“Clayton transcends the notes on the page, delving into the emotional and textural dimensions of del Aguila’s music with fearless expression. His writing, rich in nuance and imbued with a disarmingly human sensitivity, becomes a canvas upon which she paints with the full palette of her artistry. This is not mere performance, it is a transformation.”
-Paris-Move
“Miguel del Aguila is to be commended…for creating this set of pieces for their duo, which braids Latin folk and Impressionism in the name of serviceable, sometimes, charming additions to the repertoire.”
- Gramophone
“indispensable…a torrential leap”
- Paris-Move
“April Clayton and Miguel del Aguila redefine the flute-piano duo repertoire with vivid lyricism and daring spirit”
- Paris-Move
“Right away you notice the appeal of April Clayton’s tone. This is going to be an album right away I know I’m going to enjoy just because of her playing… del Aguila is very evocative in his playing, and this is true really all over the album…. The flute tone alone like this has a ghostly, floating kind of sound… Amazing control over the [flute] sound… evocative flute playing… it sounds like something flautists would enjoy playing, if they can... Again, April Clayton with her appealing tone and bold sense of rhythm interprets this ideally… The performances here are just fantastic, there’s great momentum.”
-Adult Music Podcast
“There is a romantic beauty at the heart of this project, one that quickly gives way to a deeper poetic impulse. The works here are not mere exercises in technical finesse or academic exploration, they are musical poems.”
– Paris-Move
“beautiful, simply heavenly”
– Exclusive Magazine
Torrential Raindance is a testament to what happens when virtuosity meets vision, when curiosity meets courage.”
– Paris-Move
“beautifully paired”
– Cultural Attaché
“The recording captures nuance beautifully: the resonance of the piano, the breath in the flute tone, the subtle decay of silence after climactic phrases. The sound design allows listeners to feel close to the performers, almost as if sitting in the room with them.”
– Flute View
“Torrential Raindance offers an immersive journey: playful invention, ritual intensity, deep mourning, and ultimately a burst of communal joy. For listeners of contemporary chamber music, for lovers of the flute’s expressive range, and for anyone curious about how Latin American rhythms and colors can be reimagined in a modern classical idiom, this album is essential. It is both deeply personal and universally resonant — an album that lingers in the ear and the heart long after the final notes of Malambo fade.”
-Flute View
“This album on the Urtext label is a real find… All of the music comes across as fresh and inventive… [Miguel del Aguila has] fresh compositional ideas, and has the imagination and inventiveness with his instruments to put them across vividly… Flautists should definitely hear this… This is an album that will refresh classical listeners, and make them feel the future is bright for traditional harmony and rhythm… April Clayton plays with virtuosity and a lot of expression, and del Aguila’s inspirations come to life through his compositions with a lot of exciting moments and constant changes, but they’re never too far from a Latin rhythm to hold onto.”
-Adult Music Podcast
