“Delicious music…sheer joy. Full of gems, brilliant CD” - Denby Richards (Musical Opinion)
“This recording is a worthwhile collector's item… This genre is so much a part of Britain's heritage… a distinctive charm that should not be underestimated. This is an enjoyable and well recorded disc. I find the quality of the singing excellent with warm sopranos providing good expression, a distinctive tenor and resonant baritone, as well as the support of an excellent chorus.” - Raymond Walker (MusicWeb)
“The melody man long neglected at home finds some champions in Estonia…marvellous melodies…quite delightful.. Mart Sander demonstrates…how well-shaped and heartfelt Monckton’s melodies could be. Mariliina von Uexküll’s sweet-toned soprano is no less winning…an enterprising and delightful issue” - Andrew Lamb (Gramophone)
“The tunes are all attractive, the lyrics pleasant and sometimes even clever… [Theatre Bel-Etage are] a wonderful group… a personable group of principals and a very good chorus. I can recommend it as miles above the scores of musicals today. I found this set a breath of fresh air. You will too” - Frank Behrens (Amazon.com / Showcase)
“All three stage comedies are presented as selections… the judgement is invariably astute and the selections are unjoltingly cleverly constructed. When it comes to The Arcadians’ song "My Motter" Sander proves a dab hand at Estonian Cockney and at playing the lush and Mariliina von Uexküll proves to have a fine, flexible voice with operatic-soubrettish quality (good coloratura as well) as she copes neatly with her tongue-twisting song "Pipes of Pan" - not easy to do even if your first language is English. There are plenty of opportunities for character singing and acting here and the orchestra has a good supportive opportunity in "Arcady is Ever Young". The principals and band prove worthy ambassadors for this music. ” - Jonathan Woolf (MusicWeb)
“a wealth of easy melodies… Monckton had a remarkable facility for catchy songs… it’s wonderful to hear [these musicals].. the wonderful score [The Arcadians] enchants in an attractive medley. Truly bewitching. I have been waiting for decades to hear [The Quaker Girl] and I have liked nearly everything I have heard from this score” - American Record Guide