If one desires music soothing to the ear, brimming with expressive sentimentality, look no further than Evening Songs. Naxos’s soigné release of selected songs derived from Frederick Delius and John Ireland is worthy of repeat sojourns, the perfect antidote for tranquility.

Este disco puede hacer buena caja en el Reino Unido, donde todos los elementos que lo componen tienen cierta o muy buena presencia en el mundo musical, llámense Julian Lloyd Weber, John Lenehan, Frederick Delius o John Ireland. Hablamos de arreglos para cello y piano, en su mayoría de Julian Lloyd Weber, de canciones de estos dos últimos, dos compositores “menores” pero muy queridos por el mundo musical británico, con el añadido de que Naxos los está relanzando con cada disco, en especial la obra del londinense John Ireland, con suculentas obras para piano “ambientadas” en Londres y tocadas por el mismo pianista que acompaña a Julian Lloyd Weber y en las dos en que aparece Jiaxin Cheng, John Lenehan, que es el que toca el piano en todas las canciones de este disco. El empacho de canciones arregladas para cello y piano, una tras otra, podría ser mayor si no estuviera un cellista de la categoría del que hablamos, que toca estas músicas de modo más íntimo que si estuviera en los pasillos de su conservatorio cuando las estudiaba como estudiante de cello (Birds in the High Hall Garden de Delius es un clásico). Una buena oportunidad para todos aquellos cellistas y amantes de la música inglesa. En caso contrario… © 2012 Ritmo

A nice idea; songs by John Ireland and Frederick Delius arranged for cello and played by JLW. The transcriptions work well and are played with feeling, tenderness, good tone and love. Ireland’s Sea Fever and The Holy Boy are here; indelible melodies. There’s good range included. This release is not just for cellists; it’s good to have a different light shone on these ‘settings’, which still sing. Jiaxin Cheng (Mrs JLW) performs on two tracks and John Lenehan is a sensitive pianist. The sound is nicely tangible while allowing space around the instruments. © 2012 HIFICRITIC

Julian Lloyd Webber brings an especially sensitive ‘voice’ to the Barjansky-Stradivarius cello…in the subtle changes of register and tone he lends to his own arrangements (all bar three), with the legerdemain of John Lenehan’s delicate accompaniments. Hearing the songs of both composers without the texts, and played with such attention to contour and gradation, reminds us just how masterly and diverse both composers were in their art of the solo song…

…this is an ideal collection to while away the summer evenings. © 2012 Gramophone Read complete review on Gramophone

By way of a tribute to both composers, cellist Julian Lloyd-Webber is releasing this sumptuous new album of cello and piano miniatures, for which he’s accompanied by John Lenehan.

Hear music from this, our CD of the Week, every morning—just after 10. © 2012 Classic FM