Deseret Morning News
Salt Lake City, Utah
August 29, 2004
By Carma Wadley

PIANIST DAZZLES IN UKRAINE
Vladimir Horowitz was born near Kiev, Ukraine, on Oct. 1, 1903.  He became one of the greatest pianists in the world.

So when Hatch was personally invited by Vladimir Sirenko, conductor of the Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra, to perform at a summer concert commemorating  the 100-year anniversary of the birth of the Russian-born pianist, he was “surprised and absolutely overwhelmed when Sirenko  invited me to perform on such a prestigious program.”  Hatch was the only American performer at the festival concert, which was held at the Mariinsky Palace amphitheater, a former residence of a daughter of Peter the Great. The critics appreciated Hatch’s work.  “In his performance of the Prokofiev Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine on Sunday evening,” noted a story in the Kiev Post, “Hatch’s technical display was dazzling and the tonal colors he painted in the second movement were nothing short of genius.”

Critics Choice Label
Commissioned Recording
Britten Estate, England
September 2000

Despite the fact that Benjamin Britten’s output is prolific, and that much exposure has been given to his operas, orchestral works and chamber music, his solo piano works have been woefully neglected.  Critics Choice Records believes that these compositions comprise a small body of gems for the keyboard, and we propose to fill the void by producing a CD devoted exclusively to this obscure facet of the Composer’s musical legacy.  To this end, we have engaged internationally acclaimed American pianist and recording artist, DAVID GLEN HATCH, with his distinguished biographical data and artistic achievements, as the pianist for this project.

The Gazette
Medina, Ohio
Newspaper CD Review
August 2000
By Jim Williams

What a delightful recording pianist David Glen Hatch released recently on Critics Choice (CCR1333).  The recording, “Smitten with Britten,” contains all the composer’s published solo piano music.  “Five Waltzes,” composed between 1923 and 25 when Britten was 10 and 12 are charming juvenilia.  The music is pleasant and melodic but also derivative.  The four selections that make up the 1934 “Holiday Diary” show that Britten had mastered the art of creating a mood and scene even as a young man.  The music also places great demands on the control, power and rhythmic sensitivity of the pianist, and Hatch pulls it off brilliantly.  The fourth selection in that set, “Night,” is for me, the highlight of the recording.  The music is slow, very slow, and played so softly one imagines butterflies flitting on the keys rather than human fingers.  The space between each note is so long that an almost unbearable tension is created.  In the hands of a lesser pianist, “Night” would be just a collection of random notes with no cohesion.  Under the deft fingers of Hatch, however, the music is hauntingly beautiful in its austerity, yet elegant in tone and mood.  It’s quite like portraying the slow death of day and the coming stillness and mystery of night.  The “Twelve Variations” ranges from music so romantic Chopin would have been proud to claim it, to loud, raucous, bravura music with spiky, angular rhythms.  The set lasts only 10 minutes, but in that 10 minutes Hatch demonstrates that he can play not only loud, finger-busting music, but more importantly, he can play gentle, meditative music with poetic sensitivity.  The other pieces on the recording are equally musically and technically tasteful. . .if you enjoy piano music, you will certainly love this album.

Clavier Companion
Long Beach, CA.

Magazine CD Review

March/April 2011

By Steven Hall

In 2000, David Glen Hatch amassed the first CD of pianist-composer Benjamin Britten’s complete solo piano works, and the CD is worth another look.  The 5 Waltzes, written when Britten was a child, are quirky, accessible pieces with engagingly immature harmonic shifts engendering character in each.  In strak contrast is an effective, eclectic, and technically demanding four-movement, eighteen-minute work, Holiday Diary, which Hatch dispatches with impressive virtuosity and musical maturity.  Twelve Variations is also impressive, full of color and emotional intensity.  The Night-Piece is a particularly lovely gem, its long lines expertly balanced against the harmonic hues Hatch generates.  The Three Character Pieces are elegantly portrayed. . .The Moderato and Nocturne is ponderous, particularly in the loudest sections.  This set is a worthwhile investment.

