Dvorak: Symphonic Variations, Op. 78

“The unashamed brassiness of the orchestra's sound marks it out as the work of an American ensemble, but alongside that there is plenty of subtlety to the wind-playing, not least the marvellous cor anglais in the famous slow movement, as well as the cameos given to flute and clarinet elsewhere in the work. The strings, on the other hand, bring a sheen more in keeping with the music's European roots. The recorded sound is particularly warm and welcoming, and both that and the superlative performances mean that the two promised successors to this disc - more Dvorák recorded under the same circumstances - cannot arrive soon enough.” Matthew Rye, Daily Telegraph, 28th June 2006 Disc of the Week

“It’s hard to understand why a work as enjoyable as the Symphonic Variations, by a composer as popular as Dvorak, should be so neglected. Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony remind us of its charms and richly inventive colours in this vivid, incisive account. They also do the symphony proud, proving that a warhorse such as the New World is hackneyed only in the minds of jaded performers and listeners.” Sunday Times, 22nd June 2008 ****

“It is rare to be able to say that a performance forces one to listen to a work anew, but this is exactly what Alsop's reading achieves. Excellently recorded and with an elegant and witty performance of the Symphonic Variations as makeweight, this is a superb issue all round.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2008 *****

“…a terrific reading of a firm favourite. Yet overall, Alsop's is not a histrionic reading but one full of affectionate touches… What makes this disc doubly recommendable is the superb account of the Symphonic Variations… The recording is outstanding in every way, well balanced and vivid in detail.” Gramophone Magazine, August 2008

‘An outstanding cellist and a really wonderful musician’ Gramophone

“Pieter Wispelwey… he does bring exceptional qualities to bear in a reading that has a profound sense of drama. …coupled with a splendid performance of the Symphonic Variations, this issue is a winner from many points of view.” BBC Music Magazine, November 2007 ****

The orchestra is the Slovak Philharmonic, who really have this music in their blood, conducted in lively and idiomatic fashion by Stephen Gunzenhauser who has a most engaging way with Dvorák's music. - The Guardian - 2 August 90