Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

“The Musorgsky pieces are superbly performed. Bare Mountain is heard in its original form (instead of the more usual reworking by Rimsky-Korsakov), of which there have been several recordings including two by Claudio Abbado; Karabits and the Bournemouth Symphony totally surpass all of these, Bare Mountain’s hair-raising opening sounding genuinely menacing rather than brash, and every cackle of the witches as impersonated by strings and woodwind brought to vivid life. Pictures, too, is a triumph, with Ravel’s orchestration telling in every vignette, perhaps most powerfully in the chilly ‘Catacombae’."  (BBC Music Magazine, February 2012)

“The technical fluency of the BSO’s woodwind and brass sections, coupled with quick-silver dynamic fluctuations (closely controlled by Kirill Karabits) makes for a feast of musical detail. This is deeply impressive orchestral playing: exuberant, fullhearted and characterful....The moment when the blazing glory of “The Great Gate of Kiev” emerges from “Baba-Yaga” is perfectly managed, and when the leash is let off the BSO in those glorious final pages, the effect is breathtaking...This is not the angst-ridden Tchaikovsky of the later symphonies; the music requires a lightness of touch and instrumental agility that is perfectly tailored to the Bournemouth orchestra’s virtuosity. This is a supreme performance, expertly recorded. The BSO is on a fascinating artistic journey with their young music director. And I for one can’t wait to see what they do next.” (Classic FM Magazine, December 2011)

“Not a hair of a note was out of place. This was a performance by a world-class orchestra.” (The Times, February 2009)