Ravishing in tone

1 Nov 07

“… Ravishing in tone and exploiting an excitingly wide range of dynamic, Plane forges a commandingly articulate alliance with pianist Benjamin Frith. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine more sympathetic music-making…”

…

The recording:

Stanford: Clarinet Sonata & Piano Trio No. 3

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Evocative and thoughtful

6 Jan 26

BBC Music Magazine, Ingrid Pearson
Four Stars

Quite captivating

1 Nov 25

Yorkshire Times, Andrew Palmer

A classy and handsomely presented release

18 Oct 25

Gramophone, Jeremy Nicholas

The Plane-Frith duo certainly draw the very most from the music

8 Oct 25

Music Web International, Jonathan Woolf

Robert Plane Ref 018 2019 Please Credit Sara Porter Www.saraporterphotography.co.uk Smed (1)

An elegant, detailed reading

1 Oct 25

Musical Opinion, Paul Conway

The performances are beyond reproach

30 Sep 25

British Music Society, Martyn Strachan

An inspiring performance

19 Sep 25

Clarinet and Saxophone, Abigail Stinchon

The contributions of clarinettist Robert Plane

12 Sep 25

The Arts Desk, Clare Stevens

“Other musical highlights of the weekend included … the contributions of clarinettist Robert Plane …, soloist with the Goethes in Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet and with the festival orchestra in a delightful new Concertino by Huw Watkins”

A well-filled well-played album

1 Aug 25

London Light Music, Peter Burt

Robert Plane Ref 26 Please Credit Jake Morley Smed

Concertante flourish

22 Jun 25

The Guardian, Rian Evans

A phenomenal concert

28 May 25

Classical Explorer, Colin Clarke

Another treasure trove of works

28 Jan 25

BBC Music Magazine, Michael Beek ★★★★

Superbly performed

4 Jan 25

The Quarterly Review, Stuart Millson

Affectionate and totally convincing

24 Dec 24

British Music Society, Gary Higginson

A superbly compelling rendering

11 Aug 24

Gramophone Magazine, Andrew Achenbach
Editor’s Choice, September issue

Ensemble 360 Strings Piano Ref 6 Please Credit Kaupo Kikkas Smed

Kaleidoscopic versatility

1 Jun 24

The Spectator, Richard Bratby

An evocative, fine-tuned performance

28 May 24

The Arts Desk, David Nice

Intimate chamber music of the highest rank

22 May 24

Seen and Heard International, Colin Clarke

This performance was thrilling

22 May 24

Bachtrack, Phil Parker
Four Stars

Robert Plane Ref 001 2019 Please Credit Sara Porter Www.saraporterphotography.co.uk Smed

Beautiful tone, immaculate technique and sensitive phrasing

28 Nov 23

Lakeland Sinfonia, Clive Walkley

The incredible range and dynamism of the Trio Meister Raro

14 Nov 23

Carlisle Music Society, Carolyn Fyfe

Ligeti in context: a superb centenary tribute

16 Oct 23

Bachtrack, Phil Parker

A phenomenal player … his tone, technique, and musicianship are flawless

26 Sep 23

British Music Society, Paul RW Jackson

The players were especially alert to dynamic shading

22 Sep 23

Musical Opinion, Paul Conway

An engaging new concerto

19 Aug 23

BBC Radio 3 Record Review, Andrew McGregor

A disc to bring fascination and much joy

18 Jul 23

British Music Society, Gary Higginson

Performers are of the top rank

5 Jul 23

MusicWeb International, Rob Barnett

True individuality

1 Jun 23

The Arts Desk, David Nice

Physical vitality, athletic virtuosity, sweet lyrical charisma

22 Apr 23

Vox Carnyx, Ken Walton

Driving performance … high-octane playing

21 Apr 23

The Scotsman, Ken Walton

Virtuoso clarinettist … very lively

20 Apr 23

The Herald, Keith Bruce

Adept and sympathetic

10 Apr 23

Gramophone, Richard Whitehouse

Plane gives an inspiring performance … everyone does a tremendous job

17 Mar 23

Clarinet & Saxophone Magazine, Chris Walters

Elegantly played

1 Mar 23

BBC Music Magazine

The quartet’s performance was dazzling

8 Feb 23

The Westmorland Gazette, Clive Walkley

Hearing his solo was a wonderful experience

8 Nov 22

Seen and Heard International, Jeremy Chan

Joyous thrills, nuanced generosity

5 Jul 22

VoxCarnyx, Ken Walton

A thrusting performance of great clarity

27 Jun 22

The Guardian, Rian Evans

Robert Plane is a superb performer … Highly recommended!

