Ray Chen

• Violinist

Reviews

Ray Chen press reviews

The sound is noble, round and balanced. Not a single note is lost in the shuffle. ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. NDR

His tone is silken, his technique faultless, his musicianship persuasive as well as controlled and poetic… WE’LL HEAR A LOT MORE OF RAY CHEN. THE GUARDIAN

The TREASURE TROVE is open. DIE WELT

Avoiding the temptation to go for the wow factor, he generates TREMENDOUS POWER AND CONTROL in the virtuoso passages but then introduces a tone of sweet intimacy. CLASSIC FM
It’s violin playing of the highest order. THIS IS A HUGELY EXCITING DEBUT ALBUM.
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

CHEN’S PLAYING EMBODIES A REMARKABLY MALLEABLY PURITY. Rarely, in fact, have I heard a musician maintain so assertive an interpretive presence without upstaging the music itself. FINANCIAL TIMES

Trills TO DIE FOR and the kind of liquid tone that carries with it EMOTIONAL DEPTH OF GREAT INTIMACY. THE HUFFINGTON POST

COLORS DANCE, MOODS SWING, AND CHEN’S ARTISTRY BLAZES. THE TIMES

With a tone ranging from finely spun to deep burgundy, complete technical and elegant musical command, he makes each piece his own. Keep your ear on Ray Chen. HE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL TALENT. CHICAGO TRIBUNE

From the first notes there was no doubt of being in THE PRESENCE OF SOMETHING SPECIAL.
THE STRAD

He’s A THOUGHTFUL PLAYER, ABLE TO CAPTIVATE THE LISTENER. He makes the virtuoso tricks sound really beautiful. GRAMOPHONE

A considerable imagination and a refined sense of style. [Ray Chen] is ONE OF THE GREATEST HOPES OF THE VIOLIN WORLD. RONDO

IT’S PURE POETRY. CLASSICA FRANCE

Behind his playing hides enormous control and a well thought-out vision... HIS WHOLE PERFORMANCE WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD. DE STADAARD

RAY CHEN CAN DO PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING HE WANTS ON THE VIOLIN. He knows how to make a sound that feels exactly right. WASHINGTON POST

This captivates those in thrall to vintage values …RAVISHING SOUND in a crystal-clear acoustic. His rhythmic inevitability reminiscent of Itzhak Perlman. Despite his new world identity, CHEN SEEMS AT ONE WITH THIS OLD WORLD MUSIC. LISTEN