October 2009: www.classicalsource.com
‘…..when she needed to Schwanewilms projected beautifully, but at all times she was at one with the dynamics of the orchestra; not to mention Stephen Bryant’s exquisite violin solo in the third Song….’
October 2009: www.musicomh.com
‘…..giving an arrestingly simple, sincere delivery that was all the more affecting for it. Playing to match was crowned by a beautifully poised solo by leader Stephen Bryant in “Beim Schlafengehen”. Altogether, this was the finest performance of the work I’ve heard in a good number of years…..’
October 2009 www.musicweb-international.com
‘…..something which inspired leader Stephen Bryant to a beautifully tender solo (the dovetail with the voice at the solo’s conclusion was perfect)…..’
‘…..for Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel everyone seemed on their toes for this perilous but playful piece. Again, Stephen Bryant’s solo violin was notable…..’
August 28th 2009: www.classicalsource.com
‘…..the lighter passages fared very well despite the hall’s acoustic, whith some impressive playing from leader, Stephen Bryant….’
November 2008: www.musicalcriticism.com
‘…..The Benedictus was gorgeously pastoral, with a deeply expressive, easily and confidently enunciated ritornello underpinning by the first violinist, Stephen Bryant. The sensuousness of this interlude was further increased by Christine Brewer…..’.
October 3rd 2008: www.classicalsource.com
‘….Stephen Bryant’s wonderful violin solos were another highpoint….’
October 2008: www.catholicherald.co.uk
‘….The other ingredient of a great Missa Solemnis is a violin soloist who can float above and through the orchestra in the Benedictus, playing tricky arpeggios while still conveying the peace of the Holy Spirit. Many fine recordings of the mass come to grief at this point but the orchestra’s leader, Stephen Bryant, achieved just the right balance of brilliance and beneficence….’
October 2008: www.musicomh.com
‘….mention should also be made of leader Stephen Bryant’s lovely violin solo in the Benedictus….’
From the Mail on Sunday, August 31st 2008
David Mellor writes:
‘……. Job is a tricky work that some consider a masterpiece. There are certainly beautiful moments, as at the beginning of Job’s Dance or the end of the Dance of the Three Messengers. There’s also a reminder of the Lark Ascending in the radiant violin solo in Elihu’s Dance, dispatched with great artistry by the orchestra’s leader, Stephen Bryant….’
Thursday 28th August 2008: www.independent.co.uk
‘….But, of course, no one does the peace which passeth all understanding quite like Vaughan Williams, and leader Stephen Bryant’s beautiful solo in the starlit nocturne of ‘Elihu’s Dance of Youth and Beauty’ was like a second Lark Ascending, never to return to earth….’
August 26th 2008: www.classicalsource.com
‘….Leader Stephen Bryant was admirable in ‘Elihu’s Dance of Youth and Beuaty’, the evening’s most overt incursion onto ‘Lark Ascending’ territory….’
Saturday 15th December 2007: www.classicalsource.com
‘….Stephen Bryant’s violin solo was winningly poised….’
Friday October 12th 2007: www.classicalsource.com
‘….The BBCSO’s leader Stephen Bryant had numerous solos in all these works, including the tone’higher contribution (on a second violin) for Mahler’s macabre second movement and he acquitted himself admirably….’
4th November 2005: www.musicweb-international.com
‘….there was exquisite playing particularly from the strings. Indeed, Stephen Bryant’s violin solo was poignantly expressive….’
Leonard Slatkin writes: www.classicalsource.com
‘….Like the other two works on the program, this one exploits the orchestral resource to the max and is a fine showcase for the BBCSO’s leader, Stephen Bryant, as there is an extended cadenza for solo violin….’
August 13th 2004: www.musicomh.com
‘….Concertmaster Stephen Bryant’s solo violin in the second ritornello showed that the BBCSO have a fine replacement for the well loved Michael Davis, who left on last year’s Last Night….’
July 24th 2003: www.guardian.co.uk
‘….and the martial triumphalism of the finale was extinguished by the coda with its reminiscences of the bells of Big Ben and the eerie calm of Stephen Bryant’s violin solo….’
Aug 2000: www.musicweb-intermational.com
‘….the leader, Stephen Bryant, played the various solos enchantingly….’
Tuesday 2nd May 2000: www.independent.co.uk
‘…..so much lush effusion, with sumptuous string writing, sparkling solo violin (Stephen Bryant as the mermaid, of course,) …..’
Thursday 2nd April 1998: www.independent.co.uk
‘….before the main protagonist enters in the guise of a fiendishly difficult fiddle solo (boldly surmounted by Stephen Bryant)….’
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