“But it was for the Double Concerto that the evening will surely be cherished. Vengerov was joined by the young cellist Sandra Lied Haga….. As it was, Haga asserted her character right from the off in the opening cello solo, reaching up from the very depths of the instrument. Haga’s sound is mellow, yet she projects perfectly – she is also supremely musical and a perfect musical partner for Vengerov.”
“I look forward to hearing more – much more, surely – from Haga.“
Royal Albert Hall, Brahms Double Concerto, April 25th 2023
Colin Clarke, Classical Explorer, and Seen and Heard International, 27th April 2023
Full Reviews:
https://www.classicalexplorer.com/maxim-vengerov-live-at-the-albert-hall/
https://seenandheard-international.com/2023/04/a-seemingly-perfect-brahms-gala-featured-the-inimitable-violin-virtuoso-maxim-vengerov-and-guests/
“Sandra’s tone is exquisite, rich, and extremely beautiful. Her playing is intelligent and deep-felt. This young lady surely is the future of cello playing.”
Maxim Vengerov, 2023
https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2023/maxim-vengerov/
“Sandra Lied Haga – who has established a reputation as one of the world’s leading cellists in a remarkably short time – produces an absolutely convincing reading of the piece…..”
“…I find my ear drawn in by the inventiveness of our two musicians – the opening, for example, seems to be whispered into the listener’s ear, so that when the dynamic opens out, it has the force of revelation. The rest of the Sonata unfolds in a manner as inventive as it is passionate – the end of the first movement will bowl you over in its intensity.”
“…..this has to be one of the market-leaders.”
Martin Anderson, KlassiskMusikk.com, June 2023
Full Review: https://www.klassiskmusikk.com/cd-anmeldelser/sandra-lied-haga
“Lied Haga astonishes with her fresh interpretation which, combined with a natural instinct for the music and great virtuosity, results in a convincing, fascinatingly beautiful and touching performance.”
“With no sense of cliché or affectation, though with heartfelt integrity to the music, extroverted outbursts flow seamlessly to moments of exquisite, sensitive lyricism. The listener is left to marvel at the pure, beautiful tone of the young Norwegian.”
“With this she leaves many recordings by renowned artists and record labels in the shadow (…) And what you hear is simply overwhelming.”
“(…) an impressive debut album (…)”
“(…) A wonderful discovery.”
– ‘Glarean’- Christian Busch, 1st May 2020
See full review
“….Haga really knocks out Truls Mørk’s recording from the early 1990’s”
Ukens anbefaling Spellemann Spesial, Ola Nordal Febr. 2021
“The cellist deserves the highest praise.”
“Especially characteristic is her full and unusually rich cello sound. Flawless intonation, a clear and secure phrasing as well as a ravishing cantabile distinguish her playing, which is capable of the most enchanting pianissimos and an equally great virtuosity.”
“….her playing achieves a phenomenal eloquence.”
“(…) beautiful and intense sound (…) She plays with a sure feeling for the music, fascinating refinement, stylish, charming and in the slow parts movingly soulful.”– ‘Pizzicato’, Remy Franck, 8th May 2020
“★★★★★★”
6 of 6 stars
“… This was my first encounter with Sandra Lied Haga’s playing, and I was blown away by the quality of her musicianship”
“… the slow movement of the Dvořák in particular is nothing less than exquisite.”
“… Sandra Lied Haga is plainly another young Norwegian destined for a career among the major performers of her day. In the meantime I recommend this recording with every enthusiasm, and with gratitude for an hour of the kind of inspired music-making that refreshes the jaded soul.”– ‘KlassiskMusikk.com’, Martin Anderson, 17th September 2020
See full review
“Impressively mature (…) Haga produces a wonderfully rich tone. I love the way she lingers over the solo part as well – obviously already a cellist who knows her musical mind.”– BBC Radio 3 Record Review, Andrew McGregor 30th May 2020
See full review (1:37:20 – 1:47:30)
“…superb playing. Lied Haga has a mellow, appealing tone and a scrupulous sense of line , and is more than equal to Strohl’s demands for expressive and dynamic subtlety across the cello’s entire range.”
