"Here, as throughout the evening, pianist Brian Zeger played with agility and sensitivity.I especially admired the clarity and the flickering, moody light he was able to set in the Four Songs, Op. 2 by Schoenberg. All around, Zeger was a worthy collaborator to one of the greatest talents on the vocal scene today"
--Beacon Journal
"Brian Zeger, the evening's luminous pianist, did a beautiful job bringing out a wide range of music in a meaningful way"
-- New York Times
" (Deborah) Voigt’s frequent collaborator, Brian Zeger, who manned the keyboard in Levine’s stead, shows exceptional sensitivity to this singer’s needs, and he navigated the varying stylistic demands with aplomb. Perhaps most impressive were his accounts of Moore’s songs, in which he located an ingratiating melodic gift; and of Tchaikovsky’s “Was I not a little blade of grass?” in which he joined with the soprano for a delicate yet deeply poignant reading. "
-- Opera News
"Hats off to pianist Brian Zeger, whose accompaniments were "one" with the voice. Let's not forget that Mr. Zeger replaced a whole orchestra by himself"
--Le Soleil (Quebec)
"A great deal of the listener's pleasure was in the art of pianist Brian Zeger, who masterfully supported the singer. From the keyboard he allowed her freedom while showing himself to be a perfect connoisseur of the lied, the melodie and the song."
-- La Vanguardia (Barcelona)
"Pianist Brian Zeger was a scrupulously tasteful companion throughout; his sensitivity to the varying musical textures and the nuances of rhythm a perfect match for Pieczonka's singing."
-- Calgary Herald
"Pianist Brian Zeger was equally exceptional in his versatility, particularly when the jazz flavors started taking over toward evening's end."
-- St. Paul Pioneer Press
"Her pianist is the delicately resourceful Brian Zeger, and the two of them approach this quirky, delightful play list with clear-eyed, casual elegance."
-- New York Observer
"(Susan) Graham’s program at the Martin Theater was as enlightening as it was captivating. With pianist Brian Zeger an equal partner, the evening offer(ed) an historical survey that demonstrated the variety and richness of the French chanson...With the evening divided into 19th- and 20th century songs—two skillfully chosen groups each—Graham demonstrated the qualities that make her such a leading exponent of this repertoire... Pianist Zeger provided keyboard artistry on a comparable level throughout the evening."
-- Chicago Classical Review
"Significantly, this disc is no mere star turn for a diva: Pianist Zeger matches the singer with keyboard work that is at once sensitive and virtuosic."
-- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"Throughout the recording, pianist Brian Zeger is a fluent, alert collaborator, acutely sensitive as to when to keep in the background and when to assert himself."
-- Akron Beacon Journal
“(Rene) Pape made full use of all of (his) talents in a very ambitious program. Throughout, but especially in the second half, where he was virtually an equal partner, Brian Zeger played with great sensitivity and technical skill....Dichterliebe is noteworthy for its extended -- and here, beautifully played -- postludes that crystallize the mood of the songs. Two lovely examples came at the end of "Im Rhein im heiligen Strome," and "Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen." The piano could also be a companion in despair, as in "Ich hab’im Traum geweinet," where Zeger left us hanging on the last almost painfully tentative notes. Or the postlude could express a depth of emotion that the voice did not express, as in Und wüssten’s die Blumen. The long postlude of the last song, Die alten, bösen Lieder seemed to achieve the peace that eluded the poet in life.”
-- ConcertoNet.com
"Brian Zeger, whose piano playing includes the uncanny ability to avoid any hint of percussive attack, partnered quiet but intense singing with quiet but intense accompaniment."
-- Washington Post
"Throughout, Zeger provided moment after moment of golden-mean accompanying: light but substantial, soft but sharp, lush but clear-cut."
--TheFasterTimes.com (Boston)
"Brian Zeger has proved himself one of the best in the business: nimble, senstive, adept, technically assured, bright, engaging."
--National Review
Overall, the compilation and performance capture deeply considered poetic reflection. Almond and Zeger perform with unerring taste, spontaneous freshness and highly evolved, expressive sensitivity...The curatorial choice of literature makes a case for substantial, sophisticated new music firmly rooted in romantic traditions. In this it succeeds handsomely.
