Statements

Prof. Gerd Zacher, organist and composer (Essen / Ruhr):

"I first worked for CYBELE when we recorded the complete organ works of Juan Allende-Blin. I already knew the label through its recordings of high technical and artistic merits. During the recording sessions with Ingo Schmidt-Lucas, a highly favorable, encouraging and suitably concentrated atmosphere emerged, which was optimal for these difficult and - from an instrumental and technical perspective - highly risky works. The recordings have a very intense communicative quality, which is sometimes even on the fringes of perception, as when the works contain breath-like, fading and noise-filled sounds. I am delighted that these pieces, some of which I have been playing for 30 or 40 years, have finally been documented in such an accurate and high-quality manner."

Michael Denhoff, composer (Bonn):

"CYBELE: for quite a few years this name has stood for brave and innovative recording work. Before long, the extraordinarily carefully-prepared CDs (and SACDs) of this label will be known worldwide - and deservedly so - to experts and amateurs alike. Among the 80 or so CDs already released, one can make discoveries encompassing all epochs of music. In Cybele's catalogue one finds many works that have been made available to the public for the first time, all in ideal recordings. Moreover, I am happy that a small, but not inconsequential, portion of my own works has been presented for the first time by CYBELE. Because I was present at the making of all of these recordings - often as a performer myself - I was able to experience for myself the label's level of enthusiasm for music and simultaneously, its technical ability, always seeking the best outcome for the recording.
With CYBELE, it is about music, not merely about profit. The label's success and also the overwhelmingly positive response it has received from the international press have focused in on the quality of its productions, a quality not impacted by sales figures."

Thomas Günther, pianist (Essen / Ruhr):

"Do you know the slight sense of dread and astonishment that arises when one hears one's own voice on tape? A similar feeling often comes over practicing musicians - and not only themselves! - when they hear one of their own interpretations. On the other hand, when I first heard the recording of piano works by Juan Allende-Blin that I had made for CYBELE, I felt a rather comfortable sense of astonishment. The recording not only succeeded in being technically excellent, or in not merely reproducing the works objectively, but also in proceeding from a peculiar source of strength, which was opened not only to me: a certain something special, which I think is a trademark of CYBELE. Sure, the new SACD surround sound system brings about a totally new dimension of sound in terms of transparence and spatiality, the instrument was top-notch, the repertoire was well-chosen, etc. - but there was still something more. The artistic approach of sound engineer Ingo Schmidt-Lucas and his ability to relate to complex and not at all usual musical structures and his attentiveness and imagination all led to an exciting and concentrated - and thus inspired - atmosphere in the studio. I find that extraordinary and impressive. It was second nature to him to make the performances more vivid and simultaneously make them more concrete. This, coupled with his technical ability, led to a result which was itself fascinating to unsolicited new music veterans in the studio. I look forward to more collaborations."

Sidney Corbett, composer (Berlin):

"Most impressive to me was the seriousness of the CYBELE RECORDS team, which requested scores and thoroughly discussed them among themselves and with me, as well as issues of interpretation and options for a given passage. With CYBELE, everything seems to me to be of the highest level of quality: works, interpretation, recording, and layout. For me as a composer, this is the best premise for a good, long-term artistic and business partnership, above all because CYBELE is so future-oriented, both in terms of repertoire and recording techniques."

Ulrike Stortz, violinist, Ensemble >gelberklang< (Stuttgart):

"Our collaboration with CYBELE's sound engineer Ingo Schmidt-Lucas was marked by perfection, humor and flexibility. The foremost goal was always to achieve a really prominent result. For that, the continually stress-free and collegial atmosphere during the recording sessions helped, which when necessary, stretched well into the night. Relistening to the final product and preparing the texts would nonetheless be stressful, should the product be put on the market as soon as possible, as with CYBELE... I was proud - and rightfully so - every time I saw the finished SACD, and through the sharp ears of the sound engineer, whose critiques were always friendly but to-the-point, I, along with my ensemble partners, learned much. We anticipate further collaborations."

Peter-Jan Wagemans, composer (Dordrecht, The Netherlands):

"The collaboration with Ingo Schmidt-Lucas was top-notch, both in terms of the church where we made our recording and in the content and design of the finished product. I have honestly found my CD everywhere: Berlin, Paris and London."

Juan Allende-Blin, composer (Essen / Ruhr):

"I have made music since my early childhood. After I graduated from high school, I also studied mathematics and architecture for a semester. These studies led me to the realization that a strong relationship exists between sound and space. In topological terms, I learned how volumes could be altered in both space and time. My music was deeply impacted by such ideas. When Ingo Schmidt-Lucas first recorded my piano works and later my organ works, I noted how sensitively and accurately he had understood my intentions and how he was able to realize them, thanks to the new Super Audio CD format. Because these recordings feature such a lively sound space, which I had always wanted, I hope that we will work together again."

