The Guardian 8 November 2017

The Shadows remain one of the most prolific bands of the last 60 years. They had 31 hit singles (plus 30 with Cliff Richard), which include 16 Top 10 hits (plus 25 more with Cliff), 5 No. 1 hits (plus 7 with Cliff). They've also spent 361 weeks on the albums chart (plus another 400+ with Cliff), selling tens of millions of records since 1958, and defining the sound that influenced many of the world's greatest guitarists…

Haydn wrote the six quartets of Opp 54 and 55 in 1788, by now a celebrated composer across Europe and still opera Kapellmeister at Esterházy. These period instrument players, whose very name declares their affinity for Haydn, excel in the latest in their Hyperion series. Ever spry in fast movements, faultless in dexterity and intonation, they find a special warmth of feeling in the slower moments: the songful Adagio Cantabile of Op 55 No 1, the puzzling, melancholy Andante of Op 55 No 2, the dark, hymn-like first bars of Op 54 No 2’s Adagio, out of which the violin soars in almost improvised, bluesy reverie. Too many pleasures to enumerate. Try for yourself.