Songs of war

"At first sight, 'Songs of War' seems an odd title for this collection of songs by, mostly, 20th-century English composers ... Perhaps the connection is tenuous but that will hardly impede enjoyment and appreciation of this excellent recital ... One can imagine a more poignant account of the ghostly voices in 'Is my team ploughing?' but 'The lads in their hundreds' is all the more moving for Keenlyside's robustness ... The rest of the programme is equally rewarding and Keenlyside's diction is perfect".

"Keenlyside's mark is everywhere apparent and full marks to him for persuading Sony to indulge his choices ... He is indeed a remarkable singer. He can encompass tragedy and irony, heroic and tender, he has magical half-tones, introduces a thrilling touch of head voice in Warlock's The Night, he can tell a story ... Keenlyside's impassioned, almost overwhelming rendering of Frank Bridge's Thy Hand in Mine is, I think, the core and key to this compelling collection, and is enough to silence any lingering doubts".