Reviews
“With a firm pianistic technique, she combined elegance, poetry and passion in perfect proportion…Guo possesses a gorgeous lyric soprano without any break in the registers. She can spin a long line winningly and bring intense emotion to the text when called. Chelsea Guo is clearly an artist one wants to hear as both pianist and singer.”
“Guo expressed in its eight songs a wealth of emotion and colour, her voice never overshadowed by the piano’s rich details and textures…”
“Her lithe soprano uplifted every graceful phrase with ingratiating sonic purity, and she gave the German text of ‘Das himmlische Leben’ (‘Heavenly Life’) a delicate accent that few singers are able to discover. I simply did not want Guo to stop…”
“Guo navigated lengthy solo passages with all of the subtle shifts of dynamic and tempo needed to bring the full potential out of writing that sometimes felt restrained by the formal rigor…”
“…One of the most extraordinary recitals that I have heard for a long time. A true revelation of a pianist / singer who listens to herself with enviable musicality and artistry.”
“Whether playing the extensive chordal passages, which opened the work and reappeared later, or melodies extravagantly embellished with waves of arpeggios, Guo’s tone was notable for its grace and beauty…”
“Chelsea Guo is a special and original talent with a tremendous intellect behind, she is someone to watch and nurture.”
“We are immersed in the timeless beauty of the music and we begin to appreciate that we have something very gratifying to hear, indeed. Chelsea Guo is special.”
BBC Music Magazine
(Print)
August 5, 2021
Chopin: In My Voice (Album)
“Guo delivers an entrancing performance of the 24 preludes and other piano works, and then she self-accompanies a handful of vocal treasures. A very fine pianist with a beguiling voice; here is a rare talent.”
“If there’s anything in Chopin that’s pure autobiography, this is it, or at least it seems so in Guo’s hands…It’s a fair bet that this is just the tip of the iceberg of Guo’s emerging talent.”
“As both a pianist and a singer Chelsea Guo is clearly a special talent.”
“These fresh interpretations bring Chopin to vivid life once more, and the affection Guo has for the material resonates from beginning to end. The novelty factor of the vocals-and-piano detail might initially attract the attention of listeners, but Chopin: In My Voice rewards for reasons that extend far beyond that particular detail.”