MUSICAL OPINION:
Slovenian Anja German, winner of the First Manchester International Concerto Competition fir Young Pianists in 2007 is certainly a keyboard player to watch out for. Thanks to the first rate recording expertise of Jim and Joyce Pattison Anja German's unique musicianship in three well loved works comes across with all the sense of a newly improvised appreciation of genius. She opens with Haydn's C Minor Sonata, Hob XVI.20 presented with deceptive naiveté leaning toward the essence of this composer which was to influence the young Beethoven. Humour, yet infected by deep humanity, is underlying the faster movements as a reminder of the innate delight in musical forms and the composer's undoubted enthusiastic understanding of the steadily improving pianoforte.

Schubert's Sonata in the same key, D. 958, is equally both attractive and adventurous while Chopin's third Scherzo is allowed to project the full blooded personality of the unnamed instrument. This is a CD which I shall dip into very regularly and wholeheartedly recommend from the always refreshing Divine Art family.
Denby Richards

INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW:
It is a bold and brave young pianist who chooses Schubert's late, great C minor Sonata as the centerpiece on her calling-card. Some might even say foolhardy: not me, though, - or at any rate, not in this instance. The best thing here is that sonata's finale, a whirlwind night-ride of a rondo in six-eight time that threatens to turn into a perpetuum mobile , so teeming and unstoppable is Schubert's invention. Its extraordinary twists and turns, its stops and starts, its ability to find its way back, half-humorously, to the main tune pose a terrific challenge to the player; not just in terms of getting the fingers around the notes, but even more of stamina and of preserving the architecture. Not to mention imbuing it with the right kind of characterization – humour, maybe, not excluded.

The pianist here passes most of the finale's tests with flying colours. Anja German, who is 22 and from Slovenia, won the first Manchester International Concerto Competition last year, and this solo release is part of her prize. Her Schubert sonata has many fine qualities: she is well inside the lyrical intensity of the wonderful Adagio – which starts and ends in A flat but roams wildly elsewhere, much of the time: she does not, however, differentiate the various levels of piano that Schubert expressly marks. Can it have been her decision to omit the first movement exposition repeat, and the second-half repeat of the Scherzo furst time around? I hope not: both are vital, no question, and there was more than enough room on the disc. Nor is she ideally served by the piano at her disposal here: it is an ungrateful instrument, which is ugly and brittle in the top register.

With the Haydn we are still in C minor, and she tackles this intelligently, too: it is a far from innocent work, the product of Haydn's Sturm und Drang period, and though I would not call it quirky like some of the other later sonatas, it certainly feels as if the composer is exploring or experimenting. She may not smile often, musically speaking, but I have the sense that German is well in sympathy with the classical idiom – though there is nothing wrong with her Chopin either, as her forceful execution of the B flat minor Scherzo , fervent and sensitive by turns, amply demonstrates.

There are good notes on the music from Murray McLachlan, himself a pianist of course and also Chairman of the jury for the Manchester competition. There is an informative note on the (biennial) competition itself, and a modest biography of the pianist.

I have decided not to cite any comparisons, despite having originally put the likes of Perahia and Andsnes on the player, in the Schubert, That is not really the point of this release, which mercifully makes no grandiose claims of the kind indulged in by some of the larger conglomerates. On its own terms, then, I have much enjoyed this recital; and of course the repertoire is wonderful! Anja German is very young and would doubtless be the first to admit that she still has a way to go, but that calling-card is now duly marked.
Piers Burton-Page

MID WEST RECORD:
There was once a time when we were up to our eyeballs in hot, young, Asian chicks that knew how to really work a violin.  Times have changed.  The new flood seems to be hot, young, Slovenian chicks that are born to play piano.  German, already a well decorated, young, award winner, delivers the goods in fine style on this solo extravaganza.  Played with the power of sounding like an entire orchestra by herself, German powers a delightful program that must be heard to be believed.  Simply an exquisite performance classical piano fans will want to be the first on the block to know about so they can claim bragging rights.
Chris Spector

MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS:
Just over a year ago, a young pianist from Slovenia became the first winner of the Manchester International Concerto Competition for Young Pianists-which was supported by the M.E.N.- with a polished and commanding performance of Beethoven's third concerto. The competition, the brainchild of Chetham's piano supremo Murray McLachlan, was held at Manchester Cathedral.

