heartfelt expression and Asunción’s hushed accompaniment makes for an entrancing entry-point; noteworthy, too, is the precision of the cellist’s articulation and the gracefulness with which he renders the composer’s vocal-like melodies.” “…the spirited “Allegro Mosso” leaps to attention and, with the cellist’s radiant exclamations buoyed by the pianist’s flowing patterns, never loses its effervescent way.” “On this superb outing, Crawford shows himself to be an interpreter inordinately sympathetic to Rachmaninoff’s sensibility and music.”