***** Very Good 

"Something completely unexpected from the Onyx label comes to us in January 2010 and kicks off the new year with a bang. It is a collection of three brilliant orchestral fireworks which are presented together on this CD because they all share links to famous women from Arabian or Persian lore and legends. All three pieces use melodies from ancient oriental songs and old Arabic harmonic sources to create a musical sound world very much like the famous Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov. This is the debut recording of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra and their Austrian conductor Sascha Goetzel. A very impressive beginning by any standards. This year, Istanbul is the European Capital of Culture 2010, and this amazing recording is a great way to introduce this great orchestra to the rest of the world. I have a feeling we will hear much more from this group in the years to come. For now, just bathe in the luxurious and sumptuous oceans of sound that they produce within these wonderful 20th century orchestral masterpieces."

 

"This is the first recording to be released internationally by this relatively little new orchestra (founded 1999) and I recommend it without reservation. Here is an absolutely outstanding disc from every point of view, one of the most impressive recording ‘firsts’ for an orchestra that I can recall for many years.The repertoire has been cleverly and subtly chosen – we do not need to be experts in geography to realise that the leading symphony orchestra in Turkey, in making its recording debut, has chosen three fine works which are associated with that part of the world. Not that there is anything ‘nationalistic’ in this music – from any of the German, Italian and French composers represented, but it’s a subtle programme planner who connects the ‘Euro-oriental’ nature of these three works, which together make very suitable bedfellows, for these scores are all likely to appeal to the same music lover. The sound quality is first-class in every respect. The orchestral playing is of a very high standard throughoutThis is a most auspicious debut."

"... It’s good to welcome a Turkish orchestra as strong and refined as the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic. drawing polished playing from the orchestra, Vienna-born conductor Sascha Goetzel could hardly be more persuasive in all three works, which are treated to a brilliant, well-balanced recording to match."