STEFAN
ENGELS
Press Notices
“Always stylistically assured
and most tastefully executed, Engels impressed with his flexibility and his
sense of colours and nuances, and his interpretations
of the most delicate transitions to opulent passages…. Impressive was also his
rendering of Reger’s Fantasie
über den Choral Straf’
Mannheimer Tageszeitung,
March 2006
“…one
of the world’s finest young artists. Engels showed a clarity
of articulation and marvelous use of color…a truly memorable recital.”
(Recital for the 2002
“Engels
held the audience in a recital of extraordinary communicative power…serving up
richly varied colours and intricate pianistic textures that sounded effortless.”
“Mr. Engels presented a
fascinating program of works… [he] handled the
kaleidoscopic registrational requirements with utter
confidence, keeping the lines moving and alive through the use of a very subtle
and flexible rubato… it was truly a most enjoyable
evening.”
RCCO
“Engels presented a marvelous achievement...his distinct sense for
tonal monumentalism, for great rhythmic attacks and
hymn-like extravagance let us recognize the artist’s secure instincts for
Messiaen’s vision of organ sounds...His racing virtuosity was demonstrated one
more time in Dupré’s Second Symphony Op. 26.”
Rheinische
Post,
“Engels combined thrilling interpretations with virtuosic
technique...In Franck’s Chorale in E Major, he was able to fascinate the
audience in every moment of the piece...Not less impressive were his
interpretations of Bach’s three chorale preludes on Nun komm’
der Heiden Heiland. His playing was always inspired and strong.”
Westfälischer Anzeiger,
“In Vierne’s Pièces de Fantaisie the extraordinary artistic creativity of
the performer was apparent...Engels received extended applause after a
breath-taking concert!”
Stadtzeitung Kevelaer,
“Stefan Engels let musical sparks fly! In Reger’s fantasia on Halleluja, Gott zu loben, Engels skillfully used
all of the instrument’s tonal resources and presented the work with bravado...Karg-Elert’s bombastic Introduction, Passacaglia, and Fugue
on B-A-C-H was performed absolutely brilliantly...The excited audience thanked
Stefan Engels with a standing ovation for a memorable evening.”
Werner
Zeitung,
“An ethereal evening for the audience in Eberbach.
Stefan Engels proved himself as an artist of uncommon capability...a memorized
recital played with unfailing technique and impressive stylistic knowledge and
musicality...amazing was Engels’ great experience in how to deal with
unfamiliar organs...Great organ works, performed by a grandiose organist!”
Rhein Westfälische Zeitung,
“It
was evident….that we were in the presence of a master in the art of
interpretation as well as one possessing technical brilliance….a rare artistic
talent.”
The
Karg-Elert Archive
RECORDING
REVIEWS
Karg-Elert Complete Organ
Works, Volume 2 (Priory PRCD819)
E.M. Skinner organ – Rosary
Cathedral,
“Stefan
Engels is so in tune with Karg-Elert’s varied musical
personality it’s as if he was born to play this composer.… Engels delivers interpretations that may
never be bettered.... A magnificent disc.”
Christopher Nickol,
Gramophone, April 2006
Karg-Elert: Complete Organ
Works, Volume 1 (Priory PRCD816)
III/68 Organ(1997) of St.Georgskirche,
“Engels
is a player of exceptional talent and in his hands Karg-Elert receives as
sympathetic an advocacy as one could ever imagine. … Engels’s manual technique
positively fizzes. And at all times he is in command of the lengthy, more
grandiose works.
“For much of his career, Stefan Engels has
been associated with the music of Karg-Elert, with which he has an obvious
affinity, and for which he is a recognized authority. …Engels successfully
elicits the multifarious colors and dynamic shadings required by the composer.
We will eagerly await the next installment of this most welcome recording
project.”
The
American Organist
Great European Organs, No.
69 (Priory PRCD790)
“Engels
emerges as a splendid performer, exhibiting all the attributes one looks for at
this level of proficiency.”
“Stefan Engels is certainly a player of
considerable virtuosity.”
Marc Rochester, Gramophone, March 2004
“Stefan Engels’s skilful and idiomatic playing
of this virtuoso repertoire is richly satisfying.”
5 stars
Choir & Organ, January/February 2004
“Stefan
Engels is one of the finest organists of his generation. His technical facility
enables him to spin off demanding passage-work with apparent ease. He plays
with a naturalness that reveals his deep affinity for this music. The
instrument is ideal for this repertoire, blessed by an abundant acoustic that
provides the necessary ambience.”
The American Organist, May 2005
“Engels…is both a sensitive virtuosic interpreter of
the selections on this recording….Engels’ technical prowess shines in his
exciting rendering of the Reger Halleluja! Gott zu loben, bleibe meine
Seelenfreud. He plows through the score with all
of the ease and virtuosity that anyone could hope for to achieve in this
difficult composition, yet he plays with a sublime musical sensitivity in the
softer sections of this work….Engels achieves a fine balance of panache and
introspection in the fifth movement of Messiaen’s Meditations sur le Mystere
de la Sainte Trinite….Engels is a fine organist
in every respect, and this reviewer looks forward to hearing him in future
recordings.”
The American Organist, April 2006
Marcel
Dupré Works for Organ, Vol. 8
“Stefan Engels brings youthful vitality to
these well-known scores….lucid and intelligible…Engels carefully articulates
and sets off motives.”
Haig Mardirosian, Cdnow.com
Marcel Dupré Works for
Organ, Vol. 6
“….played….with an undeniably exciting detaché articulation….”
Organists’ Review