Review Extracts
This is a recording that demands to be heard: an extraordinary young choir and an outstanding cellist...
Ivan Moody, International Record Review March 2008 (review of "Night")
Every time I hear Commotio, I am impressed with the virtuosity and immense musicality of this exceptionally well-drilled choir
Nicola Lisle, Oxford Times March 2007
Commotio's small but perfectly formed forces ... make a large claim for Klatzow's uniquely appealing and distinctly luminous voice - ... 'an almost Turneresque experiment in music.'
Michael Quinn, Choir & Organ
This is a fabulous disc: Commotio's debut CD is testament to this exciting, vibrant young choir ... the music featured is well worth getting to know.
Highly recommended.
Julian Thomas, Cathedral Music
... this is wonderfully attractive music, structurally and technically within a European tradition ... but with African melodic shapes and rhythms forming a distinctive and original fusion.
The fresh, young Oxford voices sing with an infectious enjoyment and enthusiasm welded onto a foundation of secure and well-disciplined technique. Also included are eight short anthems that are appealing and should enter a wider church-music repertoire.
... a rich and refreshing anthology in which one can sense some of the excitement and optimism of contemporary South Africa.
Church Music Quarterly, June 2006
Klatzow’s voice is a distinctive one, with something of the English choral tradition certainly to be felt in it, but also a very strong African quality.All of the music is splendidly performed; Commotio have a timbre of creamy richness and seamless blend, and the recording quality is excellent.
I urge anyone interested in contemporary choral music to try this.
Ivan Moody, The Gramophone July 2006
Matthew Berry ... conducts his excellent Oxford-based choir with great skill and commitment. The rapt, lullaby-like Cover Me With the Night is perhaps the stand-out moment.
TB, Muso Apr/May 2006
... a highly impressive [CD] debut ... The choir has ...masterly technical control and precision of pitching, and a pleasing uniformity of tone across its full dynamic range. One of its most impressive attributes, however, is the extraordinary clarity of its diction.
Vivacious, versatile and ever-perceptive to the nuances of Berry's direction, Henry Parkes is one of those organists beyond the wildest dreams of most choral conductors. His crisp, responsive and resourceful contributions ... elevate performances which are already of the very highest order.
Marc Rochester, International Record Review Apr 2006
... here is an intelligent, original and desirable album... most of the short choral works in this collection are likely to appeal to many choirs and their audiences. The interested listener's task is made easier by the quality of the singing. This is a very good choir...
There is no doubt as to what the composer intended and he must have been particularly pleased at the standard of the performances throughout...In addition...we can savour some utterly committed accounts of these works.
Robert Matthew-Walker, Musical Opinion Mar 2006
It’s very exciting hearing these things rehearsed by somebody like Matt. Because none of my choral music has been recorded before, he’s got a clean slate as far as repertoire is concerned. There are no points of comparison. It’s unique. It’s a wonderful referential standing that Matthew’s creating. It’s all coming to life for the first time, which is great. It’s interesting that it’s a small choir, but they produce a wonderful, resonant sound, and everyone is very committed to his or her part.
Peter Klatzow, Classical Music Dec 2005
The choir has … a reputation for the quality of its performances, which invariably combine vocal purity, technical expertise and a deep sense of commitment.
Nicola Lisle, Classical Music Dec 2005
... this programme, full of delights, symbolised the turn of the year, a transition between the winter darkness and the light of spring.
... the harmonies of Klatzow's 'Three Spiritual Nocturnes' hold no terrors for today's listener; Commotio's special strength lies in creating a vivid sense of colour ... Matthew Berry is nothing if not hardworking, and under his direction the long periods of this new work unfolded before the audience as music of extraordinary depth.
... in 'Towards the Light' (a concerto for organ, choir and marimba), written by Klatzow in 2003 ... Commotio combined earth and fire in a formidable architecture of sound.
Patrick Cogswell, Newbury Weekly News Jan 2006
The programme, billed as Music for Advent, was rich and varied; and, though I had heard none of it before, thoroughly captivating... as a group, they produced a scintillating, crisp and clear sound, and engaged with some difficult music without compromise... I very much hope that Commotio will grace Oxford with another five years’ worth of concerts of this standard.
James Ballance, Oxford Times Dec 2004
At first sight, Commotio’s programme at Exeter looked distinctly uninspiring. Among the handful of featured composers, not one familiar name leapt out to grab the attention. But this is what Commotio is all about; this is the choir that dares to be different, shaping its repertoire around neglected choral works that deserve to be heard. And it certainly was worth listening to…each piece erupted in a blaze of triumph, all undiscovered gems that delighted, fascinated and inspired.
Perhaps the most exciting piece of the evening was Klatzow's Prayers and Dances of Praise from Africa...traditional choral sections were interwoven with dances on the marimba...the wild, upbeat rhythms bringing the evening to a rousing conclusion.
Nicola Lisle, Oxford Times June 2004
…if you’re only half a choral-music freak, you’ll sense from the moment young Matthew Berry takes post before his singers you’re in the presence of an approachable off-the-wall fellow, whose last wish is to make you want to bolt in the interval. He requires of you an open ear, that’s all…Commotio (meaning roughly ‘exciting noise’) is one of those choirs on the cusp between part-time and professional…its provenance is amateur, its effects highly expert.
Derek Jole, Oxford Times March 2004
All members of this choir can seriously sing…No doubt about it, in a city rich in choirs, Commotio stands out.
Derek Jole, Oxford Times Feb 2003
The Commotio choir’s concert in Keble Chapel on Saturday was so accomplished that it was hard to believe that these singer are amateurs…The total effect was to reinforce my conviction that if modern instrumental music has its problem, and opera seems stuck in a groove, modern church music marches confidently on.
Hugh Vickers, Oxford Times Dec 2002
As with all the music heard at this concert, the rise and fall of the interweaving voices was beautifully controlled and sensitively conducted by Matthew Berry.
Derek Ansell, Newbury Weekly News Jan 2002
Matthew Berry is to be congratulated on bringing us such an interesting programme and rehearsing the choir with great attention to detail.
Peter Westley, Sevenoaks Chronicle March 2001
The voices of the 18 singers blended to produce a rich tapestry of sound which echoed around the Abbey church...minor criticisms aside, these are clearly talented musicians...
Lesley McEwen, Newbury Weekly News Jan 2000