Spirits Soar!
M. Coyle | Minneapolis, MN United States | 08/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ian Partridge is not as well known in the US as he is in the UK, which is very unfortunate. His is the quintessential English tenor voice and it gives new meaning to the word perfection. The timbre and tone of his voice is perfectly suited for lieder singing and this new collection "Spirit Of Love" provides overwhelming testament to that. Partridge often performs with his sister, Jennifer, as his piano accompanist. Her playing provides a lovely balance to Mr. Partridge's voice. There is an intimacy between the two that comes across beautifully in this recording. Purchase this CD now and open up a new world of music for yourself!"
Partridge is stylish and experienced, but the piano part is
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 05/16/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ian Partridge's mellifluous voice suits Schubert's songs beautifully, spinning a lyrical flow that is buoyant and sparkling. From song to song I found the interpretations appealing, although there's never a point where Partridge quite lets go of his British reticence. On the other hand, he has excellent German and total comfort in this idiom, absent Ian Bostridge's strain and fussiness.
The range of songs in this recital keeps firmly to the sunnier side of Schubert, dipping at most into a light melancholy. I think that's wise when the voice is a light tenor. My only serious objection is that the singer's accompanist, his sister Jennifer, isn't competitive with the best pianists; she plays pleasantly from bar to bar, nothing more. Ian Partridge blends seamlessly with his partner, and thankfully he isn't pulled down from his own level of artistry. With a better pianist, this would be a superlative Schubert recital instead of a very enjoyable one."