Prof. Birgitta Wollenweber, pianist (Berlin):

"From among the working methods of Ingo Schmidt-Lucas, I especially cherish his highly precise recording work and the very comfortable recording atmosphere. One notable exception, especially today, is his quick work in producing and releasing the finished CD, so that an artist's work is rapidly made available to the public and thus still reflects a current impression of his or her activities. The sound quality and product design are innovative, modern and very appealing."

Prof. Günther Becker, composer (Bad Lippspringe):

"CYBELE, that has to do with cybernetics, right? No, it is the name of a Greek goddess (even though she originated in Asia Minor) and during the course of my career, Greece has become a second home to me. A label with this name speaks directly to me! CYBELE first spoke to me, personified by Ingo Schmidt-Lucas, in 1995. Now many years of happy and productive collaboration have already passed. Very engaged and quite professional in both artistic and - in recent years, especially - technical areas, the cybernetics of its organization are naturally perfectly balanced. So many talents have been brought together and support the evolution of this label. Do I hear Cymbala calling? Oh dear... My best wishes accompany CYBELE, the label with the Latinized name of the Greek culture goddess."

Willem Tanke, organist (Dordrecht, Niederlande):

"What in particular appeals to me is that CYBELE always gives priority to its high quality standard."

Prof. Wolfgang Hufschmidt, composer (Essen / Ruhr):

"CYBELE, that is a windfall for any composer and stands for a REPERTOIRE with an unmistakable profile (far from typical, marketable fare), for a high sound quality using the latest technology, with a LAYOUT, whose individuality, with its textual and graphic design, can be seen everywhere."

Christoph Maria Wagner, composer and pianist (Cologne):

"In my meetings with members of the CYBELE team, I was convinced by their enthusiasm and their extraordinary care in both artistic and recording respects. CYBELE focuses not on fashions or ephemeral trends; purely commercial tactics play no part here. All decisions concerning the production were made in accordance with artistic and objective criteria. Thus, CYBELE profits from the competence of its staff, all of whom are themselves active as musicians, engineers, composers, etc. The new Super Audio CD format is the ideal medium for the presentation of contemporary music - required especially because today's musical activity often operates on the edge of dynamic, sonic and spatial possibilities. At a demonstration of this new format, I was completely stunned by the clear difference between it and a conventional CD, which in comparison, even by modern standards, sounds dull and pale. These differences show themselves not only in works for large ensembles, but also, incredibly and noticeably, in solo works (e.g. piano music)."

Bernd Wiesemann, composer, action artist, toy pianist (Düsseldorf):

"Dear Ingo, it is time to give you thanks for your work on 'our' SACD. The result is splendid, the response to the copies that have been purchased from me has been great and we have, after our first CD - which was excellent 10 years ago! - really reached a new level. I do not wish to go without mentioning how much your patience, confidence and competence fundamentally contributed to the recording sessions. In so doing, you gave this microcosm of contemporary music a superb appearance. And, the final result speaks for itself: the consistency of all CYBELE recordings is a testament to his ability. I already look forward to the next project - we shall see......"

Prof. Rolf Riehm, composer (Frankfurt / Main):

"Dear Mr Schmidt-Lucas, when I once counted up the amount of my music available on CYBELE, including the planned orchestral CD, I came to a total of 176:35, nearly three hours. Or, when one factors in pauses, maybe even three concerts - and at that, concerts with the most variety possible: a radio piece, a guitar recital, an orchestral concert with soloists, and somewhere in-between, a piece for three electronically modified recorders. From this quantity of my music is there considerably more on your label than on any other, almost like a small compendium of 'collected works': ten pieces, which one could not call anything but a good collaboration!"

Scott Roller, cellist and composer, Ensemble >gelberklang< (Essen / Ruhr):

"Each of the four CYBELE CDs on which I have played to this point were praised for their outstanding sound quality - praise for Ingo Schmidt-Lucas, the founder of CYBELE, who I also cherish as a sound engineer. Ingo's unique abilities of perception, not only concerning sound quality, but also the content and relationships of the music, always brought joy to the recording sessions and the final results carry his authoritative stamp."

Prof. Steffen Schreyer, Chorleiter (Aachen):

"Each of the four CYBELE CDs on which I have played to this point were praised for their outstanding sound quality - praise for Ingo Schmidt-Lucas, the founder of CYBELE, who I also cherish as a sound engineer. Ingo's unique abilities of perception, not only concerning sound quality, but also the content and relationships of the music, always brought joy to the recording sessions and the final results carry his authoritative stamp."