Awarded: Diapason d'Or Découverte "The articulation shades an elegant and fluid discourse. And even if one perceives the influence of great masters, the discourse is of strong and unique personality. […] A double-revelation for a poetic lutenist and his ancestors who used to enchant the court of Bayreuth. […] An interpreter to be followed closely". Philippe Ramin, Diapason, n°583 (France, 09/2010) Download

 

Awarded: Appoggiature d'Or. "Yes the strings sing under the subtle touch of Miguel Yisrael, in these Sonatas as in those that follow - a true disciple, then of Hopkinson Smith, there certainly are lesser masters – bringing us exquisite pleasure. This is indeed a lesson in subtle touch in which the technique of ornamentation and the expressive depth are as one, each serving the other. Miguel Yisrael spins his web of notes into an intricate cameo, with the apparent detachment which is the mark of a great musician". Jacques Duffourg, Appoggiature (France, 12/2011) Download

 

"The technical expertise and, above all, the evocative tact following the natural breathing, confirm the excellent musical reading of Miguel Yisrael, himself a disciple of Hopkinson Smith. His playing reveals several gems of the Prussian school of lute. The lutenist knows economize, prepare, slow, increase: his approach emphasizes the tension and the intensity, giving to each selected piece a sophistication fill with unprecedented sensitivity. Captivating!" Sylvain Giambello, Classiquenews.com (France, 06/2010) Download

"While some conventionalize precisely Falckenhagen’s sonatas from Opus I, Miguel handles them in a mysterious and exciting way. One can almost imagine Wilhelmine at evening amusements in small circles: “Falkenhagen, shall it be!” Hagen’s music, however, needs another style. The palette of emotions involved range from restrained to explosive ones, and a musician like Miguel Yisrael introduces the listener into the sensitive world of Sentimentalism originating from Pietism and leading to Romanticism later on." Joachim Domning, Lauten-Info, The German Lute Society (Germany, 02/2010) Download

"Miguel Yisrael plays with tremendous sensitivity and a great sense of style." Greet Schamp, Geluit-Luthinerie, The Belgium Lute Society (Belgium, 09/2010)

"The lute is an aristocratic instrument, and the music devoted to him is equally so. In this, the interpretation of Miguel Yisrael do not forget to remind us, even if it is not free of abandonment. With a poetic soul and imagination, he put his teaching and his talents to the service of harmonious pieces, generous and with extraordinary smoothness. "Thierry Herve, Audiophile Mélomane (France, 10/2010) Download

 

Awarded: 5 Diapason. "A surprising discovery of a lutenist with a substantial discourse becoming even stronger with Couperin’s Baricades Mistérieuses which do not lack the harpsichord for even an instant. Admirable – both the quasi vocal support of the timbre and the perfect energy being more expressive than forcing tempos or contrasts. Philippe Ramin, Diapason, n°583 (France, 09/2010) Download

 

Awarded: Appoggiature d'Or. "The play with shade, with holding-back, with lightning breaks and fleeting patches of light which characterises this piece is brought out with a superlative reserve and tact.  Nothing other than two towering temples, these works are comparable in every point with the magnum opus for violin by Bach, during the performance of which Miguel Yisrael, apart from his incomparable ability to bring out polyphony and unparalleled technique, weaves an impression of repetitive patterns close to an obsessing oration.". Jacques Duffourg, Appoggiature (France, 12/2011) Download

 

Awarded: S10 / L10 / R10 / I10 "Musical insight and a masterful and refined performance characterize this original recital that can not fail to interest lovers of such a coherent but inventive musical structure as has been woven for us here. Miguel Yisrael has given us a most successful first recital, a recording that is close to becoming  a sumptuous visiting card for this undeniably gifted and promising young talent!" Noël Godts, Crescendo (Belgium, 04/2009). Download

 

"Miguel Yisrael presents us with a wonderful Baroque recital, a collection of magnificent lute pieces, which bring out the refinement and the voluptuous sonorities of the lute. This interpretation plays with Time, evoking the intricate interlacing of the carving of a lute rose, and developing the infinite variations of this circular theme. Time is a constant return, and the repeated movements create a feeling of infinite peace. The genius of the virtuoso lies in his ability to fully use the sound space he has set himself with his chosen slow tempo; he never loses the attention of the listener, who will be entranced by the subtleties of his modulations and effects. With his first solo album, he achieves his impossible gamble, the dream of every artist, turning a musical work into a true moment of eternity." Marie-Aude Labatide-Alanore, ResMusica (France, 04/2009). Download

