"...the general impression was of a torrential tour de force - a breathtaking flood of corruscating invention."

"The sheer exuberence of this music...is the enviable energy of youth."

"...this is music - to my ears - very much in the mould of Elliott Carter, where notes proliferate naturally in relation to the intervallic profile pursued."

"...Painter's compositional armoury is so formidable that his future is bound to be fascinating."

                                Geraint Lewis, Welsh Music (review of "Tapestries")

"...the orchestra rousingly realised the composer's significant sound picture."

                       Alun WG Davies, Western Mail (review of "Gwyl Caerdydd)

"Mr. Painter has, to my mind, a strong similarity with Mozart - they both write too many notes!!!"

                                         Liverpool Daily Post (review of "Tapestries")
 

There is to begin with in Christopher Painter's Toward the Light, a tremendous thrilling evocation of the sea in its many unpredictable moods.

Reminiscent of Benjamin Britten in places, the Grimes sea interludes specifically, here also was a singularly demanding and affecting musical voice which infallibly reached us emotionally and intellectually in this particular fine premiere performance of a Welsh College commission.

Aptly titled, this was an exciting neo-symphonic journey by Painter which clearly depicted the inspirational natural forces on which he drew. It is hoped that this striking piece will have a long and professional life. 

                                                                Dewi Savage, Western Mail

Christopher Painter's music is new to me and his finely wrought Clarinet Sonata of 1999 is a nice novelty. It is laid-out in three concise movements never outstaying their welcome. The central Lento cantabile, yet another song without words, is particularly fine. 

                                              Hubert Culot, Classical Music on the Web

It (the Clarinet Sonata) is a three-movement work full of birdsong and seasonal variation, giving it an outdoor mood in which the listener may note an influence of Tippett. Moderato con anima is lively with clear trilling birdsong. Lento cantabile is depictive of the town submerged by Lake Vyrnwy. Allegro Giocoso is brilliant with complex rhythmic structure. The sonata provides the performers with the great scope for variety of tone and expression, coupled with a display of virtuosity by both musicians and the birdsong episodes are dazzling. I will be delighted to hear future output from this gifted composer.

                       Neil Cadogan, Welsh Music (review of Sonata for Clarinet)

A colourfully orchestrated and eloquent piece, influenced by such diverse sources as Italo Calvino, Marco Polo and Canaletto, this is dedicated to his former mentor Alun Hoddinott for his seventieth birthday. It shows moreover this composer's growing confidence and experience in handling large-scale ideas on a wide canvas of sound.

                      A.J. Heward Rees, Welsh Music (review of "Invisible Cities")