Borletti-Buitoni Trust
BBT Artists
Rewarding Musical Excellence
Lucie Horsch recorder
Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century
on Decca
****
Ten years after Brüggen’s death, [it is his] achievement as an instrumentalist that is celebrated on Lucie Horsch’s disc. More specifically it’s the remarkable array of recorders from the late 17th and early 18th centuries which he collected and played that are in the spotlight here, all of them documented, together with illustrations, in the accompanying CD booklet… Horsch uses 15 different instruments – sopranino, descant, treble and tenor recorders – some of which are now so fragile that she was only able to record a couple of takes on each. There is a mixture of original pieces – by Telemann, Handel, and Couperin, among others – alongside arrangements of Haydn, Marcello and Bach, with the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century used for the larger-scale movements. For once it’s the instruments that matter more than the music; anyone remotely interested in recorder playing will find it fascinating.
Andrew Clements, The Guardian, 8 November 2024
Reza Namavar and Lucie Horsch
BBT co-commission with Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century
World première 23 May 2024
Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht
Lucie Horsch will leave you breathless listening to a Vivaldian fever dream … [Lucie Horsch] sings elongated quotes from Sovente il sole in the second movement, until the tension is released in a percussive final section. A wondrous and successful work that you will want to listen to more often.
Marnix Bilderbeek, NRC, 24 May 2024
Recorder stars are thin on the ground worldwide, but in the Netherlands they pop up every now and then to enrich musical life with the force of a comet with superior virtuosity on this surprisingly versatile instrument … The irresistibly pure and passionate musician Horsch managed to win over all hearts not only as a recorder player but also as a singer. The orchestra bravely resisted and let her frolic above a solo orchestral part, resulting in a magical experience for the audience.
Wenneke Savenije, De Muse, 27 May 2024
Composer Reza Namavar cleverly exploits the sparkling wit of recorder prodigy Lucie Horsch. What makes [her] special, besides her stunning virtuosity, is the way she communicates with her audience … Horsch is also a mezzo-soprano (and pianist, though not tonight) and an interesting programmer … she put together an evening of Bach and Vivaldi and asked composer Reza Namavar to write a recorder concerto for her and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century … First, the recorder flutters above unruly trembling and pounding strings. In the middle movement, a theorbo gently drips while Horsch sings snippets from Vivaldi’s aria Sovente il sole. Finally, the plucked cellos and double bass excite the recorder player to play faster and faster and higher. The wriggling figure at the end is a nod to Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps.
Jenny Camilleri, Volkskrant, 26 May 2024