BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition
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Musicweb-international.com, January 2011 by Roger Jones
London Mozart Players, Cheltenham Town Hall
"Jadran Duncumb is living proof that you don't have to be a Spaniard to play Spanish guitar music convincingly. Is he the next Julian Bream I wonder?"
Localsecrets.com, June 2010 by Rosemary Westwell
Duo Recital with Emil at Kings School, Ely
With intuitive understanding, these young Norwegians synchronized perfectly. No matter how delicate or subtle, how exotic or rhythmically exciting, or how swift the changes of expression, these two always played as one - it was impossible to spot the seams.
Classical Guitar September 2009 by Graham Wade
Sharon Isbin at the Royal College of Music, 11 May 2009
"The eminent American guitarist, Sharon Isbin, on a brief visit to England to publicise her recent recording, Journey to the new World (Sony Classical, 88697-45456-2). enthusiastically presented a stimulating, entertaining, and erudite three hour masterclass at the Royal College of Music...."
"..Jadran Duncumb will be familiar to those who watched the recent BBC Youn Musicians Competition on television and internet with his brilliant performance of the Concierto de Aranjuez. Sharon described him as an 'incredibly talented guitarist'. He played the first movement of Brouwer's Sonata with complete controll and a nonchalant ease..."
Classical Guitar June 2009
William Byrd Singers with Jadran Duncumb, Royal Northern college of Music, Manchester. 22 February 2009
"Despite its enduring popular appeal, Romancero Gitano by Castelnuovo-Tedesco was always a work destined for occasional sightings only. The problem, if that's the right term, lies in the fact that its seven settings of poems by Frederico Garcia Lorca require both a well-drilled choir and a fully fledged solo guitarist. These are resources that don't often land on the same square. So it was a particular pleasure to experience the work tonight.."
"..his playing was of the highest order. The Navarez setting of Mille Rgeretz moving seamlessly into the four variations on Guardame Las Vacas and a particularly fluent reading of the aforementioned Mudarra fantasia.."
"..Duncumb's account of Ponce's Sonatina Meridional proved to be his finest hour. Have you noticed how, engaging though it most surely is, the Campo often fells rather longer than its three to four minutes would suggest? Well that certainly wasn't the case tonight, Duncumb's decision to nudge the tempo just a few notches above the norm making all the difference.."
Adresseavisen
Olavsfestdagene Trondheim, Norway, August 2006
"These young musicians challenged traditional views on which instruments can be combined in a friendly but decisive musical fashion"
"Emil and Jadran commenced their performance with Diabellis Grand Sonate Brilliante for Piano and Guitar and immediately showed that this was not just a combination that can be made to work but one that has great potential..."
"When they concluded their performance with Castelnuovo Tedescos Fantasia opus 145 they left behind a resonance which first and foremost demanded deep respect."
Times of Malta
Victoria International Arts festival, Malta, July 2006
"Dazzling brotherly harmony"
"The high standards of the Victoria International Arts Festival were maintained with the brilliant performance given by a duo of young Anglo-Norwegian brothers..."
"The very youth of guitarist Jadran Duncumb, 17, and his pianist brother Emil, 16, may have raised eyebrows as to how they could fit in this prestigious festival".
"...The brothers' final duo contribution was with the charming two-movement Fantasia by Castelnuovo-Tedesco. It was just lovely and the audience's response was such that the brothers simply had to play an encore, which they conceded with obvious delight..... This was another highlight of the festival and the brothers are destined to go places".
Nordlys
Nordlysfestivalen, Tromsų, Norway, January 2006
"Jadran 16 and Emil Duncumb 15 are winners of the Norwegian championship in music. Now we know why"
"They are fantastic talents at a level that others can only dream about"
"Both are outstanding soloists who have their own interpretations of classical works but their performances together had a vibrance and life which is extremely rare for such young musicians".
"This was quite simply a top notch performance....."
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