“...the music gives the performer freedom, which Montgomery seized...The gestures flowed like harmonious rivulets, building into swift cascades, and even torrents...grabbing the listeners with its ebb and flow”
The Boston Musical Intelligencer
“Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre…represented by a prelude for harpsichord, dexterously played by Montgomery”
Bloomington Herald Times
"Exquisite music-making...exceptional for its precision, blend and stylistic unity...sprightly and charming"
Music in Cincinnati
"an expert fortepianist..."
Cleveland Plain Dealer
"One of the premiere artists in her field..."
Cedar Rapids Gazette
“Vivian Montgomery offered the glue to pull the ensemble together. So often the harpsichord merely blends into the background, but her musical interpretation brought her to the forefront”
Boise Weekly
Ensembles
“The four gifted young musicians were presented to an appreciative audience ... as the season finale of Early Music in Columbus... The ensemble focused on conveying the message of each piece. The nature of the selections meant that vitality was almost always foremost...The instrumentalists were first rate... Preparing music of that era for performance... These performances were convincing. Youngdahl's voice is pleasing to the ear... she was always stylish.”
Columbus Dispatch
“If such music looks promising in score, some of it is close to revelation in the hands of these performers. Led by the polished, ingratiating, and thoroughly professional soprano Janet Youngdahl... the group delivered this mostly vocal program with obvious commitment and pleasure.”
Ann Arbor News
“...the recent recording by Cecilia’s Circle with soprano Janet Youngdahl ...offers a bolder balance between the voice and bass viol, which highlights the contrapuntal interest that is often present between these two parts in Jacquet de La Guerre’s music.”
Early Music
Cecilia’s Circle
"...The gestures flowed like harmonious rivulets, building into swift cascades, and even torrents. Grabbing the listeners with its ebb and flow, the piece carried us on a short but tumultuous journey..." READ FULL REVIEW
The Boston Musical Intelligencer
Cecilia’s Circle
"The most substantial fare came from the French source, Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (1665-1729), represented by a Prelude for harpsichord, dexterously played by Montgomery; a Sonata in D Minor contributed by..." READ FULL REVIEW
Bloomington Herald Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch, & Ann Arbor News
“…Eudaimonia has burst on the scene with…real artistry…completely delightful…done with great vitality…clarity and understated poignancy… The audience held its breath at the end, not wanting to disturb the tranquil spell…The remainder of the program was a surprise in its breadth and variety…Beautifully planned, the proceedings balanced aesthetic pleasure with reflection on the problem of homelessness…”
The Boston Musical Intelligencer
Eudaimonia Admirable
"For a new early music/period instrument ensemble to make it in this area, it has to cut a distinctive profile. Eudaimonia has burst on the scene with its goal of presenting each concert “in support of an existing Boston-based social service or initiative.” Its initial concert on Sunday at the Medford Unitarian Universalist Church also disclosed real artistry. Led by Julia McKenzie (violin) and Vivian Montgomery (harpsichord), Eudaimonia partnered with..." READ FULL REVIEW
Boston Musical Intelligencer
Eudaimonia - Vivaldi Juditha Triumphans(es) at Longy
"...The implications of Montgomery’s interpretation of Vivaldi’s compositional intentions for performance are many, she believes, ranging from heightened, even exaggerated contrasts of instrumental timbre and texture to strict observance of similarity in exchanged melodies. Expect to hear the idiosyncratic timbres of “specialty” instruments--chalumeau, viola d’amore, ..." READ FULL REVIEW
Boston Musical Intelligencer
Eudaimonia – To Sing Again
"...Montgomery, seated in the center with her harpsichord, cultivated an unrelenting, impressive musicality, rounding off each fascinating movement with Martines’s exquisite cadences..." READ FULL REVIEW
Boston Musical Intelligencer
The Boston Musical Intelligencer
“Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre…represented by a prelude for harpsichord, dexterously played by Montgomery”
Bloomington Herald Times
"Exquisite music-making...exceptional for its precision, blend and stylistic unity...sprightly and charming"
Music in Cincinnati
"an expert fortepianist..."
Cleveland Plain Dealer
"One of the premiere artists in her field..."
Cedar Rapids Gazette
“Vivian Montgomery offered the glue to pull the ensemble together. So often the harpsichord merely blends into the background, but her musical interpretation brought her to the forefront”
Boise Weekly
Ensembles
“The four gifted young musicians were presented to an appreciative audience ... as the season finale of Early Music in Columbus... The ensemble focused on conveying the message of each piece. The nature of the selections meant that vitality was almost always foremost...The instrumentalists were first rate... Preparing music of that era for performance... These performances were convincing. Youngdahl's voice is pleasing to the ear... she was always stylish.”
Columbus Dispatch
“If such music looks promising in score, some of it is close to revelation in the hands of these performers. Led by the polished, ingratiating, and thoroughly professional soprano Janet Youngdahl... the group delivered this mostly vocal program with obvious commitment and pleasure.”
Ann Arbor News
“...the recent recording by Cecilia’s Circle with soprano Janet Youngdahl ...offers a bolder balance between the voice and bass viol, which highlights the contrapuntal interest that is often present between these two parts in Jacquet de La Guerre’s music.”
Early Music
Cecilia’s Circle
"...The gestures flowed like harmonious rivulets, building into swift cascades, and even torrents. Grabbing the listeners with its ebb and flow, the piece carried us on a short but tumultuous journey..." READ FULL REVIEW
The Boston Musical Intelligencer
Cecilia’s Circle
"The most substantial fare came from the French source, Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (1665-1729), represented by a Prelude for harpsichord, dexterously played by Montgomery; a Sonata in D Minor contributed by..." READ FULL REVIEW
Bloomington Herald Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch, & Ann Arbor News
“…Eudaimonia has burst on the scene with…real artistry…completely delightful…done with great vitality…clarity and understated poignancy… The audience held its breath at the end, not wanting to disturb the tranquil spell…The remainder of the program was a surprise in its breadth and variety…Beautifully planned, the proceedings balanced aesthetic pleasure with reflection on the problem of homelessness…”
The Boston Musical Intelligencer
Eudaimonia Admirable
"For a new early music/period instrument ensemble to make it in this area, it has to cut a distinctive profile. Eudaimonia has burst on the scene with its goal of presenting each concert “in support of an existing Boston-based social service or initiative.” Its initial concert on Sunday at the Medford Unitarian Universalist Church also disclosed real artistry. Led by Julia McKenzie (violin) and Vivian Montgomery (harpsichord), Eudaimonia partnered with..." READ FULL REVIEW
Boston Musical Intelligencer
Eudaimonia - Vivaldi Juditha Triumphans(es) at Longy
"...The implications of Montgomery’s interpretation of Vivaldi’s compositional intentions for performance are many, she believes, ranging from heightened, even exaggerated contrasts of instrumental timbre and texture to strict observance of similarity in exchanged melodies. Expect to hear the idiosyncratic timbres of “specialty” instruments--chalumeau, viola d’amore, ..." READ FULL REVIEW
Boston Musical Intelligencer
Eudaimonia – To Sing Again
"...Montgomery, seated in the center with her harpsichord, cultivated an unrelenting, impressive musicality, rounding off each fascinating movement with Martines’s exquisite cadences..." READ FULL REVIEW
Boston Musical Intelligencer