 

Awarded: 4 stars "Yisrael bets everything on the euphony generated by the softness of the touch, the refinement of the stamp, the fluidity of the transitions and the subtlety in modulations. Bets everything and wins!" Bernardo Mariano, Diário de Noticias (Portugal, 10/2009). Download

 

"This recording of the young lutenist, Miguel Yisrael, reveals his many musical qualities; paramount, his serene and natural sense of melody and discourse stands out, never to be broken by the subtleties of tempo." Le Monde de la Musique (France, 03/2009). Download

 

"This recording by the former Miguel Serdoura (since its issue, he has taken "Yisrael", his late mother's surname, as his own) features performances of great sensitivity and refinement. (…) Yisrael meets the challenge with a marvelous singing quality, reminding us that the lute's heyday was an age in which the voice was the model against which excellence in instrumental music was measured." Howard Posner, LSA Quaterly, The American Lute Society (USA, 11/2009) Download

 

 

"The playing style of Miguel Yisrael is elegant, clear, smooth and dominated by a strong personality. [...] An impressive first album from a multifaceted lutenist that we will certainly hear in the future." Kenneth Sparr, Gitarr Och Luta, The Swedish Guitar and Lute Society (Sweden, 04/2009). Download

 

"The result is certainly a magic recording. There remains clear for us, after having listened to the recital Les Baricades Mistérieuses, that for the music to be more then a standard recital program and become poetry, we need an interpreter with the maturity, technique and refinement of Miguel Yisrael." Manuel Minguillón, Hispanica Lyra, The Spanish Vihuela Society (Espagne, 09/2009). Download

 

"Miguel Yisrael has a silken touch and there is passion and depth in every note he plays. At times you can hear his tutor Hopkinson Smith in his play, but then again, Yisrael definitely has his own sound." Marianne van der Linde, Tabulature, De Nederlandse Luitvereniging (Holland, 05/2009). Download

 

"Yisrael’s lute method is pleasant and easy to read, which is especially important for the beginning lute player. [...] Subjects as notation, different kinds of tablature, fingering and embellishments are amply explained. [...] There are open string exercises, bass line exercises, melody line exercises, and pieces to gradually clarify the structure of chords Legato, rhythm, arpeggios, damping the basses: every aspect is included. [...] Although there are several baroque lute methods available, Yisrael’s book really is an asset." Margriet Verzijl, De Tabulatuur n° 96, De Nederlandse Luitvereniging (Holland, 06/2009) Download

"You cannot get the richness and the detail of information nowadays, compiled and taught in a clear and objective way, better than this. Already indispensable for a modern lute student and maybe your best solution if you do not have the privilege of having a lute teacher relatively close to your home." Luis Maciel, Lute - the instrument (Brasil, 06/2009). Download

"This work is the broadest, most informative and most generous method for the baroque lute in where you will find all the necessary material in big abundance." Rainer Luckhardt, Lauten-Info, The German Lute Society (Germany, 2009). Download

"An excellent book! " Kenneth Sparr, Gitarr Och Luta, The Swedish Guitar and Lute Society (Sweden, 04/2009). Download

"This new edition is the most complete I’ve seen. Not only many easy pieces, sorted by key, but also a complete history, concordances, clear pictures of techniques and positions, an extended bibliography. So it is both a practical manual as well as an interesting book to read or to search for pieces by key and or level." Greet Schamp, Geluit-Luthinerie n° 45, The Belgium Lute Society (Belgium, 03/2009)  Download

"Portuguese lutenist Miguel Yisrael has given his method for the baroque lute the subtitle: a practical guide for beginning and advanced lutenists. That is an apt description of this hefty volume of no less than 350 pages full of text, pictures and music. Step by step, illustrated by many pictures and exercises, Yisrael takes us through the various aspects of baroque lute technique. This part of the book also has six graded groups of musical pieces to study. The inclusion of the many useful lists, and the practical list of contents enabling you to find what you want quickly, will keep it a valuable book even if you have successfully finished all the lessons. Needles to say the 250 beautiful pieces will provide many hours of enjoyment in itself." David van Oojen, Nostalgia No. 30, The Lute Society of Japan (Japan, 01/2009)  Download