Discography

Schubert's Women Gramola Vienna, 2021

Klaudia Tandl, mezzo-soprano Gabriele Jacoby, recitation
Niall Kinsella, piano

Rising star Austrian mezzo-soprano Klaudia Tandl, acting legend Gabriele Jacoby, and Niall Kinsella are delighted to present Schubert’s Women: an insightful exploration of the female character as understood by Schubert. The programme presents some of his finest songs, plus “scenas” which showcase shades of longing, innocence, humour, wit, seduction, and utter desolation, plus Schubert’s ‘tour-de-force’ lieder for Mignon and Gretchen.

Niall writes: "Klaudia, Gabriele and I worked together on the lieder master-course at Franz-Schubert-Institut, Baden-bei-Wien in summer 2017. Klaudia and I instantly established a strong rapport, both personally and artistically, and our music-making became effortless and so enjoyable. Bringing the marvellous, talented actress Gabriele Jacoby into this project seemed to complete it perfectly. Ms. Jacoby was our poetry coach during the lieder master-course at Franz-Schubert-Institut, and her natural sense of musicality, phrasing, rhythm, and intonation combine to make her recitations of these poems truly captivating, and cause one to hear the songs in a completely different way."

Reviews

"This recital offers an appealing selection of largely well-known Schubert settings, with added interest given by interleaving the groups of songs with poems Schubert set – heard in thrilling, animated readings by Austrian actor Gabriele Jacoby. This attractive idea both recalls the musical- declamatory evenings of Schubert’s day, as well as more recent series’ such as Graham Johnson’s Songmaker’s Almanac. [...] Mezzo Klaudia Tandl has a beautiful, rich sound and an elegant, untroubled delivery; Kinsella is a meticulous collaborator […] this is polished music-making of fine repertoire"
— Natasha Loges, BBC Music Magazine (UK)

“The Irish pianist Niall Kinsella, who trained in Dublin and later in Vienna (with Barbara Moser), is a first-class calling card as a knowledgeable and profound song accompanist.”
  — Karl Masek, Merker-Online (Austria)

"This is an original program, attractively performed on a solid artistic level.  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★"
  — Remy Franck, Pizzicato (Luxembourg)

"Schubert's Women is at once a self-contained offering and also an invitation to seek out more, to explore the relationship of text and music, or to seek illumination on the aspects of the feminine in Romantic poetry and song. And while the excellence of this performances makes the disc self-recommendable, it is this exploratory spirit that marks it as truly special."
  — Colin Clarke, Classical Explorer (UK)

"Tandl and Kinsella's perspective is so fresh and fruitful;I'm looking forward to hearing more of Schubert's women-focused songs from them - including the 12 songs he set to texts by women poets."
  — Pamela Margles, The Whole Note (Canada)

Selected as "CD of the Week"
— John Toal, Classical Connections, BBC Radio Ulster (Northern Ireland)

" ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The success of this disc’s concept, held within impeccable performances, truly impresses."
— Fanfare Magazine (USA)

John F. Larchet: Complete Songs & Airs Champs Hill Records, 2020

Raphaela Mangan, mezzo-soprano Gavan Ring, baritone
Mia Cooper, violin Verity Simmons, cello
Niall Kinsella, piano

Pianist Niall Kinsella presents the complete songs and airs of Irish composer John Francis Larchet (1884–1967). This is the first time Larchet’s complete songs have been presented on disc, and many of those heard here are world premiere recordings. Kinsella first encountered Larchet’s songs at university and was keen to find more, but discovered that many of the songs were difficult to access and long out of print. With the help of the Larchet family, Kinsella has gradually collected every song that Larchet composed across the span of his career. Kinsella writes: "I see this project not only as a revival of Larchet’s songs but also as an acknowledgement and celebration of the rich contribution that he has made to musical life in Ireland. Larchet was an integral part of the Irish literary revival at the beginning of the 20th century, writing music for the plays of Yeats, Lady Gregory and Synge, displaying a real skill for building and sustaining drama” Larchet’s marriage of text and music shows the qualities of invention and wholehearted lyricism which characterise his music. Curated by Niall Kinsella (piano), this album features Raphaela Mangan (mezzo-soprano), Gavan Ring (baritone), joined by violinist Mia Cooper and ‘cellist Verity Simmons. His songs are paired on this album with his two sets of Irish Airs for violin and piano. This is the first album to be dedicated to the works of John F. Larchet, showcasing the music of one of Ireland’s most influential musicians.

Reviews

“A long overdue recording given John F. Larchet’s remarkable contribution to musical life in Ireland.”
  — John Bowman, RTÉ Radio One (Ireland)

"Throughout, Kinsella’s accompaniment is unfailingly well-proportioned, moving acutely from limpid delicacy to lambent lyricism and on to fierce fervour with an assurance that speaks of his insightful understanding of Larchet’s manner and music. In a word: exquisite.”
  —  Michael Quinn, Limelight Magazine (Australia)

"Beautifully sung and played, this is music to be enjoyed, in an album that reclaims an abandoned chapter of both music and theatre history."
  — Michael Lee, GoldenPlec.com (Ireland)

"Kinsella ensures that the flowing momentum evokes the singer’s compelling passion, which drives the song to a stirring conclusion."
— Claire Seymour, Opera Today (UK)

“The entire project has clearly been a labour of love for pianist Kinsella […] he is to be warmly congratulated for bringing this project to fruition […] Hats off also to Champs Hill Records for taking on this project. […] It is hard to imagine [Larchet’s] complete vocal output being given a better representation than it receives here and it will be surprising if at least some of these songs do not make some more definite inroads on the concert platform as a result of the dedicated advocacy of Mangan, Ring and Kinsella.”
  — Mark Fitzgerald, Journal of Music (Ireland)

“The performances are magnificent. It would be difficult to imagine anyone able to treat this music with the seriousness and affection with which they all do – animated by what appears to be the soul on this disc, pianist Niall Kinsella – rendering a kind of service to a cause they do not want to be lost. Add to this the magnificent sound recording, excellent programme notes by Andrew Stewart and the inclusion of all the song texts.”
—  Luis Suñén, Scherzo Magazine (Spain)