Michael Matthews Reviews
Over more than three decades, Michael Matthews’ music has been reviewed in publications including American Record Guide, La Scena Musicale, The WholeNote, and the Winnipeg Free Press. Critics have described his work as haunting, structurally assured, and deeply resonant, frequently noting its architectural precision, emotional gravity, and distinctive sound world.
Spanning orchestral, chamber, vocal, and electroacoustic genres, Matthews’ music has been performed and recorded internationally. The reviews collected here document the reception of individual compositions and recordings and trace the evolution of one of Canada’s most distinctive contemporary musical voices. For more information about MIchael Matthews and his music, see his composer biography.
- String Quartets of Michael Matthews (re: String Quartet No. 3) Written by Mark Lehman from American Record Guide on November 1, 2015
- String Quartets of Michael Matthews (re: String Quartet No. 2) Written by Mark Lehman from American Record Guide on November 1, 2015
- Matthews, M: Quartets 2+3; Miniatures (re: Miniatures) Written by Mark Lehman from American Record Guide on November 1, 2015
- Michael Matthews: Quatours à cordes (re: String Quartet No. 3) Written by Éric Champagne from La Scena Musicale on September 1, 2015
- Michael Matthews: Quatours à cordes (re: String Quartet No. 2) Written by Éric Champagne from La Scena Musicale on September 1, 2015
- Editor's Corner (re: String Quartet No. 2) Written by David Olds from The Whole Note on September 1, 2015
- Michael Matthews: Quatours à cordes (re: Miniatures) Written by Éric Champagne from La Scena Musicale on September 1, 2015
- String Quartets of Michael Matthews (re: String Quartet No. 3) Written by Holly Harris from Winnipeg Free Press on August 19, 2015
- String Quartets of Michael Matthews (re: String Quartet No. 2) Written by Holly Harris from Winnipeg Free Press on August 19, 2015
- String Quartets of Michael Matthews (re: Miniatures) Written by Holly Harris from Winnipeg Free Press on August 19, 2015
- Review of Preludes and Bagatelles (re: Preludes) From hbdirect on January 10, 2012
- Bartók, Matthews steal the show (re: Piano Quintet) Written by Holly Harris from The Winnipeg Free Press on June 14, 2009
- Powerful pianist's concert a triumphant affair (re: The Language of Water) Written by Holly Harris from Winnipeg Free Press on September 29, 2006
- Centara fest reaches high water mark (re: Prelude to Macbeth) Written by Andrew Thompson from Winnipeg Free Press on January 29, 2004
- Homegrown talent delights SSO audience (re: Prelude to Macbeth) Written by Joanne Paulson from Saskatoon StarPhoenix on November 18, 2002
- Chamber concert stimulated, entertained (re: String Quartet No. 1) Written by James Manishen from The Winnipeg Free Press on February 5, 2002
- Composers evoke a sense of outdoors (re: Symphony No. 2) Written by James Manishen from Winnipeg Free Press on January 8, 2002
- Not a forced note from Molinaris (re: Miniatures) Written by Arthur Kaptainis from Montreal Gazette on March 25, 2001
- La Molinari et la sonorité (re: Miniatures) Written by Claude Gingras from La Presse on March 24, 2001
- New Music Festival echoes Last Night at the Proms (re: Into the Page of Night) Written by James Manishen from Winnipeg Free Press on February 9, 1999
- Unlikely paring a thumping success (re: Concerto Grosso) Written by James Manishen from Winnipeg Free Press on May 21, 1998
- Matthews' creation absorbing (re: Of Time and Sky) Written by James Manishen from Winnipeg Free Press on November 1, 1996
- Richly layered Earthrhythms a natural delight (re: Out of the earth) Written by James Manishen from The Winnipeg Free Press on April 19, 1994
- Composer's premier impressive (re: Between the Wings of the Earth) Written by James Manishen from Winnipeg Free Press on March 26, 1993
- New Currents in Sound (re: Fantasy) Written by Laurel Howard from Border Crossings