PRESS
"Every now and then a CD comes along of such stunning quality that it almost leaves you speechless. Such is the case with Avant L’orage."
— TERRY ROBBINS
The WholeNote
"This a brilliant set, made all the greater in that it contains exclusively all-but-unknown music. The Black Oak Ensemble—Desiree Ruhstrat, Aurelian Fort Pederzoli, and David Cunliffe—have outdone themselves here."
— MICHELLE THOMSON
American Record Guide
"The obvious qualities of this recording are the interest of the undeservedly obscure works, and brilliant performances by the Black Oak Ensemble."
— PHILLIP SCOTT
Fanfare
"The musicians of the Black Oak Ensemble have an excellent grasp on the style of playing required by these works."
— RAYMOND TUTTLE
Fanfare
"All aspects of technical execution, ranging from intonation to bowing to rhythm and tonal production, are spot on. Even more importantly, the players fully inhabit the spirit of whatever work they are playing at the moment, performing each one with as ardent a flame as if they had written it themselves."
— JAMES A. ALTENA
Fanfare
"French string trio rarities persuasively reclaimed from neglect."
— MICHAEL QUINN
Limelight
"Black Oak Ensemble delivers consummate performances throughout, the members’ playing precise and their focus unwavering. The balance between the players is superb."
— TEXTURA AUTHOR
Textura
"These attractive scores have happily found most sympathetic advocates in the Black Oak Ensemble, who play with supreme musicianship, enthusiasm and commitment. With production standards and excellent documentation flying high, this Cedille release can be recommended with the greatest possible enthusiasm."
— STEPHEN GREENBANK
MusicWeb International
"This is difficult, challenging music that requires not only a comprehensive, deeply felt sense of style and prodigious technical facility, but an understanding of how to differentiate the expressive demands of a collection of pieces that are in some ways similar, but in more ways quite different, and how as an ensemble to make each stand out and stand in its own deserving space. Not only does the Black Oak Ensemble achieve this, but their effort makes you more than eager to hear the whole thing again."
— DAVID VERNIER
Classics Today