Rozhdestvensky conducts Balakirev's Symphonies Nos 1 & 2

‘Ivor Bolton and his players have clearly taken the composer’s aggravation seriously and the result is pure delight’

‘Under Mahan Esfahani’s fleet fingers, and even fleeter imagination, the toccatas positively fly’

‘A performance full of interest and vividly communicative artistry’

‘Humphreys mines the repetitive melodies for subtelties of colour, rather than drama’

‘Crowe and Bevan recreate two prime donne through their own blazing talents’

‘An iridescent sonic weave which lingers long in the ear’

‘Steier offers brilliant and convincing solutions to the perennial problems of Die Zauberflote’

‘Their work could stand confidently alongside the great Blue Note sessions by the likes of Art Blakey, Horace Silver and Jackie McLean'