Steven Devine

A new review for Das Wohltemperierte Klavier by Andrew Benson Wilson. The review can be found here.

The Well-tempered Clavier, Book 1 Steven Devine (harpsichord) Resonus RES10239 (hybrid CD/SACD) 111:19 mins (2 discs)

Harpsichordist Steven Devine enters a fiercely competitive field in tackling one of the most frequently played and recorded warhorses of the keyboard repertoire. Nonetheless, to the endless possibilities of Bach’s preludes and fugues, he brings many insights. Notable is his flawless, but rarely flashy, technique: lines are sharp as cut-glass and finelyweighted, ornaments are spruce and discreet. There are fleeting moments of fiery virtuosity, such as the C minor, G major, and

B flat major Preludes – works whose improvisatory abandon was inspired by the Italian stylus fantasticus. But generally Devine’s approach is rather more sober, informed by a scholastic rigour – as, indeed, are his excellent disc liner notes. Tempos are on the whole measured, and his pensive (but never ponderous) manner suits Bach’s more reflective works: the visionary B minor fugue comes off particularly well.

There are frequent rhetorical touches in the articulation – little pauses and breathing points delineating, and occasionally over punctuating, phrases. Here and there one might have wished for greater balletic grace in the danceinspired works.

Colin Booth’s copy of a single manual harpsichord by the German maker Johann Christof Fleischer – the original dating from 1710 – has a burnished, plangent sound.

Its tuning, based on Kirnberger III rather than equal temperament, highlights the variegated colours of the different keys and is slightly modified to avoid unpleasing dissonances. The well-judged recording is detailed but not oppressive. Kate Bolton-porciatti 

• BBC Music Magazine
• 15 May 2019

“Devine’s readings are flowing and logical, with variety brought to the entire set first and foremost by his extraordinarily sensitive articulation. In the more toccata-like preludes, his subtly applied tenuto touch keeps things crisp and moving, without monotony. His acute sense of the singing line clarifies even the most complex textures. “

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/js-bach-das-wohltemperirte-clavier-book-1-devine

The Church Times has reviewed Steven’s debut with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Read the full review here.

Steven Devine and Kate Semmens stood in at short notice for indisposed colleagues and presented their programme of music from the Anna Magdalena Bach notebooks.

” a delightful afternoon of fine music, beautifully presented. “

Read the review here…

ClassicalEar has written a great review for Steven’s new release on the Resonus label.

” Thoughtful and measured, poetic and precise, Steven Devine takes a measured but crisply fluid approach that imbues this much recorded music with a pleasing immediacy. ”

Read the rest of the review here.

Stepping in at very short notice, Steven will make his BBC National Orchestra of Wales debut at the Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff on Thursday 18 April at 7.30pm. He will conduct Bach’s Easter Oratorio with soloists Anna Dennis, William Towers, Nick Pritchard and William Dazeley, alongside the BBC National Chorus of Wales.

This concert will be recorded for transmission on BBC Radio 3 on Monday 22nd April.

Planet Hugill has reviewed Steven’s new recording of Bach’s Das Wohltemperierte Klavier very favourably:

The harpsichord is beautifully captured, with a fine resonance and good core sound to the note and none of the pecking which can beset harpsichord recordings. He clearly revels in the various keys and allows them to colour his performances, and the result is engaging and engrossing. I certainly look forward to the second volume.

See the full review here.