Read what music critics are saying about Giorgio Koukl as performer and composer, excerpted from media coverage of live concerts, radio broadcasts, and especially about his recent compact discs on Naxos.
  Reviews
  


Martinů: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 5
Naxos 8.572175. (50' 44")
Release date: 24 February 2009


"Koukl would have to be the heir-apparent to Firkusny’s legacy."
  —James Harrington, American Record Guide
"No other pianist today could make a more eloquent case for the music."
  —David Denton, David's Reviews
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The combination of Koukl’s impeccable piano skills and his deep knowledge of the composer’s style results in performances that hold your attention from the first to the last notes—and over many hearings.

Koukl was inspired by his classes with Rudolf Firkusny... Today, Koukl would have to be the heir-apparent to Firkusny’s legacy. I cannot imagine more convincing performances than we have here.

—James Harrington, American Record Guide, July 2009

Once again Koukl is the most distinguished guide... I would start with the lovely Fifth Waltz both to enjoy the writing at its most engaging and to appreciate Koukl’s playing at its more devoted.

—Jonathan Woolf, MusicWeb International, May 2009

These are first rate performances by Giorgio Koukl...

—Peter Collier, Dvorák Society Newsletter, May 2009

Emil Leichner’s old Supraphon survey of Martinu’s piano music filled three CDs but Giorgio Koukl’s newly minted one has left that well behind. Leichner selected all the major items but one of the incidental joys of Koukl’s superior set—superior in terms of both performance and sound quality—has been the newly discovered works which have increasingly dominated the later issues. The present disc consists entirely of such novelties: indeed, these two early cycles emerge into the limelight after nine decades of obscurity.

In neither work is there any pretence to great music but Koukl plays them for all they are worth, aided by fine sound. The result is rather rewarding...

—Guy Rickards, Gramophone, May 2009

...delightful and entertaining early pieces, once again played with technical mastery and fine musicianship by Giorgio (Jirí) Koukl.

—Graham Melville-Mason, Dvorák Society Newsletter, May 2009

...the Czech-born pianist, Giorgio Koukl, continues his love affair with Martinu and no other pianist today could make a more eloquent case for the music.

—David Denton, David's Reviews, February 2009

More praise for Giorgio Koukl in the Index of Reviews.