Now Anja German's CD of solo piano works-forming part of her prize-reveals more of a performer of exciting gifts. True, her Haydn sonata is correct to the point of pedestrian, but her Schubert playing reveals (in the final movement) both youthful fire and poetry, and her Chopin playing is simply wonderful.

There is passion and bravura a-plenty here, as well as tenderness and sweetness, and she brings the showpiece second scherzo to a thrilling conclusion that makes you want to stand up and cheer. A great debut recording.
Robert Beale

CLASSICAL MUSIC:
Part of 22-year old German's prize for winning last year's Manchester competition for young pianists is this disc and while she is a tad too cautious in the Haydn, the clarity of lines and colour in the Schubert and energy of the Chopin vindicate the judges.
Philip Sommerich

LIVERPOOL DAILY POST:
Last year, the first Manchester International Concerto Competition for young Pianists took place in Chetham's School and the Cathedral. Twelve were selected under the age of 16, and twelve under 22, and the four finalists played with the Manchester Camerata. The under-22 winner was awarded the opportunity to record a CD, and now Anja German, from Slovenia, can be heard on an album released by Divine Art.

As she is studying in Salzburg, it is not surprising that she chooses a Schubert Sonata, D. 958, and Haydn's C minor, and the recital is completed by the Chopin Scherzo no. 2. She acquits herself well, although one may not want to lay the disc through in one sitting as both sonatas are in the same key, which can cause aural fatigue. Nonetheless, a promising start to a career, and a release worth supporting.
Peter Spaull

WRIGHTMUSIC:
Anja German was the winner of the 2007 Manchester International Concerto Competition for young pianists. She is 22 and comes from Slovenia and is currently studying at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. She has also won prizes in Slovenia, the European Piano Teachers Association International Competition and the ZF Musikpreis International Competition in Germany. She has given recitals throughout Europe.

The recital begins with Haydn's Sonata in C minor of 1771 in which Miss German displays clear fingerwork, unfussy ornamentation and the nuances are well caught. The music has a tragic feel often associated with the key of C minor but 'often the sun comes out and everyone rises up to play.' The contrast of intensity and playfulness is well revealed. The only blemish is the ugly pedal releases which the engineers should have put right. The slow movement in A flat major has a glorious theme but often 'early' composers spoiled such themes with ornamentation, but Miss German does release its beauty. The finale is both an allegro and a minuet which seems to be a contradiction in terms.

The Schubert sonata, also in C minor, has a convincing performance and to those of us who have grave reservations about Schubert's piano music, and many concert pianists do, I am pleased to report that I enjoyed it. There is a strength and conviction in this performance and an excellent contrast of tone. The difficulty with Schubert is that he did not complete many works, all his stage works were failures and his piano music is often mere padding. The D major sonata has about five minutes of scales and broken chords at one time. His music is repetitive and a great deal of it is 'taken' from Rossini and Beethoven. This sonata obviously has 'thefts' from Beethoven's 32 Variations in C minor and the Kreutzer Sonata. Therefore it lacks originality. However, Anja German does not play it in the way many pianists do since he does not play it in an effeminate music-box way but with strength and rhythmic drive.

The Chopin second scherzo is probably the best of the four and is technically the most demanding piece on the disc. It is marked presto. I have a few misgivings about this performance. The crotchets rests in bars 18 and 19 are not observed and the pedal is left down as it is in 42 and 43. She does not spread some chords which have to be spread, bars 71 and 73 for example. There are a few unauthorised rallentandos and when we come to the middle section in three sharps there is a loss of continuity but that is Chopin's fault and the speed in this performance sometimes drops to crotchet equals about 110 which is certainly not presto. There is no instruction in the score to lessen the speed. In this central section Chopin loses his way and indulges in the salon music of his nocturnes and mazurkas.

While I may refer to the pianist's 'minor variations', it must be said that most pianists take liberties when playing Chopin as they do with Scriabin. I have yet to hear Scriabin's first prelude of his twenty four preludes played as written. Interpretation is not liberty or license. It is realising as far as possible what the composer has written.

The other problem with Anja's performance is that the top F on her piano does not have a pretty sound.

With experience and maturity will come better performances but it is a successful debut recital, a little short on playing time but the sparkle in the Chopin, the strength in the Schubert and the feeling in the Haydn augurs well for a glittering career.

But I do urge her to put the music first and not fashion, schools of thought or teachers or traditional views or to take liberty with the music. We all want to hear what the composer wrote not the pianists alterations.

I shall watch her career with great interest.