“ He captures just the right balance of clarity, swiftness of attack, poetry and élan: every note shines with sun-reflecting clarity as the finales whirl along. ”

BBC Music Magazine
“ The way in which he plays is reminiscent of a great poet singing at a grand piano. ”

Marcus Stabler, Hamburger Abendblatt
“ Ashkar’s is an art that disguises art and his performances are among the finest in the catalogue. ”

Bryce Morrison, Gramophone Magazine
“ His interpretations seem to reflect an almost spiritual connection to the music itself. ”

Marcus Stabler, Hamburger Abendblatt
“ Saleem Ashkar played with muscularity, subtlety and grace in an excellent performance of Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto No. 5. ”

Garth Wilshere, Capital Times
“ Saleem Ashkar had a perfect mix of vibrant youthful energy and sophisticated maturity in this performance. ”

Hans Bünte, Saarbrucker Zeitung
“ A formidable musician…who has a mixture of warmth and clarity, intensity and freshness that simply grabs you: Pure Beethoven-joy. ”

Die Welt
“ The formidable pianist formed the work's lyric-earnest mood balancing the expressions of doubtful thoughtfulness and virtuosic abandon with playfulness and beauty of sound. ”

Matthias Nöther, Berliner Morgenpost
“ He captivated the public with his broad spectrum of nuanced tone colours and lush fantasy. ”

Marcus Stabler, Hamburger Abendblatt

***** CD Review La Repubblica

May 23, 2019