BBC Music Magazine
BBC Music Choice
“[The recording] is a breathtaking achievement. There is passion, but precision, technically well-nigh faultless.
“The playing is lush without being self-indulgent, with a perfect balance between the orchestra and the magnificent organ, beautifully played by Notre Dame’s Olivier Latry.”
March 2008
Audiophile Audition
Multichannel Disc of the Month
“Another winner of a SACD from the new collaboration of The Philadelphia Orchestra and the enterprising Finnish classical label Ondine. … The balances of organ and orchestra are on the mark for all three works. … A highly recommended hi-res surround release.”
May 2007
Deseret Morning News
“The Philadelphia Orchestra under Eschenbach has lost none of its luster. The performances on this CD are marked by a radiance and vitality that justify the orchestra's decades-long reputation as one of the finest in the country.”
May 27, 2007
Stereophile magazine
“The inauguration of Verizon Hall's new organ has been preserved for all of us in one of the most outstanding SACDs yet. Somehow, producer Martha de Francisco and her team (assisted by Polyhymnia) have captured the detail, sweetness, and power of the orchestra, as well as the organ’s pipes and pedals, in a recording that is more than a sound spectacular.”
May 2007
BBC Radio 3
Disc of the Week
“[T]he playing is jaw-droppingly beautiful (those Philadelphia strings!), and the organ so well-integrated into the sound that … it really is part of the ensemble. Then there’s the recording itself, which is a stunner.”
28 April 2007
Philadelphia Citypaper
"This is a spectacular-sounding CD, with a huge dynamic range and gobs of ambience from Verizon Hall. The instrument itself, superbly played by the organist of Notre Dame, is remarkably versatile, immense, if never overwhelming, but also capable of great delicacy and extraordinary color. ... The Saint-Saëns "Organ" symphony has a rich tradition with this orchestra, as it was a favorite showpiece for Eugene Ormandy. Eschenbach's version is actually more interesting, showing a more daring sense of phrasing and a greater cumulative excitement."
March 14, 2007
Time Out Chicago
“The orchestra is in glorious form, with rich strings and a ringing brass section. ... The Barber and Saint-Saëns are played in a celebratory mood, with organist, orchestra, and conductor syncing up perfectly.”
March 1-7, 2007
BBC Music Magazine
“[T]hese performances capture the instrument’s power and range of colour guided by the masterly Olivier Latry. ... Eschenbach delivers a performance that is ... exciting and scintillating.”
March 2007
Gramophone
“Eschenbach’s intuitive reading [of Saint-Saëns’s “Organ” Symphony] casts the work in rich perspective. ... The organ shows its stature ... with palpable depth in the first movement and majestic presence in the finale; but the real star of the show here is The Philadelphia Orchestra itself. Mouth-watering wind solos, gorgeous string playing, and a wonderfully crisp and cohesive sound ... combine to create rather more memorable moments than we have a right to expect; the string entry just before the close of the first section is, as they say, to die for.”
March 2007
The Guardian
“Saint-Saëns's Third Symphony [is] conducted with such majestic fury by Christoph Eschenbach it takes your breath away. ... The sound is magnificent and thrillingly loud.”
February 16, 2007
ClassicsToday.com
“a genuine feast for the ears”
February 2007
The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Just on the basis of the Saint-Saëns symphony, this disc is among the best out there. It boasts a French suaveness showing the Philadelphia strings at their best, but also an edgy grandeur, especially in the way that the final movement is played like a matter of life and death. ... The sound quality is the best Ondine release yet, well-focused but spacious, allowing the microphone-friendly organ and orchestra to blend beautifully.”
February 2007
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