“… this new issue, the second volume in John Wilson’s complete traversal of Copland’s orchestral music, will naturally be first choice for many collectors, not least for being far and away the finest technical recording ever made of this work. John Scott is superb, and the BBC Philharmonic is on top form – which is saying a lot. Recordings of music for organ and orchestra are notoriously difficult to balance live and in recorded form, but here Chandos pull out all the stops to demonstrate yet again that no other label in the world is superior to the company’s ability to capture sound in quite the same natural manner. The other works are more than worth investigation …”  *****

***** - Exceptional Album

Artistic Judgement: Excellent/Exceptional 

Technical Assesment: Excellent/Exceptional  

Dynamics: 5     Timbre: 4    Soundstage: 5     Detail: 5

“...John Wilson displays a special flair for Copland’s music, and his obvious passion os transferred to and shared by the BBC Philharmonic’s musicians. This is a gorgeously played and recorded program of Copland’s pre- “populist” works ...”

"... a fascinating collection of early symphonic sorties, presented on Chandos by the BBC Philharmonic under John Wilson’s baton... " ****

**** (Excellent Disc)       **** (Exceptional Sound)

“...John Wilson, meticulous and conscientiously skilled at researching, reinstating and arranging scores, has clearly delved deeply into the structure of this music. He has delivered performances that have clarity, lucidity and an engaging vivacity that holds the ear. He is aided by a bright and very detailed recording from the Chandos engineers...”

“American modernism, unhinged minimalism and a vibrant disc of piano trios... This performance is technically superb ... the best work on this disc is the deceptively lightweight Short Symphony ... Transparently orchestrated, rhythmically fiendish and harmonically approachable, it gets a sharp, witty reading, Copland’s Stravinskian metre changes effortlessly handled. Chandos’s production values are predictably good ...”

Editor’s Choice – Orchestral Section

“... An outstanding release.”

Orchestral Choice

Performance *****          Recording *****

“...Outstanding performances ... Unmissable”

Anthony Burton – BBC Music magazine – November 2016

"... The engineering of the CD is absolutely top notch and is really the kind of standard that all classical CD’s ought to aspire to achieve, the clarity of each instrument and section is unbelievable. The conductor, the orchestra as individuals and as an ensemble and the organist all require serious congratulations on being able to complete the technical task of recording these works and all the while making it a CD which engages you right from the start and holds your attention without a moments grace.
If your only experience of Copland is of the famous ‘Rodeo’ and ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’ and you would like to dip your toe further into his more detailed works then this CD is a must buy!"

Performance *****          Sonics *****

Once again the Chandos recording is first rate with pin sharp detail and a spacious sound stage typical of the MediaCity studio... Strongly recommended."