22-05-2022 BBC Music Magazine
"There’s more than a touch of hysteria about these live recordings of works by Willem Jeths, a composer who describes his music as being ‘about extremes.'"
01-03-2022 Fanfare Magazine
"After an eloquent Adagio and a fairly stodgy Scherzo, he reaches his highest level of alertness in the finale....I felt a welling up of affection for Bernard Haitink as I listened to this release.
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17-02-2022 De Volkskrant
"Led by James Gaffigan, Mors aeterna is a perfectly balanced lake of calm with echoing depths.
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01-02-2022 Classiquenews.com
"...the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra bring to Bruckner the eloquence of mystical clarity, moreover with a sonorous flavor, a work of instrumental texture, ideally balanced."
20-01-2022 Classic Voice
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And the breadth of breath necessary especially in the first half is perfectly captured. In the Scherzo the contrast between the first and third parts and the wonderful central Trio has splendid poetic evidence.
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01-12-2021 Luister
"The performances are more subtle than dramatic and the fire is created in part by the very direct recording
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01-12-2021 Scherzo
"By the way, taken as a whole, this account is excellent and will delight any Brucknerian. The recording is outstanding, so accomplishing a disc that looks like a perfect homage to this great conductor that just left us.
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30-10-2021 De Gelderlander
"Melody, atonality, opera-like drama and meditative stillness: it is all perfectly balanced. And choir, soloists and orchestra believe in this provocative hymn to the dying life, which evocatively tries to unlock the world after death.
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30-10-2021 De Gelderlander
"choir, soloists and orchestra believe in this provocative hymn to the dying life, which evocatively tries to unlock the world after death.
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20-10-2021 De Gelderlander
"Bernard Haitink signs for intimate moments that glisten with loving details, while at the same time building powerful cathedrals of sound and expression. A great achievement, especially for the orchestra that really surpasses itself.
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13-10-2021 Musicweb International
"there is nothing about this to dislike; it is steady, calm Bruckner which builds inexorably to climaxes and trips along winningly in the bucolic passages."
08-10-2021 Pizzicato
"Suppleness and lyricism characterize this very fine version of the symphony. Haitink brings out the melodies and the colors."
01-10-2021 Presto
"Classical Source described the performance as 'an enriching, inexorable voyage, no other view seeming conceivable or needed'."
30-09-2021 Het Parool
"It is clear that the recording with the RFO can certainly stand next to the other recordings Haitink made of the piece, or even surpass them, assuming, certainly, that this is a genuine live event and nothing has been edited.
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24-09-2021 Opus Klassiek
"We hear a beautiful, perfectly sized Seventh by a fantastic orchestra, led by a wonderful Bruckner conductor."
01-09-2021 American Record Guide
"This performance recorded in concert at the Concertgebouw in 2017 was an exciting one with all of the elements coming together nicely under Maestro Gaffigan's baton. The performance, like the piece itself, is the real deal."
01-07-2021 Classica
"Marisol Montalvo darts her coloraturas with aplomb in the face of the abysmal melismas of Mark Stone. Diving in this ocean of music is secured by lifeguard Markus Stenz.
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01-07-2021 Musik & Theater
"... a musical event that is rarely experienced on CD. [...] This recording is a milestone in the history of sound carriers!
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31-05-2021 Scherzo
"The interpretation of the American soprano Marisol Montalvo is splendid and so is that of the British baritone Mark Stone. [...] Atlantis is not only an argument for the use of contemporary vocal skills as an element of all musical history, but also a warning to better manage our planet."
02-11-2018 Fanfare
"With Challenge Classics’ spectacular recorded sound, this rounds out what may well be the most completely satisfying Prokofiev symphony cycle on the market today."
29-06-2018 Classical.net
"The sound reproduction by Challenge Classics is excellent and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra plays at or nearly at world class level for the conductor."
21-03-2018 Stretto
"Warm appealing alternates with violent brutality. Quite, quite an achievement. Highly recommended."
07-03-2018 HRAudio
"The sound quality is beyond reproach, bringing out detail and pure definition. Taking sound, sense and soul together, and without denying virtues and accolades to others, this set is, now completed, for me the one to have."
24-11-2017 Fanfare Magazine
"For decades, reviewers have been suggesting that this or that violinist (beginning with Perlman) had somehow surpassed Oistrakh's accomplishment; many listeners will now, I believe, judge that Lamsma finally has. Overwhelming."
04-08-2017 Klassieke Zaken
"The Radio Philharmonic Orchestra is in excellent shape under the guidance of regular guest conductor James Gaffigan"
01-07-2017 Luister Magazine
"Even if you already own the First and Fifth Symphony, this album (third in the serie) is worth buying. This is definetly on the same level as its competitors."
15-06-2017 Pizzicato
"James Gaffigan’s Classical is humorous and absolutely charming. And in the totally different context of the Fifth Symphony, he detects similar moods. The Netherlands Radio Orchestra is brilliant, and the Challenge Classics sound recording very transparent.
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28-04-2017 HRAudio
"The sound. Over the past decade I have been reviewing discs with varying sound quality. It is rare to get such a consistently high sound quality as with those released by Challenge Classics."
14-04-2017 De Volkskrant
"The coloration to a pale and small tone in the heart of the first movement is oppressive. The Scherzo is demonic, the following Passacaglia is especially powerful, and the cadenza that forms the bridge to the Finale, is almost a composition in itself."
14-04-2017 Luister
"I hope the music on this disc will speak to people and will move them in some way. All I can do is bring out what is inside of me, and with that choose the music that I feel is worthy of being heard. I want to share that passion."
10-03-2017 Opus Klassiek
"....I wholeheartedly agree with Jaap van Zweden, whom I’ve heard mention Simone Lamsma as the greatest violinist of our time ....
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22-03-2016 Het Parool
""Prokofiev shows that even with simple resources you can reach great sophistication.""
04-01-2016 Pizzicato
""The tension created which the orchestra directed by Markus Stenz and the soloist produce, is electrifying." "
04-01-2016 De Telegraaf
"[...] Notes of wonder that, without diversions, are speaking to the heart. The Radio Philharmonic, the mezzo Karin Strobos and Erik Bosgraaf, who plays the recorder, all give the best. So, a lot. [...]"