1 Sep 21

The Clarinet, Robert Chesebro

Plane has magisterial control of his instrument

9 Feb 21

British Music Society, Geoffrey Atkinson

Plane gives a suitably sparkling performance

28 Jan 21

Clarinet & Saxophone Magazine, Chris Walters

All four pieces could not have more sympathetic advocacy than by Plane

1 Jan 21

Gramophone Magazine, Richard Whitehouse

Extreme virtuosity… amply provided by Plane

3 Nov 20

The WholeNote, Michael Schulman

Robert Plane absolutely on fire

1 Nov 20

Classical Explorer, Colin Clarke

Rich tone, nuanced playing and compellingly dramatized account

26 Oct 20

Limelight, Clive Paget – Editor’s Choice

You’ll be assured of splendid and fully communicative performances

24 Aug 20

MusicWeb International, Jonathan Woolf

Plane has the work’s full measure – Geoff Brown enjoys Iain Hamilton’s “compelling concerto”

6 Aug 20

BBC Music Magazine, Geoff Brown ****

No praise is too high for Robert Plane’s musicianship, virtuosity and sensitivity

27 Jul 20

Colin’s Column, Colin Anderson

They’re real gems

25 Jul 20

BBC Radio 3 Record Review, Andrew McGregor

Stunningly performed … intense focus and virtuoso technique … a magical sonic experience

26 Jan 20

Classical Sonoma, Abby Wasserman

Best Re-Issue

24 Jun 19

Classic FM, David Mellor

Utterly beguiling

28 Mar 19

The Westmorland Gazette, Ian Jones

Wistful beauty

25 Mar 19

The Times, Anna Picard

Very smooth and subtle and deeply musical

5 Dec 18

BBC Radio 3, Kate Molleson

Unleashed with a controlled power by these fine musicians

17 Jul 18

The Scotsman, Susan Nickalls

Threw himself into his athletic lines with glee and abandon

30 Mar 18

Seen and Heard International, Paul Corfield Godfrey

Plane’s tireless virtuosity

29 Mar 18

The Guardian, Rian Evans

Robert Plane Contrasts - Impressions of Hungary

It's a little gem

21 Sep 17

The Guardian, Erica Jeal

A Perfect Partnership at the Ilkley Concert Club

13 Apr 17

Sacconi Quartet and Robert Plane at the King’s Hall, Chris Skidmore

Robert Plane gives a very fine reading [of Finzi Clarinet Concerto] for Naxos

14 Jul 16

From “Which is the best recording of Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto?” by Patrick Rucker, 14th July 2016

Robert Plane, Philip Dukes and Huw Watkins – unerring control

24 Feb 16

The Guardian, Rian Evans

A perfect balance of structural exactitude and lyricism – Gould Trio with clarinettist Robert Plane

15 Feb 16

The Guardian, Rian Evans

Further Reviews

1 Jan 16

Immaculately performed by Robert Plane

29 Jan 15

The Guardian, Andrew Clements

Consistent musicality and enthusiasm

10 Oct 14

The Sir Arnold Bax Website, Christopher Webber and Graham Parlett

At the very top of their game

1 Feb 14

Gramophone, Andrew Achenbach

His instrumental skill is stunning

28 Nov 13

Craven Herald, Adrienne Fox

Delectable soloist

1 Jan 13

International Record Review

First-class

1 Jan 13

Fanfare

Plane’s readings are superb

1 Aug 12

Gramophone, Jeremy Dibble

Soulful clarinet-playing of Robert Plane

1 Jan 12

Gramophone, Richard Whitehouse

Music-making of the highest calibre

30 Oct 11

The Guardian, Rian Evans
Four Stars

Robert Plane an inspired soloist

1 Dec 10

Gramophone, Edward Greenfield

Characteristically intricate

16 Nov 10

The Guardian, Rian Evans
Four Stars

Brilliantly adept

12 Nov 10

The Arts Desk, Stephen Walsh

Ravishing lyricism and conviction

1 Jun 09

Gramophone, Jeremy Dibble

Nothing short of exceptional

1 Dec 08

Gramophone, Jeremy Dibble

Depth of musical character

15 Jul 08

Irish Times, Michael Dervan

Bright, gymnastic

30 Mar 08

The Observer, Anthony Holden

Plane’s clarinet has an eloquent and expressive voice

4 Aug 07

The Times, Rick Jones

Irreproachably alert and stylish

1 Aug 06

Gramophone, Andrew Achenbach

Entrancing poise and liquid tone

1 Jun 04

Gramophone, Andrew Achenbach

Ravishing range of tone and natural warmth

14 May 04

The Guardian, Edward Greenfield
Five Stars

Lyrical sweeps of phrasing in an immaculate performance

1 Jan 03

BBC, Andrew McGregor

Effortless technical mastery

1 Dec 98

Gramophone, Andrew Achenbach