Classic FM Magazine, England

My CD choice
“It would be nice to think we all have catholic tastes in music, but to be honest, apart from Rodrigo’s famous Concert, I’m not a great fan of the guitar. So I was surprised when I came across Orchestral Classics. It’s a wonderful set of classical favourites arranged by guitar duo Progetto Avanti, Swedish-born Max Gossell and Håkan Frennesson. In the first movement of Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Mozart’s drive and force are replaced by an instrument that really isn’t up to the job, but then comes the Romance, transforming the mood. You’ll imagine yourself in a Spanish villa at sunset, surrounded by fragrant vines, basking in the sun all the way to the end of the Rondo. Skip on to Anitra’s Dance in Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 and you’ll think Grieg missed out on a career writing for the guitar. This is an enjoyable album, even if you thought you didn’t like the sound of the guitar!”

Jamie Crick

Telegraph Entertainment, England

“An intriguing album from a brilliant guitar duo hailing from Sweden who capture the imagination with their unique arrangements of great orchestral classics.”

ILTA-SANOMAT, Finland

A Symphony Orchestra with Two Guitars
“As a matter of fact the idea sounds quite joyously and it came about in the minds of two Swedish guitar players. Håkan Frennesson and Max Gossell got bored with the limited repertoire of works composed for guitars and started to arrange the world’s tonal literature into a new form. After a first quick listening one thinks that Vivaldi’s string symphony sounds wonderful... ”

Juha-Pekka Tukiainen

Me Naiset, Finland

Orchestral Music with Guitars
“The Swedish guitar duo Progetto Avanti has made an ambitious and brave CD. The result is excellent. If you don’t otherwise listen to classical music, this is worth a try... ”

Tom Kalina
(Issue 23)

FAO CASA Gazette, Italy

“As the album name implies, this is an orchestral illusion created by two eloquent guitars. Works by Vivaldi, Rodrigo, Grieg and Mozart, never composed expressly for the guitar, have been intelligently and succesfully transcribed fot that medium in a manner that is waqrm, full of feeling and PASSION. All this warmth and sunshine though come from Sweden rather than the sunny Mediterranean. It got me fooled... This VERY new CD is HOT!”

Stavros Moschopoulos

Eastern Daily Press, England

Thrilling spectrum of styles
“Dynamics shading away to whispers, figuration articulated with utmost clarity, and the unanimity in understanding that is the fruit of long association these were qualities the audience warmed to in a lunch-hour recital sponsored by Norwich Airport. Max Gossell and Hakan Frennesson presented a technically-demanding programme. Taking us from baroque Italy by way of romantic Norway to a work composed by a Russian master of the keyboard in the US, and next to Spain, the duo revelled in a wide spectrum of styles. The Vivaldi Concerto was full of vivacity, all the more exhilarating when contrasted with the graceful poise of its slow movement and Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite made an even greater impression as an arrangement of well-loved music conceived for quite different instrumentation. More substantial and rewarding, Rodrigo’s Aranjuez Concerto had strength that remained intact when interpreted with the reduced forces that were just right for Rachmaninov’s Vocalise.”

Christopher Smith
(Review of a Live Concert at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival, October 10th)

High Fidelity, Denmark/Sweden

In the Hall of the Mountain King
“...This little piece is a regular find! Orchestral Illusions is simply made up by the two guitarists Max Gossell & Håkan Frennesson, who live up to the name by a 100%. They throw themselves without hesitation into great orchestral works like... ...and they carry out this seemingly hopeless project with great honour! Here we can hear them in Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King”. This piece just have to become a hi-fi demo hit! High Fidelity’s Web Site

Reference CD No. 27
(This is an audiophile magazine that put Grieg’s “Mountain King” on a reference CD for demonstrating the complete capacities of "High End" hi-fi equipment. As we did the recording ourselves, we are quite proud of it!)

Les Cahiers de la Guitare et de la Musique, France

Hors du commun: deux personnages, avec beaucoup d’humour, deux guitares et quelques pages d’orchestre nous découvrent les grands concertos mis en scènes sans l’aide de l’archet. Le duo Progetto Avanti est formé par les deux magiciens suisses: (our remark: the Frenchmen always mix up Swede and Swiss...) Håkan Frennesson et Max Gossell. On peut effectivement parler de magie lorsqu’on entend la Suite no 1 Peer Gynt de Grieg ou la Petite musique de nuit de Mozart à deux guitares! On ne peut pas dire que ce CD soit anodin. Il choquera sûrement les uns, détracteurs des transcriptions, mais réjouira les autres, ceux du grand public, amateurs de tubes et de sentiers battus. Et pourqui ne pas leur faire plaisir, à eux aussi? La qualité de la transcription est certaine. Pourquoi Mozart se retourneraitil forcément dans sa tombe? Nos deux guitaristes semblent avoir pris mille précautions, agissant d’ailleurs avec la bénédiction même du grand Rodrigo. Le Concerto en ré de Vivaldi semble vraiment composé pour guitare et guitare(!). On y trouve cette fantaisie, qui, mise au service de la musique, crée beaucoup d’illusion... comme le titre du CD l’indique. Les effets orchestraux sont assez biens rendus. Certes, on ne peut pas vraiment remplacer la sonorité des hautbois dans Aranjuez... mais après tout, pourquoi ne pas jouer le jeu? Ce CD est soigne, produit vraiment fini où l’on découvre deux musiciens drôlement sympathiques. Sans conteste, la maîtrise de leur sujet est pleine d’energie et de virtuosité.

Anne-Laure Boutin

Maestro Joaquín Rodrigo, Madrid

“After listening with pleasure to this brilliant duo, I found the transcription of the ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ for two guitars most dignified and acceptable.”

Gramophone Magazine, UK

“The skill and attention to style and detail displayed by the Swedish duo Progetto Avanti is admirable, indeed outstanding… Dix points for effort and for clarity of recording…”

Classical Guitar Magazine, UK

“…poignant… …lyrical… …terrific… …splendid… …sparkling… …much, much better than I would have imagined. …these Swedish performers can certainly play. …a most interesting disc.”

Les Cahiers de la Guitare et de la Musique, France

“…One can indeed speak about magic when one hears Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 or Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik performed on two guitars! …full with energy and virtuosity.”

Fanfare Magazine, USA

“How totally success-ful they have been can be discovered on a new release from Finlandia… • …must be considered a triumph…”