"She is of the elite class of musicians where technical assuredness is just taken for granted"
by Classical guitar Magazine, UK

… a strong performance by Ukraine-born, US-based guitarist Marina Alexandra, who holds her own next to others who have recorded this music, including Koshkin himself.
She even outdoes chief Koshkin interpreter Vladimir Mikulka for making the most facile of notes in Koshkin’s language entertaining. For example, where Mikulka goes for a pop-blues swing rhythm in The Three Stations on One Road, Alexandra makes the same section sound downright Brazilian-and she shows a better grasp of the work’s lyrical passages. Mostly she has Koshkin’s own performances to compete with.
So my recommendation is this: get Alexandra’s CD for your Koshkin fix!
-American Record Guide
November/December 2007

“Marina Alexandra is an amazing player that commands the guitar with world-class technique and musicianship that is uncommon. It is a joy to experience her gift of music.”
-Bill Piburn,
FingerStyle Guitar magazine 2008

The music of Nikita Koshkin has become a well-known commodity in the contemporary guitar world. This very different pair of discs serves to illustrate the breadth and depth of his artistry.
For most of its length, Alexandra’s excellent disc favors the lyrical side of Koshkin’s work. Several of the works are gorgeously melodic, sometimes, such as the “Allegretto” from The Ballades, sounding almost Celtic. In The Three Stations on One Road the composer’s interpretation of the blues takes hold, while Parade is overtly Gershwinesque. Tristan Playing the Lute is a truly fascinating work having a neo-Renaissance feel utilizing challenging textures and virtuosic writing. One of Koshkin’s finest works, Passacaglia and Toccata “The Fall of Birds”, brings the disc to a powerful conclusion. Marina Alexandra invests each of the works with vitality, character, and virtuosity as needed, no small accomplishment given the eclecticism of the works recorded. The recorded sound is warm, yet detailed.
Al Kunze,
Soundboard Guitar Magazine, 2008


"This is the way Koshkin should be!" - Deniz Azabagic, Internationally recognized guitarist

"...Congratulations on doing such a fine job. Expressive and colorful playing, a very enjoyable recording."
- Frank Koonce, Arizona State University

"...I listened to your CD and enjoyed your playing very much, you have a lot of fine qualities."
- Marc Regnier, College of Charleston, SC

"This CD represents an important body of work and your playing of Koshkin's music is authentic and filled with spirit and energy. Congratulations!" - Dr. Stephen Robinson, Stetson University

"...Her performance of Koshkin's "The Fall of Birds", was crafty and intense, the best interpretation of the piece I've heard."
- Randall Avers, Internationally acclaimed guitarist

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