“Alexandre Dossin is an accomplished musician and a wonderful pianist. I had the opportunity to hear him play solo, chamber music and concertos. His performances are magnificent, with very pure musical insight and an extreme sensitivity, together with real virtuosity and a very personal way of unfolding interesting ideas. The feeling that there is always more coming makes his performances a very strong experience.”

Martha Argerich, 09.13.03

“Dear Alexandre: I believe that you are a very complete musician; you have intelligence and an exquisite sensibility, enormous reserves and of course a brilliant pianism, always in the service of music. I was enchanted with your playing.”

Dedicatory words written by Martha Argerich on the competition poster.  

“ (…) a magnificent program (…) He is a pianist with extremely high potential capability. His performance of Apres une lecture du Dante was of very stable structure while aiming at various colorful senses, and it was sharply outlined, always showing the direction. Contrasting passages were well defined - transparent touches against chaos of hell, and chords full of heavy weight against light, lively motions. Furthermore, the way of talking shown at the paraphrases was very interesting; the brilliantly changing description of scenes was outstanding, and the inherent frankness resulted in a poetic drama. I am very much looking forward to listening to him again.”

Musica Nova (Japan), August 05, p. 92

 

“He showed his strong persuasive capabilities in each work by creating fine sentiments based on his convincing techniques and sensitive musicality.”

Ongaku-no-tomo (Japan), August 05

"If you like the piano as a vehicle for melodious modern romanticism you should hear Krieger’s beautiful sonatas and his captivating sonatina, especially in the first-class presentation they’re accorded here. Alexandre Dossin plays with an astute balance of excitement, technical finesse, and fluid expressivity; The recording is close to ideal—rich but clear, truthful, and immediate."

Mark Lehman, American Record Guide, November/December 2005

“(…) he seems to play it [Krieger’s music] with both devotion and delight; Krieger, at least, has lavished praise upon these performances, and I hear no reason to dispute the composer’s seal of approval.”

Fanfare Magazine, October/November 2005

SELECTED REVIEWS OF ALEXANDRE DOSSIN’S NAXOS CD (VERDI-LISZT PARAPHRASES)

“Like Arrau, Dossin is a big virtuoso who obtains huge sonorities without banging, and is not averse to underlining Liszt's expressive directives in red ink, with broad, rhetorical strokes. (…) I hope that the label has further projects in store for this talented pianist.”

Jed  Distler, ClassicsToday.com

RECORDING OF THE MONTH (JULY 2007) and also chosen one of the Recordings of the Year 2007.

“In these Liszt operatic transcriptions, Dossin is able to realise a compelling sense of Verdian drama combined with a broad range of melodic richness. He reveals himself as a polished and discerning musician with an astute sense of phrasing and dynamic expression. Liszt’s technical demands hold no fear for this soloist who avoids any temptation for extra sweetness or flashy over-emphasis. The recital provides many highlights and only the stoniest of hearts could fail to be moved by Dossin’s interpretation of the meltingly lovely melody in Reminiscences de Boccanegra, first heard at 0:26 (track 6).

(…)

Naxos enter the winner’s enclosure yet again with this assured piano recital of highly attractive repertoire from Liszt. An eminently enjoyable disc that demands to be heard.”

Michael Cookson, Music Web International

“These are not so much transcriptions, more re-workings of thematic material. They make for excellent listening, because no one appreciated Verdi's melodies better than Liszt. Behind the virtuoso surface and popular touch, Dossin - like Liszt - treats the music with the utmost respect.”

Andrew Clark,  Financial Times (UK)

“Brazilian pianist proves to be a master at Liszt

Pianist Alexandre Dossin revels in the pyrotechnics and dramatic colors in these vivid transcriptions. The winner of the first prize at the 2003 Martha Argerich competition displays his credentials in the paraphrase of the quartet from "Rigoletto" that opens this collection.

The Brazilian-born pianist revels in the cascade of notes in this score. He also

supplies the somber tone Liszt's music demands. Dossin also scores in Liszt's intense transcription of the "Miserere" from "Il Trovatore" and the auto-da-fe scene from "Don Carlos."

Robert Baxter, Courier-Post  (US)

“Winner of many major competition prizes, the Brazilian-born Alexandre Dossin is not from that breed of flamboyant Lisztians who bemuses the listener with empty gestures. Dossin is a more caring performer who avoids speed for cheep effect, the music shaped in large sweeping phrases, with never a note out of place. That shaping of structure is particularly needed in the long Boccanegra piece, a score that can quickly become episodic as it draws in so much varied music.”

Naxos.com

“The demands made by these works on Brazilian pianist Alexander Dossin are considerable. No doubt technical virtuosity is a prerequisite but the need to convey dramatic sweep is paramount. He more than meets these challenges.”

Patrick C Waller, Music-Web International, August 2007

“Born in Brazil in 1970, Alexandre Dossin studied at the Moscow Conservatory before moving to the United States. He has numerous contest successes behind him (including First Prize and Special Prize at the 2003 Argerich Competition), and his recent recording of music by Edino Krieger won praise from both James Reel (29:2) and Peter Burwasser (29:3). From the opening measures of the Rigoletto Paraphrase, the reasons for his success are obvious: over and above the technical security that has become a given for modern contest-winners, Dossin displays an imaginative and immediately engaging romantic personality, molding articulation, rhythm, and color in a way that gives the music a vivid personal stamp.

(…) Arrau’s famous readings are, by comparison, slightly dour. (…)A fine introduction to a talented pianist.”

Peter J. Rabinowitz, Fanfare Magazine

[Dossin]  plays without technical blemish and has the abandon required to bring off these display vehicles.

Alan Becker, American record Guide