"a compelling, dramatic affair" ****
Alvin Gold - Hi-Hi Choice - June 2007
"exceptionally well produced and presented.
David Gutman - The Gramophone - September 2005
"easily recommendable
Andrew Quint - Fanfare - July 2005
"This is a forceful Eleventh that here and there contains genuine flashes of inspiration.
Louis Blois - Shostakovich Journal - 23 July 2005
"It’s arguable that nobody does Russian repertory quite like a Russian. Alexander Lazarev here unleashes a scorchingly powerful response from the RSNO, who are always a good bet when feistiness is required. Shostakovich’s huge musical spans are impressively sustained and the big climaxes really explode. The music’s long and thoughtful ruminations, too, are memorably delivered and the final, furious pages of this defiant masterpiece are taken at full tilt." ****
Malcolm Hayes - Classics FM magazine - June 2005
" a thrilling and powerful piece of music, with all the tension and drama that you’d expect from this great Russian. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra works wonders with a monumental piece." *****
The Daily Express - 8 June 2005
Disc of the Month
Artistic Quality 10 Sound Quality 10
A "demonstration disc" if ever there were one. Buy it, and drive your neighbors crazy." *****
David Hurwitz - ClassicsToday.com - 2 May 2005
Lazarev wings passion from the RSNO. They play with sweat-drenched ferocity and heart-tugging pathos " *****
Rick Jones - The Times - 2 May 2005
"exemplary performance of a towering work
Anthony Holden - The Obsever - 24 April 2005
"The performance under Alexander Lazarev is magnificent, as is Linn’s recording quality." *****
Michael Kennedy - Sunday Telegraph - 1 May 2005
"Remarkably few recordings have come out of Alexander Lazarev’s reign as chief conductor of the RSNO. A month before he steps down, however, Linn has come to the rescue with a recording of Shostakovich’s 11th Symphony that should be in everyone’s collection. It comes with a sound pedigree - Lazarev’s explosive performances in recent seasons - so there’s no risk attached. And what we get is a power-driven account of Shostakovich’s angst-ridden portrayal of the 1905 revolutionary uprising in St Petersburg, which has all the immediacy and impact of a live performance.
Kenneth Watson - The Scotsman - April 2005