“. . . a master of the instrument with an unfailingly beautiful tone and musicianly understanding . . . Mr Smietana has great freedom in his bowing arm and seems able to enhance everything he plays.”
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
“I imagine even Heifetz might not have been ashamed of those flawless octaves and harmonics, or of that gorgeous tone.”
THE STRAD
“Everything about his playing is geared towards a musical purity.”
THE TIMES
“The violinist had all the attributes the music needs, with a lyrical quality that was allied to sufficient weight to give climaxes their full value.”
BELFAST DAILY TELEGRAPH
“Smietana is a violinist who produces smooth and sweet sounds under all circumstances – a player of such facility that he never seems to exert himself . . . wonderful sounds . . . at his very best . . . great versatility . . . particularly apt and affective . . .”
THE GUARDIAN
“. . . an outstandingly faithful reading of the piece. Not a single imperfect intonation crept in . . . it sounded as if it were sung. A really authentic outstandingly unanimous interpretation. “
DIE WELT
“. . . passages of exquisite beauty and his spirited bowing gave all the zest which the glorious final movement demands.”
RICHMOND TIMES
“That exceptional mastery of bow technique, plus high finesse of dynamics contributed to the overwhelming impact of Chausson’s Poeme. This piece of ultra-passionate French Romanticism was “given the works!”. Bach climax took your breath away, and the subsiding conclusion went to the quietest magical whisper. When technique is complete, Music can take off into the highest cerebral and emotional realms . . . This was an indelible event for all the fortunate enough or merely sensible enough to be there.”
THE DURHAM FESTIVAL
“. . . even nowadays, when there is no shortage of violinists of calibre, he stands out for the smoothness and beauty of his tone and the absolute reliability of both his pitch and bowing.”
THE STRAD
“The Brahms sonata was played with a melting tenderness, especially in the opening passages of the first movement, the violin having that graciously warm tone which an intimate work like this needs. The Rondo was quite enchanting, with wistful string passages . . .”
RICHMOND TIMES
“. . . his tone, as rich and full as Jersey cream, is ideal for Brahms.”
THE STRAD