Date: March, 2003
Review: Helen Sim and David Du
see also: Press release | Magic of 2 | Concert program | Du and Sim Bio | Past review by Herchen

The following is from my musician friend Robert Arenz in Gearhart, Oregon. I thought you might be interested in his review of the recording you sent him. — Tom Wendel

The Du and Sim duo is remarkable. I don't think I've ever heard better ensemble by pianists. As for Hugo Ulrich, well, it would be interesting to see the score. I was somewhat put off by the vagaries of tempi, dynamics, crescendi and de same, luft pausen, etc. To me it was a very fussy approach. Not that it wasn't brilliant, or played brilliantly. I shall have to live with it for a while. On first hearing, the Mendelssohn was more to my liking. Quite a fine piece I thought, and a first-class terror to play. I loved it, and what they did with it. The Schubert was fine, though it is not my favorite. They did it beautifully. And finally, the Brahms was wonderful, although, again, I thought #1 was excessively fussy. But they did it so well, with such remarkable ensemble, that I forgave them.

All in all a very fine recording. Thank you for sending it.

— Robert Arenz