Cronaca di Siracusa
Music Crituc Review
Siracusa, Sicily
June 29, 2010
By Maria Louisa Vamacore Agrusa

For the occasion of the bicentennial of the birth of Chopin, a piano concert was showcased last Thursday as a big event of interest in the city of Siracusa.  The audience was touched from the grace and sublime skill and mastery of David Glen Hatch, one of the great American pianists of our time.  It was the emotion with which he played that touched the core of the soul.   His music elevated the spirit and increased knowledge in those who were in attendance.  His notes were sweet; they gave the listener vigor; they caused sadness; they created nostalgia.  Not only did Hatch perform with elegance, but his music came alive with power and strength throughout the program with calls for encores and two standing ovations.  At the conclusion of the performance and in conjunction with the Club d’Europe, Michele Mangiafico, president of the region presented Hatch with an honorary gold plaque from the Province and President Ernesto Nudo gave him a silver medal as a symbol of appreciation from the historical society of the city.

The Daily Herald
Concert Review
Provo, Utah
October 1987
By Lyraine Jones

A full house assembled to hear the orchestra under the baton of Dr. Ralph Laycock perform along with the honored guest, Dr. David Glen Hatch, internationally recognized artist of the piano.  Just after the intermission, Dr. Hatch began his brilliant concerto performance.  His is a gentle, but firm and authoritative touch.  His fingers seemed to literally fly over the keys.  He was in total command of the most difficult piece, the Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Opus 15, by Johannes Brahms.  This work was originally written just for orchestra, and is most challenging because of its length and varied moods.  Dr. Hatch was equal to the task, interpreting the music in a way that held the attention of even the youngsters in the audience.    The Kansas City Star  recently stated “. . .It is inconceivable that 10 mere mortal fingers can create such a masterpiece of sound.”  And so it was, a masterful performance, a tribute to this fine young artist and those who have taught him.  At the close of the performance a most appreciative audience jumped to their feet, applauding Hatch back many times to the stage.  He then was presented with a bouquet of red roses and colorful balloons by those who perhaps love him most, his children.

Los Angeles, CA
Reprinted, Deseret News; The Daily Herald
Salt Lake City, UT; Provo, UT
February 2002

On Tuesday, the Annual Grammy Awards will be presented to the best musical recordings of the year.  This year. local resident, distinguished teacher and concert and recording artist, David Glen Hatch, has been nominated for two of these Grammy Awards for his Classical Piano Recording, The World’s Greatest Piano Melodies, with the world renowned Budapest Symphony Orchestra (Hungary) on the AUR label.  Hatch is the executive producer.  Hatch is one of 15 international finalists of 154 entries for “Best Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra” and of 190 entries for “Best Classical Album.”  The recording is available locally and nationally in most major music stores and available on the Internet at Towerrecords.com, Amazon.com, Arizonarecordings.com and through international distribution contracts in Europe, Taiwan, Singapore and other parts of Asia.

Radio Interview
Hong Kong, China
August 1999
By British radio personality, David Gagon

During the thirty-minute early morning radio interview with RTHK radio host, David Gagon, portions of Hatch’s classical recordings and some of the pieces from his international guest artist noon recital for the city’s “Musical Arts Series” at St. John’s Cathedral in Central Hong Kong were aired.  Intrigued by Hatch’s concert and his career and performance successes, among other commentary Gagon referred to the music critic’s review that appeared in Hong Kong’s English newspaper, The Standard:  “David is a brilliant pianist with a personal style marked by strong musical conviction and tonal power.  He delighted the audience with a programme of gems from the classical repertoire and a dazzling display of virtuosity on the pianoforte.”
–

Salt Lake City, Utah

CD Review

June 9, 2011

By Rhett Wilkinson

‘EVER ONWARD,’ BY DAVID GLEN HATCH
With his new hymn arrangements, David Glen Hatch is certainly contributing to the efforts of the LDS missionaries to serve “Ever Onward.”  The 34 instrumental hymn arrangements provide much more flair than that heard on arrangements of other musicians, but they won’t put a missionary over the line of what is and isn’t permissible per mission standards of “listening to music that is consistent with the sacred nature of your calling”.  Listeners to “Ever Onward” can expect to feel both entertained and spiritually strengthened with every arrangement they hear.  Because “High on a Mountain Top” and “How Firm a Foundation” are often considered two of the most powerful hymns in the church, Hatch was nothing short of brilliant by combining the arrangements into a medley along with “Now Let Us Rejoice,” and it is one of the highlights of the CD.  Hatch’s particular version of “I Believe in Christ” may bring listeners to their knees.  Following a career that has included several award-winning and Grammy-nominated albums, including “Smitten with Britten,” “The World’s Greatest Piano Melodies” and “Let Freedom Ring,” Hatch can feel comfortable in mentioning this album in the same breath.