“Lied Haga and Apekisheva do excellent things with the Franck…”
“…they give the music space to expand and breathe. Lied Haga’s unforced lyricism is particularly attractive in both the opening Allegretto and the slow movement, and she balances sweep and excitement with elegance elsewhere”
“It’s a beautiful performance…”
Gramophone July 2023
“…Lied Haga’s playing style is assured and relaxed, capable of portraying both the intensity of emotion between the anguished lovers and the elegant fripperies of the scherzo…An eloquent performance of Franck’s Sonata…Lied Haga and Apekisheva demonstrate a sensitive rapport…”
“…deeply moving”
The Strad, August 2023, Janet Banks
Full Review:https://www.thestrad.com/reviews/sandra-lied-haga-franck-strohl/16680.article
“Sandra Lied Haga’s wonderfully rich tone suits the long, lyrical lines of Dvorak´s Concerto to a tee”
– Jeremy Pound, BBC Music Magazine, August 2020
«…..the rising cello star Sandra Lied Haga….»
«The greatness of Lied Haga’s playing is her sound. It is extremely beautiful, bright and free, sometimes like a violin tone. The lump in the throat that cellos often have, the one that prevents the tone from breathing properly and singing freely, is absent. She uses a generous vibrato on all notes where there is time for it. This makes the cello sound great»
“You immediately hear how beautiful Lied Haga plays…..If you for example listen to Maisky’s recording from 1983, you know what I mean. His cello sound is much less beautiful than Lied Haga’s. Truly…..”
Vårt Land, Tore Hegdahl 04/07/2023
Full Review: https://www.vl.no/kultur/anmeldelse/2023/07/04
“★★★★★”
5 of 5 stars“There is a new contender in the world of the cello: a 25-year-old Norwegian called Sandra Lied Haga. She started on the cello at three – dwarfed by her instrument – but swiftly rose to prominence, winning competition after competition, and charming everyone with her sound. She made her Wigmore Hall-debut aged twelve; The two works on this new CD at Simax Classics allow her ample scope to deploy her warm and passionate sound”
– The Independent, 18th June 2020
See full review6 of 6 stars!
“The playing is beautiful, intense and full of colour. One is both impressed and happy to hear such virtuosity!”
– Trond Erikson, Den Klassiske Musikkbloggen, May 14th 2023
See full review“Sandra Lied Haga und ihre Partnerin Katya Apekisheva am Klavier interpretieren das stattliche Werk mit viel Verve, aber auch angemessener Sensibilitàt, wobei die Cellistin mit ihrem warmen, noblen Ton fur sich einnimmt.”
“Eine echte Entdeckung”
– Pedro Obiera, Aachener Zeitung May 2023
Full Review: Aachener Zeitung
“….When this cellist just relaxes into her virtuosity and phrases naturally, as in the Tchaikovsky, she’s unbeatable. I look forward to hearing more from her.”
– November 2020, Stephen Francis, MusicWeb-International
“Lied Haga er ett av våre virkelig store navn på en kommende stjernehimmel”
“Stor klang fra ung musiker.”
“Den 26 år gamle Sandra Lied Haga har allerede utviklet en utrolig fintfølende klang i sitt instrument som enkelt sagt er vidunderlig.”
“Lied Haga is one of our truly great names in a future starry sky.”
– Trond Erikson, 19th June 2020
“Sandra Lied Haga emerges as one of the strongest musical voices in recent years.”
– Simax Classics
“Every tone in the music is meant from Dvorak’s blood, liver and heart, which is exactly how it sounds in Lied Haga’s performance”
– Magnus Andersson – Klassekampen
“She has had a sensational technical control from an early age, a rich, singing cello tone, and has over the years developed her own personal voice.”
– Leif Ove Andsnes and Jury of Equinor Classical Music Award
“Divine cello playing, heavenly sound, a masterly performance.”
– Grieg Festival
– klassikaraadio.err.ee, 25th December 2022
A mirage. Sandra Lied Haga – “Norwegian cellist Sandra Lied Haga plays cello suites by Johann Sebastian Bach. The young artist is known for her rich tone, which opens each work with passionate depth.”
https://klassikaraadio.err.ee/1608801868/miraaz-sandra-lied-haga-bachi-tsellosuidid
“…..playing by heart, but also with heart”
“…..a performance of beauty and passionate involvement“
“……masterly performance”
Christopher Axworthy, London, September 2025
https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2025/09/22/grynyuk-haga-duo-rachmaninov-reigns-supreme-in-marble-arch/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4ao6uLKm2kK9RrtMXAL_XfyyEL3Fz2_O9geeSrKbL3E3scjWbsBybxSWiWRQ_aem_scgSoV23ILoUXQtcrkOn6A
Sandra Lied Haga 