"His Schubert, Brahms and Wolf are impressive, thanks partly to James Baillieu's finely judged piano playing ... Appl was mentored by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, and while it's a bit early to be naming him as successor to that great singer, as some are doing, this disc shows great potential".
"BBC music choral & song choice: Appl is not only a singer of boundless promise, he is already a great artist. This disc shows how versatile he is, with not only great Lieder but interesting rarities too ... Appl sounds as if singing is his most natural mode of expression; and since he has an extraordinary beautiful voice, there should be decades of happiness as he continues to expand his repertoire".
Classical music
2017 May
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Guy Weatherall
2017 May
"A beautifully chosen recital ... His Schubert and Brahms are exquisite; Strauss' Allerseelen even finer, with diction, colour and responsiveness second to none ... Baillieu is an imaginative and insightful partner, and the recording does full justice to a winning project".
Fono Forum
2017 April
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Johannes Schmitz
2017 April
"All dies ist mit sonorem Stimmklang lyrisch ausgesungen, in gewisser Weise tadellos".
The gramophone
2017 March
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Hugo Shirley
2017 March
"Editor's choice: The voice has a burnished, oaky beauty as well as considerable sweetness (well captured in Sony's natural engineering), while the interpretations are suffused with a gentle intelligence, an instinct for unforced but direct communication and what feels like a real love for the repertoire ... There is more than enough quality in his singing ... for this charming and often moving disc to be confidently recommended".