recording profile

  • Ronald Corp String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2, Country Matters (Naxos 8.572578)
    [with Martin Wilde]
    "Well made and securely in an English tradition voiced with supple energy."
    Geoffrey Norris The Telegraph

  • Edmund Rubbra String Quartets Nos 1, 3, and 4 (Naxos 8.752555)
    "This is surely music that will grow in stature, especially through these committed performances."
    Nicholas KenyonThe Observer

  • Gordon Jacob Chamber Music with Recorder (Naxos)
    [with Annabel Knight, Robin Bigwood, Fontanella]

  • Edmund Rubbra String Quartet No.2, Amoretti, Piano Trio No.1 (Naxos 8.752286)
    [with Martin Roscoe and Charles Daniels]
    "A superbly integrated reading of the absorbing Second Quartet."
    Gramophone

  • Ireland Sextet/Clarinet Trio/Fantasy Sonata/The Holy Boy (Naxos 8.570550)
    [with Robert Plane, Sophia Rahman, Alice Neary and David Pyatt]
    "A valuable, intriguing disc"
    Calum MacDonald BBC Music Magazine
  • William Alwyn String Quartets Nos.1-3 (Naxos 8.555282)
    "The Maggini's performance is full of  conviction and the recording balances clarity and atmosphere to something like  perfection."
    BBC Music Magazine
  • Maxwell Davies Naxos String Quartets 9 & 10 (Naxos 8.557400)
    "the crisp, clean and spacious recorded sound adds to the punch of a superbly performed disc."
    The Strad
  • Lennox Berkeley String Quartets Nos.1-3 (Naxos 8.570415)
    "The Magginis' passion for British music never ends, and they're fierily eloquent in Berkeley's three quartets."
    Geoff Brown The Times
  • Maxwell Davies Naxos String Quartets 7 & 8 (Naxos 8.557399)
    "Two masterly quartets in masterful performances."
    Paul Riley BBC Music Magazine
  • Arnold String Quartets 1 & 2 (Naxos 8.557762)
    "The Maggini is colonising British string quartets, and offering seldom-played works at Naxos's budget price. This superbly recorded disc once again places us in its debt.”
    David Denton The Strad
  • Rawsthorne String Quartets / Theme and Variations for 2 Violins (Naxos 8.570136)
    "The Maggini's performances are as deeply pondered as they are powerfully communicative: theirs is music-making of entrancing skill, cogent drive and tangible dedication."
    Andrew Achenbach Gramophone
    Gramophone CD of the Month: May 2005
  • Ireland String Quartets (Naxos 8.557777)
    "So hats off to the Maggini Quartet, who deliver performances of such infectious conviction, purposefulness and poise as to force me into a re-evaluation."
    Andrew Achenback Gramophone
    Gramophone Editor's Choice: August 2006
  • Maxwell Davies Naxos String Quartets 5 & 6 (Naxos 8557398)
    "The Maggini Quartet are as authoratative as ever."
    The Guardian
  • Maxwell Davies Naxos String Quartets 3 & 4 (Naxos 8.557397)
    "Such masterly writing requires playing of exceptional quality and here the Maggini is on stunning form."
    Julian Haylock The Strad
  • Frank Bridge String Quartets 2 & 4 and Phantasy Piano Quartet [with Martin Roscoe] (Naxos 8.557283)
    "These are exemplary, scrupulously prepared readings from the Magginis, who play with unquenchable fire, keen intelligence and immaculate polish throughout."
    Andrew Achenbach Gramophone
    Gramophone CD of the Month: May 2005
  • Bliss Clarinet Quintet / String Quartet No.2 [with David Campbell] (Naxos 8.557394)
    "a sense of edgy regret pervades the performances by David Campbell and the Maggini Quartet, who correctly identify the harrowing slow movement as the emotional core."
    Andrew Clements The Guardian
  • Maxwell Davies Naxos String Quartets 1 & 2 (Naxos 8.557396)
    "Stunningly brilliant and highly detailed performances."
    David Denton The Strad
    Gramophone Editor's Choice: Awards issue 2004
