PG*** Penguin Guide's HIGHEST APPRAISAL
"Thoroughly musical interpretation" - Penguin Guide

"Music of the highest quality" - Fono Forum

"A thouroughly new 'old' Bach. To be underlined."
- Sonntagsnachrichten

"Christian Benda conducts this music in a delicate, fluid manner, shedding light on the different levels of composition with great intelligence. This version becomes a first choice."
- Répertoire des Disques Compacts

"Thoroughly musical interpretation " - Penguin Guide

"This complete recording sounds great. The balance between
the instruments is excellent, and the musical interpretation,
as well as the technicality are both adequate. The program
notes are interesting and informative. This recording is well-
made and enjoyable." - Kfarad

"Bachs Werk glitzert und schillert unter dem inspirierten Zugriff der Interpreten in allen Farben; Spielfreude und strukturelle Klarheit paaren sich, und bis hin zur hochkomplexen Triosonate und dem durchdacht aufgedröselten Rätselkanon stehen klangsinnliches Empfinden der Musik und das analytische Nachdenken über sie in bester Balance." - RONDO
 

"Josef Suk is the accomplished soloist in warm, romantically
xpressive interpretations of the two elegant major-key
concertos. A second member of the Benda family, Ariane
Pfister, joins conductor Christian Benda as soloist in their
ancestor's more dramatic D minor Concerto. Her account is
accomplished. The accompaniments are consistently alert
and fresh and the continuo is naturally balanced."
Robin Stowell - The Strad

"Josef Suk recently celebrated his seventy-second birthday, this new release finding the great Czech violinist in superb form. These outstanding performances are conducted by a descendent of the famous family, Suk's immaculate intonation and agility, matched by an equally persuasive account of Frantisek's D minor concerto from Ariane Pfister." - David

"Until now, there's been no recording of the the G major violin concerto by Jan Benda with orchestral accompaniment, and this one from Naxos is affectionately realized and technically accomplished. You'd expect little less, of course, from Josef Suk and Christian Benda. Suk's account is as pure and polished as you could wish for, and the sound is clear and well-balanced. In Frantisek's concerto in D major, Suk gives a polished, supple reading, helped by attentive orchestral support and a clearly focused recording." - Michael Jameson, Classics Today

Diapason's HIGHEST APPRAISAL

Classic CD
*****
Classic CD's HIGHEST APPRAISAL
"Naxos bolsters its already huge catalogue with gems. Among them are treats in Benda melodramas. I can't imagine it better done. Splendid, formidable, excellent, quite outstanding..." - Classic CD

Classic CD  Classic CD's HIGHEST APPRAISAL
*****
"Enterprising as ever [Naxos]...The three speakers are
splendid... The Prague Chamber Orchestra is quite outstanding
and the engineers have produced an appropriately theatrical
sound." -  Classic CD

 *****   Répertoire des Disques Compacts's HIGHEST
              APPRAISAL
"A charming coincidence--evidenced by his poetically inspired
way of conducting with purity and vigour--conductor and
cellist Christian Benda, a descendant of Jiri Antonin,
conducts triumphantly with irresistible nimbleness and lively
intensity. The Grave is a miraculous aria of tenderness. The
theme of great beauty is magnified by Christian Benda's
effusive interpretation which can but thrill us. The sound
technique is subtle, with remarkable enlightment and
presence." - Répertoire des Disques Compacts

"The Benda family dominated music in Bohemia in the 18th century, their fame and influence spreading to southern Germany. Now their distinguished relation, the conductor and cellist Christian Benda, carries on the family tradition. Here he directs Jiri Benda's most famous work, Medea. This magnificent performance recorded in Prague in 1994 has the market totally to itself, irrespective of price." - smusic

Interpretation: EXCELLENT

"A superb interpretation full of dignity and an exemplary level of execution. Christian Benda imposes a perfect metrical elocution, a wonderfully realized counterpoint of timbres and a crystal clear profile of phrases as well as of every musical element of the composition. He leads his orchestra without compromising its freshness, spontaneity and vivacity. A recording bringing out the luminous and concrete intelligence of this interpretation with a sonority as brilliant as diamonds." - CD Classica

"It makes one happy to know that the musical tradition of the bohemian Benda family continues without interruption until nowadays. A quality of execution more than excellent. The orchestra's vivacity in the first and last movements and its perfect soloists are exalting in the best way these symphonies." - CD Classica

