In the Media

Jazzport (Czech Republic) (January 2014/Jan Hocek)
★★★★★
“However, her debut includes contemporary and romantic piano music, of course taking into account the attractiveness for the listener. Not in the sense of libations, or even pander to the general taste. On the contrary. It is in terms of interpretation mature and artistically distinct album. Valuable and admirable all the more, that most of the compositions Simons included here, were interpreted in the past by the greatest pianists of the 20th century. The CD has soft, sometimes melancholic, almost hazy sound, which can however grow on the intensity with great acceleration. Exactly the way Eke Simons plays. She can instantly impress the listeners because of her own musical language, different from the robust male colleagues. Not to say that for example Horowitz couldn’t play with tenderness, sensitive and emotional insight, but Simons maintains the strongest tension right in the softest pianissimos, she doesn’t need to stir and bubble like a volcano. Eke Simons never for a moment have fallen to cheap hypersensitivity and melting, not a drop of sweet nectar! Nevertheless, she recorded an album for music lovers…”

Opus Klassiek (November 2013/Maarten Brandt)
CD review EKE-01
“In Janacek’s gripping pianowork Simons knows how to impress her listeners immediately by charging her own musical language with a maximum of suspense, without overdoing it. The unexpected changes and the characteristically subtle pianissimi in the second movement are timed perfectly without becoming cerebral. Simons shows here clearly Janacek as being the Czech counterpart of Bartók by her deep-impacting interpretation.

I missed some of the resilience so typical of Simons’ Janacek’s interpretation in that of V.d’O, but she indulged us by entirely letting go in her build-up towards the euphoric finale, after which she convinces for 100 percent again in the intimate and slightly melancholic Consolation.

Without doubt of great allure is the demanding Fantasy Op. 17 by Schumann, with subtle referrals to Beethoven’s Mondschein Sonata and a quotation from ‘An die ferne Geliebte’. Not to say that Simons can make me forget other great performances by Richter (EMI), Argerich (Sony, EMI and RCA) and Pollini (DG) among others. But the courage with which Simons interprets the enormous contrasts in moods in this piece, exacts deep respect to say the least and shows abundantly the enormous talent we’re dealing with here.”

Bohusläningen, Zweden (26/11/2012, Paula Nyman)
”In her interpretation (Chopin Ballade no. 1 G-minor) there is a great melancholy and grief variated with passion, hopefulness and an ardour that gave a great impression on me. She is very meticulous in her expression and succeeding in the combination of great respect towards the composition and a personal performance. ”Words feels indigent” someone says towards the end of the concert and I can simply agree when it concerns to express admiration.”