Mathieu van Bellen og Mathias Halvorsen presenterer sitt kritikerroste operaprosjekt Puccinis La Boheme. Dette er det aller første fullstendig instrumentale arrangementet av en full opera; med alt av kor, solister og drama intakt. Mathieu van Bellen og Mathias Halvorsen har bearbeidet partituret selv og laget at et hyper-virtuost og i overkant dramatisk stykke for kun fiolin, piano og undertekster.

…..Even more astonishingly, each character’s ‘voice’ is given a distinctive tone colour. Mimì is fragile, Rodolfo is assertive, though both are played by the violin, and by some wizardry these distinctions are apparent even when the two ‘sing’ together in duet. ….by the time we reach the end it is quite possible to forget that we have not been listening to ‘the real thing’. Bravi, van Bellen and Halvorsen, for this ravishing achievement.

★★★★★ Alexandra Wilson, BBC Music Magazine (Chamber Music Choice of the month)

Purists, brace yourselves. Yes, the list of personnel written out above comprises just the two players. This audacious enterprise by the Dutch violinist van Bellen and the Norwegian pianist Halvorsen is possibly the first to  tackle the transcribing of an entire opera. And here's the thing: it takes absolutely nothing away from Puccini's miraculous score. On the contrary, through musicianship that at times takes the breath away, the pair's reworking acheves an astonishing (and deeply affecting) fullness and richness. Never do you feel a lack of narrative heft or emotional engagement.

The Sunday Times ★★★★★