What the Critics say
Vancouver Presents Music in the Morning
October 12, 2019
“Russell Braun’s rich baritone voice and emotional range, accompanied with sensitive empathy by Carolyn Maule on the Vancouver Academy of Music Steinway, made Music in the Morning (MITM) so sweet that the audience often held its breath.” (Christine Pilgrim)
Elora Festival Summer Toronto Concert Review
2016
“Maule’s sensitive accompaniment brought to life the phrase ‘Every note has a living Soul’…the piano sang with lyrical grace.” (David Richards)
The Washington Post
November 8, 2012
“At the conclusion of Schubert’s well-known song cycle “Winterreise” (Winter Journey), Canadian baritone Russell Braun and piano accompanist, wife Carolyn Maule, for a moment stunned their audience into total silence, delaying applause. On Wednesday at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater, their artistry added another plus to the Vocal Arts D.C. series.
One might wonder why this cycle always draws capacity audiences. It is a morbid tale of hopelessly unrequited love leading to the grave — an endless journey through a dark, frozen winter landscape.
The answer is in Schubert’s uncanny genius in transforming the kinetic imagery of Lisel Mueller’s rather mediocre poem into transcendent music. Braun and Maule further intensified Schubert’s introspective settings into a statement of operatic magnitude.” (Cecelia Porter)
Kansas City Harriman-Jewell Series
April 12, 2010
“Tenor Michael Schade, Russell Braun and his wife, pianist Carolyn Maule presented a program full of poetry, prayer and pent up passion. Normally, an accompanist wouldn’t get lead billing, but Ms. Maule isn’t just a mere accompanist. When presenting German Lieder, the accompaniment often has just as important a role in fleshing out the story as the main characters. The singer may narrate the action or even be an actor in the drama, but the accompaniment is the set, the lights and the sound effects. The pianist becomes Nature herself and Maule played the role well.” (Megan Browne Helm)
The Ottawa Citizen
January 10, 2006
“Then there’s Carolyn Maule, Braun’s wife, who proved herself last night, as often in the past, to be one of the most sensitive lieder accompanists around.” (Richard Todd)
Wholenote
January, 2006
“Maule has an extraordinary grasp of the images in the piano part. The first introduction sets the mood (slightly faster than most performers) of a determined journey; a weathervane whirs crazily; a buzzard hovers in high register, or in the bass dogs growl from a distant village; staccatos are teardrops in the snow;sentimental chords become a Mannerchor in an imaginary tavern. Especially eloquent here are the keyboard postludes to "Der Lindenbaum" and the last song, “Der Leiermann” In Maule’s hands the music is so vividly realized, my only wish was that in a few places the piano responses to the voice were more prominent in the mix.” (John Beckwith)
Opera News
January, 2006
Schubert: Winterreise recording
“Braun’s unpretentiously moving singing is supported with articulate sensitivity and fine, clear tone, by pianist Maule,” (David Shengold)
CBCRadio Canada SOUND ADVICE
December 4, 2005
“Pianist Carolyn Maule comes into her own on this disc. She proves here that she’s a pianist to watch, with subtle and detailed work that enhances, supports, comments and concludes.”
St. Lawrence Center for the Arts, Globe and Mail
2005
“… a rare treat for lovers of song and singing: Franz Schubert’s masterpiece Winterreise (Winter Journey), performed passionately and vividly by the Canadian baritone Russell Braun and his wife, the Canadian pianist Carolyn Maule. … individual strongly imagined, often moving, and unfailingly gripping … heart-breaking … riveting …” (Ken Winters)
Opera Canada
November/December, 2005
Winterreise recording
“Where a delicate touch is required, such as in the famous "Der Lindenbaum", he is equally compelling, aided by perfectly timed accompaniment from his partner in life and music, pianist, Carolyn Maule. He and Maule bring a galloping gaiety to "Die Post" (with its resonant posthorn calls) …” (Rick MacMillan)
Ottawa Citizen
October 22, 2005
Winterreise recording
“There is much warmth in the performances, and the infrequent glimpses of happiness sound unusually authentic. But the despair is there too in this beautifully sung and played version of this greatest of song cycles” (Richard Todd)
San Diego
March 1, 2004
“… which were sensitively and ever so attentively accompanied by pianist Carolyn Maule …” (Valerie Scher)
Festival Vancouver Review
August 11, 2003
“Carolyn Maule at the piano was as accomplished and sensitive in drawing out the meaning and images of verse and music. With this music, partnership between voice and piano is all important. On Monday, musical understanding and sympathy were strikingly in evidence.” (Elizabeth Paterson)
Winnipeg Free Press
April 22, 2001
“Throughout the concert, pianist Maule proved herself to be a sympathetic and able partner for the baritone. They both breathed the phrases as if they had one musical mind” (Andrew Thompson)
The Salzburger Nachrichten
August 25, 2000
„Dann erst erfährt man, was die Komponisten in ihren intimsten Momenten zu erzählen hatten. Am Klavier lieferte Carolyn Maule, genau die Unterstützung, die zu einem Abend von diesem Format auch gehört.“ (Laszlo Molnar)
(Translation: “Only then will you find out what the composers had to tell in their most intimate moments. At the piano, Carolyn Maule provided exactly the support that belongs to an evening of this format.”)
The Ottawa Citizen
June 14, 1999
“Maule knows exactly how to complement Braun’s rich, commanding voice, when to defer to it, when to be more forward. Their interpretations seem complete in their unanimity. Admittedly, Maule was playing a smaller than ideal piano which occasionally kept the accompaniment from speaking with full authority … Enjoyable though the first half of the concert was, it was the second half, consisting entirely of Schumann’s Dichterliebe (A Poet’s Love) that made the strongest impression.
The 16 songs that make up this, one of the finest of all song cycles, are concise, intensely expressive and based on some of the finest love lyrics ever written. Everything seemed to fall into place for the performance. Braun’s always impressive voice was at its most persuasive and pleasing. Maule completely over came the reticence of her instrument. Her accompaniments had all the sweep and drama the composer required of it.” (Richard Todd)
The Globe and Mail
March, 1997
“Completed by their pianist, the gifted Carolyn Maule (who is married to Braun), this trio of musicians created a relaxed but profound communication” (Urjo Kareda)
Classical Music Magazine
March, 1997
“Carolyn Maule is throughout the sensitive, spirited accompanist” (Urjo Kareda)
Classical disCDigest
1997
“Carolyn Maule’s accompaniment is superb. The "parlour tradition’ is not to be scoffed at in the hands (and voices) of these three professionals.” (Jean LeBlanc)
Kitchener Waterloo Record
Summer, 1997
“Finally, a word about pianist Maule. In any style, she’s superb. Partnerships between pianists and singers that are this excellent are to be cherished …“ (Colleen Johnston)
The Globe and Mail
December 11, 1992
“The discerning Women’s Musical Club of Toronto presented at Walter Hall the important local solo recital debut of baritone Russell Braun, with his excellent accompanist Carolyn Maule.“ (Urjo Kareda)
The Toronto Star
December 11, 1992
“… as he rode the fluid and adept accompaniment supplied by pianist Carolyn Maule …” (Ronald Hambleton)