  • Frank Bridge String Quartets 1 & 3 (Naxos 8.557133)
    "Exposure to these incandescent performances could help substantially in lifting the curtain on a composer of unusual individuality and fire."
    Geoff Brown The Times
    Nominated for Grammy Award 2005
  • Bliss Oboe Quintet / Piano Quartet in A minor / Viola Sonata Op 91 [with Nicholas Daniel / Peter Donohoe / Martin Outram / Julian Rolton] (Naxos 8.555953)
    "This disc is clearly a must for the growing number of Bliss enthusiasts."
    Anthony Burton BBC Music Magazine
  • Bax String Quartet No 3 / Lyrical Interlude /Adagio (from SQ in E major)[with Garfield Jackson](Naxos 8.555953)
    "Throughout, the sound is faithful in timbre and the balance most musically judged...don't miss this outstanding disc."
    Andrew Achenbach Gramophone
    Gramophone Editor's Choice: January 2003
  • Bliss String Quartet No.1 / Conversations / String Quartet in A [with Nicholas Daniel / Michael Cox] (Naxos 8.557108)
    "These players, you feel, could make even a lamp-post weep."
    Geoff Brown The Times
    Gramophone Editor's Choice: September 2002
    No.1 in The Top 20 ICMR Classical CD Chart: October 2002
    Nominated for a Grammy Award 2004
  • Bax String Quartets Nos 1 & 2 (Naxos DDD 8.555282)
    "The Maggini's performance is full of conviction, and the recording balances clarity and atmosphere to something like perfection."
    Stephen Johnson BBC Music Magazine
    Gramophone Editor's Choice: January 2002
  • Vaughan Williams Quartets / Phantasy Quintet [with Garfield Jackson](Naxos DDD 8.555300)
    "They play with great beauty of tone and variety of colour and with passionate expressiveness."
    Michael Oliver Gramophone
    Gramophone Editor's Choice: May 2001
    Gramophone Chamber Music CD of the Year 2001
  • Walton Piano Quartet / String Quartet [with Peter Donohoe] (Naxos DDD 8.554646)
    "Played with tremendous commitment by the impressive Maggini Quartet and Peter Donohoe."
    James Jolly Gramophone
    Gramophone Editor's Choice: July 2000
    BBC Music Magazine Editor's Choice: August 2000
  • Britten String Quartets Vol 2: No.3 / Simple Symphony [with John Tattersdill] (Naxos 8.554360)
    "A triumphant finale to their Britten string quartet cycle."
    Classic CD
    Classic CD Choice: November 1999
    Gramophone Editor's Choice: September 1999
  • Britten String Quartets Vol 1: Nos. 1 & 2 (Naxos 8.5537883)
    "One shouldn't do without this disc."
    Jean-Yves Bras Diapason France (December 1998)
  • Elgar Piano Quintet / String Quartet [with Peter Donohoe] (Naxos DDD 8.553737)
    "A performance which could certainly become a reference work from now on."
    Michel Fleury Diapason France
    Diapason d'Or of the Year 1997
  • E J Moeran String Quartets / String Trio (Naxos DDD 8.554079)
    "I do urge you to investigate this enterprising, hugely enjoyable collection."
    Gramophone
    Gramophone Editor's Choice: October 1997
  • Haydn String Quartets Op.77 Nos 1 & 2 / Op.103 (Claudio CR4627-2)
    "A visit to the local record store is thoroughly recommended."
    Samuel Fischer Classic CD
  • Frank Bridge Works for String Quartet (Naxos DDD 8.553718)
    "Unequivocally great art."
    Joe Conway The Strad
  • Schubert "Death and the Maiden" / D103 (1814) / Minuets & Trios (ASV - QS 6150)
    "Genuine Schubertian feeling through sensitively controlled, clear textures."
    Nicholas Rast BBC Music Magazine
  • Szymanowski Quartets 1 and 2 / Grazyna Bacewicz Quartet No.4 (ASV - CDA 908)
    "An exemplary balance of newer Polish chamber music."
    Frideman Leipold Fono Forum Germany
    Gramophone Library choice
  • Haydn Op.33 Quartets (Simax/Grappa [Norway] PSC 1075)
    "An example of intelligent and subtle penetration of Haydn's personality."
    Repertoire des Disques Compacts France