Gavin Roberts
Pianist
Press
Entertaining Miss Austen: 9 January 2020
Amanda Pitt (soprano), Gavin Roberts (piano), St Hugh’s College, Oxford
“Roberts was able to demonstrate his own virtuosity in Robin Adair –the Andante Simplice was light and bouncy and nicely contrasted with the more virtuosic Brillante, which Roberts performed with fast-paced delicacy.”
“In the accompanied songs, Roberts generously supported Pitt, matching her range of vocal expression and colour.”
– British Society for Eighteenth Century Studies
Newbury Spring Festival: Song Recital, 21 May 2019
Samantha Crawford (soprano), Gavin Roberts (piano) Corn Exchange, Newbury, Berks
“Pianist Gavin Roberts… showed his intelligence and virtuosity in two stirring Rachmaninov songs.”
“Roberts’ imaginative piano playing” – Newbury Weekly News
On Wenlock Edge: Housman’s Lads, 27 February 2017
Adam Sullivan (tenor), Joseph Padfield (baritone), The Accendo Quartet, Kevin Phelan (actor), Gavin Roberts (piano), Song in the City, The Hall, St Botolph without Bishopsgate
“sense of colour and fluidity which The Accendo Quartet brought to the music, ably supported by Gavin Roberts’ fine piano playing.” - Planet Hugill
Hungerford and District Community Arts Festival, 11 July 2017
“Sublime organ performance from the highly accomplished Gavin Roberts to a packed Lady of Lourdes church.” – Newbury Weekly News
London Song Festival, La Serenissima, 13 November 2013
“Intelligent programming and delightfully vibrant performances”
“Gavin Roberts played with lovely singing tone”
“a brilliantly dramatic musical performance from Hall and Roberts.”
“a finely considered performance from Gavin Roberts.”
“Gavin Robert’s intelligent piano playing formed a nice complement to Lucy Hall’s vibrant performances” – Planet Hugill
Dolgellau Music Club, 1 November 2013
"Gavin Roberts gave …. an eloquent rendering of Brahms’s Intermezzo Op 118 No 2. His musicianship was in evidence throughout the evening in his perfect consonance with the singer’s timing and dynamics, and also in the space he allowed round key phrases, for instance in Strauss’s ‘Morgen’ – a matter not so much of counting beats as of responding inwardly to the poetry….. an encore set the seal on a most polished recital by this amiable and highly expressive duo’ (Recital with Soprano Lucy Hall)" – Cambrian News
Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, 21 June 2012
‘Schubert’s Rondo in A, D.951, fizzily interpreted by the night’s two pianists (Gavin Roberts and Elizabeth Burgess).’ – Oxford Times
Barbican Hall, 7 April 2011
‘Sibelius’s songs are amongst the best-kept secrets of Finnish music and….display a good grasp of piano technique and provide an excellent foundation for the construction of the vocal lines…. Samantha Crawford and Robert Elibay-Hartog…. were both perfectly partnered by Gavin Roberts’ – Seen and Heard International
‘A selection of Sibelius’s songs made use of some wonderful texts, each a story of love or loss. Gavin Roberts supported both singers excellently.’
– Classical Source
On Wenlock Edge: Housman’s Lads, 27 February 2017
Adam Sullivan (tenor), Joseph Padfield (baritone), The Accendo Quartet, Kevin Phelan (actor), Gavin Roberts (piano), Song in the City, The Hall, St Botolph without Bishopsgate
“sense of colour and fluidity which The Accendo Quartet brought to the music, ably supported by Gavin Roberts’ fine piano playing.” - Planet Hugil
Chandos Chamber Choir, Brahms’ German Requiem with Piano Duet, 28 June 2008
‘The duettists, Jonathan Lee and Gavin Roberts made a perfect combination. They obviously relished their task, eliciting wondrous sonorities and brilliance from the St Peter’s Kawai Grand, and responding to the changing moods in the music – at times calm and reflective; at other times passionate and intense – always in perfect synchronisation with the choir.’ – Penny Abbott, Adrian Davies
CD Review: Voices of London: Songs of the Big Smoke
Jennifer Witton (soprano), Elizabeth Lynch (mezzo soprano), Nick Allen (tenor), Piran Legge (baritone), Song in the City: “fabulous accompaniment from Gavin Roberts.” Star rating: 4.5 – Planet Hugill