"A worthy entry." - Tom Moore

"THE EDITOR'S CHOICE" HIGHEST APPRAISAL

"Pourquoi joue-t-on si peu les Sonates pour violoncelle de
Boccherini ? Par incurie ? Parce qu'elles forment un
impressionnant massif (trente au total) d'une écrasante
difficulté ? Or, voici que Naxos nous présente un
"volume 1" interprété par des descendants de la grande
famille des Benda du XVIIIe siècle. Ils ont de qui tenir, car
tout ici est superbe. Dè les premières mesures, on est
happé par cette musique qui regorge de trouvailles, de
fantaisie, de rythmes et de beautés ; avec une fabuleuse
invention en perpétuel devenir. Et les interprétes ?
Remarquables ! Un archet souple, vivant, qui chante,
sautille, sculpte les partitions ; un pianoforte qui court sous
la mélodie, lui donne, sans lourdeur, l'indispensable assise
rythmique et architecturale. Au total, soixante-douze
minutes de joie de vivre. Vite, que Naxos nous donne la
suite!" Jean Gallois - Etudes


Edmonton Writings
Classic Music Review

A Boccherini cello sonata requires a special talent and that talent is supplied on this Naxos CD by Christian Benda, a member of a Czech musical family of long standing. It is apparent from listening that he has immersed himself completely in the work of his famous Italian muse. Benda is in harmony, literally and spiritually. The resonance and the complex passages are delivered with an unconscious skill moving through advancing themes, subtle diminuendo responses with rapid fingering and single- or doublestopping. Somehow Benda's marvellous technique allows us to savour Boccherini's music free of any distraction. Benda's playing is not at the expense of tone or clarity, which he maintains throughout. We do hear the sweeping, majestic passages brought forth from later music by Duprè or Rostropovich.

Classic CD   Classic CD's HIGHEST APPRAISAL
*****

"The performances are as delightful as the music."
- Classics Today

"Performances here treat the music agreeably and the recording well supports it" - mvdaily

"Right off the bat, it must be noted that this release is by far the best performed of all the Marco Polo Malipiero releases to date.  This disc is another essential acquisition for all Malipiero  aficionados... Bravo!" - Fanfare

"Excellent performances, cleanly recorded." - International Record Review

"My taste buds for more" - John Sunier, Audiophile Audition

Martin Frank: Complete Music for Piano & Orchestra
OSI - Christian Benda, conductor
Paul Badura-Skoda & Sebastian Benda, pianos

Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik: Bestenliste
The Frank Martin CD has been included in the list of the 12 best symphonic CDs of the year out of 4000 new classical music titles appeared on the German market in 2001.

Diapason's HIGHEST APPRAISAL

"KLASSIK heute - Empfehlung" HIGHEST APPRAISAL
Artistic quality: highest appraisal
Sound quality: highest appraisal
General impression: highest appraisal

"Congratulations for this production ! Competence, friendliness, understanding for the works, intimacy with the composer, strong creativity, imagination, agility, characterize this recording." - Peter Cossé, KLASSIK HEUTE

"There is no competition for this issue. This is the only such collection of the complete music for piano and orchestra. Not music to make blitzkrieg conquests but works of sincere substance and curtain-darkened brilliance." - musicweb

[R|Ré]  Répertoire's HIGHEST APPRAISAL

"High on idiomatic playing, sponaneity and rhymthmic energy."
- BBC Music Magazine

"This disc makes a fine introduction to the output of this neglected composer." - Colman Morrissey, Rondo Mondo

"CHRISTIAN BENDA PROVIDES A WELCOME RELEASE OF MARTINU'S VARIATIONS. An impressive rendition with plenty of panache and style from both artists. Christian Benda successfully
manages to elicit well-defined phrasing." - Classic CD

"In the Rossini Variations the Bendas provide lively playing, technically assured. The cellist¹s dark and deep-set cello voice sounds at his best. In the Variations on a Slovakian Theme the main theme is full of sorrow, to be played with rubato. The Bendas do so sensitively. The Variation II is particularly well-crafted, with an attention-getting piano intro leading an energetic passage followed by a noble and sad cello song, a mood taken up in the following variation. The last of the variations is a whirling Allegro, colourful and vibrant, full of technical play. In the Pastorales the composer and the players on record really come into their own. All this music manifests something of that Martinuian dark, evocative colour and mood, and greatly bear repeated listening and examination. The Bendas bring out the atmosphere and energy of the set with much expertise and familiarity. The Nocturnes are no less worthy of mention. All four pieces radiate conciseness and subtle intelligence, including the lively Allegretto moderato where Christian Benda demonstrates some of Martinu's vibrant pizzicato writing. The Suite Miniature are light pieces which make a relaxing and satisfying end to this evocative album. Christian Benda is heard at his best and his partner pianist Sebastian Benda proves a fine accompanist throughout. A by turns provocative, colourful and relaxing album."
- Chia Han-Leon, Inkpot
 

Diapason's HIGHEST APPRAISAL

"Dreamful elegies in which the cello reigns with exhilaration. Christian Benda adds panache and vigour to a perfect style and beautiful sonority. He gives this music an inner charm and perfection without superficiality. In other words, one hour of grace and harmony. What more could one dream of?"
 - Diapason

"A CD that I recommend highly, a recording I could not live without." - mgog