on numinosum — works by bach, liszt, franck and messiaen (2023):
“Carr meets the two Liszt Légendes on their own terms with striking results. ‘St Francis of Assisi: Sermon to the Birds’ is all delicacy and finesse, delivered with a thoroughly captivating simplicity. The sounds drawn from the instrument are ravishing throughout. (…) Taken together, these are among the finest interpretations of the Deux Légendes in recent memory. (…) [Some] of his subtlest playing is in the Franck. The Prelude is delicately shaded, playing out on a variety of deftly calibrated dynamic levels that seem to cannily anticipate the essences of both the Chorale and the finale. The Fugue unfolds with an unstoppable inevitability before bursting into the flights of retrospective fantasy that conclude this masterpiece. In both concept and execution, this is a performance to satisfy the most demanding Franck aficionado.
- Gramophone Magazine
“We have rarely heard an atmosphere as impalpable, as immaterial, established with such authority as that by Joachim Carr in [Messiaen’s] Gaze of the Son upon the Son. Through the industry of a sovereign touch, he draws diaphanous sounds from his Steinway, with shimmering lighting. The birds in a stained glass window (those who listened to Saint Francis?) frolic, up there, in magnificently timbred high notes. (…) [Franck’s'] Prelude, Chorale and Fugue do not seek to imitate organ registrations. Both flowing and tormented, the triptych seems entirely turned towards the final transfiguration, driven by an irrepressible anagogical impulse. And what a sound!
- Classica Magazine
“(T)he first thing you notice about this young pianist is that he doesn’t sound young. (…) He can deliver pyrotechnics like the best of them, but the real attraction here is is his dynamic control (especially on the pianissimo side of the equation), phrasing, and chiaroscuro shadings of tone. On this album, he delivers some fireworks, but my favorite pieces are the simpler Bach chorale preludes. In his hands, they take on a misty, ethereal quality, enhanced by the tiniest dose of rubato. I wish he would do an entire album of these—but the other tracks here (by Messiaen, Liszt, and Franck) are gems too.”
- The Honest Broker, Ted Gioia
“Then there is Carr's eminent touch and tonal shaping, as is already promptly evident in the very beginning of this fabulous recital, Busoni's arrangement of Bach's chorale prelude 'Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ': the unrolled carpet of sound soon develops into a breathtaking beauty.[..]” Full review (in Dutch)
- OpusKlassiek
On the debut album — works by schumann, brahms and berg (2014):
“Carr’s touch is unusually refined and poetic, allowing for an astonishing range of dynamics between piano and the extreme reaches of audibility. His ability to shade and shape a phrase recalls some of great pianist-poets of the past—Dinu Lipatti, especially —and some of Davidsbündlertänze’s most tender moments are wonders of both expressiveness and control.” Full review
- Fanfare Magazine
“In the ambiguous Schumann collection, the young musician's hypersensitivity enables him to give a tender and successful rendition of the pages signed by Eusebius the dreamer, and his great energy and enthusiasm become fully liberated as Florestan flares up. The torments and the hesitations, the instances of mischief and ingenuousness : Joachim Carr has grasped fully the two facets of this score. (...) Natural and of great vitality, these performances place him amongst the most promising pianists of his generation.” Full review (in French)
- Diapason
“The Davidsbundlertanze has long lines, with a great balance of melody and harmony, tender and heartfelt without exaggeration. (...) His playing is incredibly polished and refined.” Full review
- American Record Guide
“The Schumann here reveals an enormous technique, the Brahms adds a refined poetic sensitivity and the Berg a feeling for understated drama; and the Liszt/Schumann arrangement – one of the loveliest encapsulations of joy in all music – provides the cream on this excellent cake. (...) Lots of people can play the piano well, but here's someone with something to say about the music, whose narration holds your interest. He's a musician we are going to be hearing a lot more from in the future.” Full review (in Norwegian)
- Klassisk Musikkmagasin
“(...) this is an excellent debut disc, a disc transmitting a strong signal of great artistic ambitions. And of a great pianistic talent.” Full review (translated from Norwegian)
- Bergens Tidende
interview in paris match (2015)
Read here (in French)