Classical Music Recording Producer
Some Past Projects
It was a particular privilege to be asked by the Hallé Orchestra to produce the sessions for its new in-house label.
The orchestra is clearly in wonderful form under Mark Elder, its Music Director since September 2000.
The sessions are of remarkable concentration and passion, and the reviews (below) speak for themselves.
The Hallé Orchestra's Own Label
ELGAR: Symphony No 1 in A flat
"This is superior in almost every regard to the recent highly praised version by the LSO under Sir Colin Davis on the LSO's own label; it is far better recorded and is better conducted...The recordings, produced by Andrew Keener, are very good..." (Robert Matthew-Walker, International Record Review, June 2003)
"This is a magnificent beginning for the Hallé's record label...I doubt if [the First Symphony] was ever better played [under Harty and Barbirolli] than it is here...The performance of In the South is equally resplendent." (David Cairns, Sunday Times, 13 April 2003)
ELGAR: Enigma Variations
“Terrific Cockaigne... production and engineering (Andrew Keener and Simon Eadon) top-notch." (Andrew Achenbach, Gramophone, July 2003)
"The producer is Andrew Keener, a guarantor of sensitive recording...The Variations are given a magnificent performance. If you want to sample what Elder is achieving with the Hallé, listen to Troyte with its thunderous timpani and cutting-edge strings." (Michael Kennedy, Sunday Telegraph)
NIELSEN: Symphony No 5
"A stupendous performance...The astonishing side-drum outburst is brilliantly recorded and played..." (Michael Kennedy, Sunday Telegraph)
"...a performance of strong character and palpable dedication." (Andrew Achenbach, Gramophone, July 2003)
ELGAR: Symphony No 2 in E flat
"The clear inner lines - beautifully recorded by Andrew Keener - allow the dark complexities of the first movement's development to unravel." (Stephen Pettit, London Evening Standard). "Mark Elder has emerged as an Elgar conductor of the first rank ... the sound is superlative." (Michael Kennedy, Sunday Telegraph)
"A gorgeous disc, beautifully recorded, and a must for all Elgarians." (Hugh Canning, Sunday Times Classical CD of the Week, 26 September 2004)
"If any more evidence were needed that the Hallé Orchestra has attained a level of excellence not heard since the Barbirolli era, this latest of its own-label discs is it." (Matthew Rye, Daily Telegraph Classics CD of the Week, 9 October 2004)
ELGAR: Cello Concerto (Heinrich Schiff); Romance for Bassoon; Falstaff
"The account of Falstaff makes a powerful case for the "symphonic study" as one of Elgar's most captivating and brilliantly inventive scores."
(David Cairns, Sunday Times)
