Financial Times,
Europe “Stephen Marchionda
was impeccably musical and wonderfully deft with Maw's intricate writing
in the Six Interiors and again later in the solo Music of Memory.
”
The
Independent - London “ Stephen Marchionda gave
the performance of the evening in Music of Memory. Beautifully varied
in texture, a sense of transformation, putting a musical idea before
your ears, taking it through various adventures and, when it returns,
making you hear it anew in the light of experience.
”
The
Times, First Night Reviews
“ Sensitively dispatched by Stephen Marchionda. Stamped as
much with romantic ardour as intellectual rigour.
”
Washington Post “Stephen Marchionda's versatile talents
- full of artistry and confidence”
BBC Music Review “Risks are worth taking when you can
rely on such virtuoso talent as Stephen Marchionda”
Soundboard
Magazine, (Weill Recital / Carnegie Hall performance, Aranjuez Series)
“Imbued with depth and passion Marchionda played engagingly,
a sense of drama...soft yet penetrating notes conveyed the deep melancholy
of the moment...”
BBC
Radio 3, England “Performed with a sans souci
elegance...it is so rare that one hears a performance with such subtle
and refined musicianship. ”
Stephen Daw, Birmingham
Post and Mail, England "Sublime
eloquence of a virtuoso...eloquent performance...breathtakingly sensitive
and contolled...was authoritative and it's serious demands on concentration,
sheer technique and effective timing were all matched perfectly."
What's
on in London Magazine "...his playing has a spiritual
character that suits the music perfectly. Beautiful. For a taste of
outstanding classical guitar played by a virtuoso of the instrument,
don't miss Stephen Marchionda."
Julian Bream "A strong spirited performer."
John W. Dossett Davis,
Oxford Times "Definate highlight
of the evening was the American guitarist Stephen Marchionda's performance
of the Vivaldi 'Concerto in D Major'...the Largo played with deep
pathos and lanquid tenderness, a deeply moving, memorable rendeing."
Cleveland
Plain Dealer "...Marchionda embraces the Spanish
idiom like a born native...flying scale passages graced with ease
and style...thundering chords spoken in his native tongue, a true
virtuoso."
The
Statesman, New Mexico "An extraordinary performer,
unforgettable."
Scherzo
Magazine (Spain)
"The splendid guitarist Marchionda shows courage enough to
tackle such an undertaking and comes gracefully through from the
challenge."
Gramophone
Magazine
“Marchionda's arrangements of these sonatas are impressively
idiomatic.”
Fanfare
Magazine
"This glorious recording takes me back to some of the best days
in my musical memory. The excellence of the music, the mastery of
the playing, and the outstanding SACD audio engineering together come
as close as I can remember to some live recitals I’ve heard
in Madrid or Barcelona."
Class
Auktuel (Germany)
“with the highly virtuosic and colourful playing of Stephen
Marchionda, we discover a totally different side to these wonderful
works which, mostly, have not been recorded on the guitar before.”
SA-CD.net
“This is an extraordinary recording on many levels. Stephen
Marchionda is a new name to me, and what a wonderful discovery! He
possesses amazing technique that effortlessly allows him to play very
technically challenging music without calling attention to it .”
Sunday
Baroque, Radio Holiday Gift List
“Guitarist Stephen Marchionda, once a student of guitarist Julian
Bream, has won several international guitar prizes. He gives a highly
satisfying and virtuosic performance of his own arrangements of several
of Domenico Scarlatti’s less well-known Keyboard Sonatas”
Suzanne Bona
Choice
CD of the Month, WCLV Radio Cleveland,
Ohio
“A wonderful and astounding musician!” Bill O'Connell
BBC
Music Magazine July 2005 - Editor's Choice
"Five stars - This is rather special: Marchionda is a compelling
soloist. The performances are outstanding."
Gramophone
- Critic's Choice
“Impeccable artistry and eloquence - Stephen Marchionda is always
convincing.”
International
Record Review “ Stephen Marchionda is on top
form, he delights in the twisting moods and technical challenges -
no mean achievement.”
The
Metropolitan Opera Guild News
“It’s hard to imagine better performances. Marchionda
is playful, attentive and he shines in the two extended musings.”
Music-Web
International
"I love the symmetry of this disc, and how beautifully it has
been programmed. Langridge and Marchionda give an amazing performance.
An outstanding disc!"
All
Music Guide
“Stephen Marchionda's guitar playing is crisp, warm, and virtuosic.”
American
Record Guide
"Stephen Marchionda turns in vibrant performances...cohesive
and highly charged.”
DeutschlandRadio
Magazine, Berlin
"With this recording Stephen Marchionda mantains his reputation
as one of the best American masters of the guitar."
Classical Guitar Magazine,
England “...let's just say that
you'll have to go a long way to hear anyone perform as convincingly
as Marchionda...A wide dynamic range and exceptionally bright and
resonant timbre...”
Gramophone
“ Regarded as a monumental work for guitar it taxes the performer's
skills of interpretation and technical prowess and certainly Marchionda
gives a fine account of the piece...a range of moods and emotions
from joy, melancholy, humour and playfulness are transmitted through
Marchionda's playing."
John
Schneider, Soundboard Magazine, USA
"Aggressive and musical...both deeply expressive and exciting
with the crushing technical demands dispatched with great bravura."
Colin
Cooper, Classical Guitar Magazine, England
"The sturdiness of character compels its own respect. Always
competent and well thought out...Marchionda has something to say and
the ability to say it in a style that is forthright and uncompromising."
Classical CD Magazine,
Brazil "The beauty, different
and compelling aspects do not escape the attention of Marchionda.
He is dignified, powerful and extremely interesting."
” 
” 
