A few months ago there was some 'discussion' when I questioned the
competency of reviewers, such as in Gramophone, following the Hatto
scandal.

I queried how the expert reviewers did not spot the huge disrepancies
in style in the Hattos CDs which were pilched from a large number of
pianists and several orchestras and conductors.  I could also add
numerous recording teams!

So it is gratifying to read in the latest Private Eye (23 Nov, p14):

   "... Then there are the critics who were duped, not least
   Gramophone's Bryce Morrison, who eulogised Hatto's release of
   Rachmaninov's 3rd piano concerto in a feature for Intelligent
   Life magazine as "among the finest on record", while condemning
   a Yefim Bronfman recording as feeble.  As we now know, the Hatto
   release and the Bronfman recording were one and the same, which
   leaves Morrison distinctly egg-faced ..."

The whole article is worth reading.

David Harbin
Nottingham UK

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