Leipziger Volkszeitung, Peter Korfmacher
“Better than Heras-Casado and the Gewandhaus Orchestra carrying Faust and Tamestit through the ethereal beauties of this graceful work is simply not possible. (…) Because this perfection is not exhausted in cold routine, but tells a story of life. Because amidst the ubiquitous smiles, islands of deep sorrow touch the heart more profoundly. Because conductor, soloists, and orchestra merge into an organism that unfolds, experiences, and enlivens wit, charm, elegance, bliss, sorrow, and virtuosity together. With a sound, from a gesture, from a breath – and yet each time subtly distinct.”
“Above all, because it provides an immense amount of pleasure when a connoisseur and expert like Heras-Casado stands at the podium without a baton and without a score. (…) This makes the irresistibly powerful light-dark drama of the Second Symphony sound not as though it has been carefully worked out, but completely natural.”
Das Opernmagazin, Daniel Floyd
“Heras-Casado consistently chose fast tempi that maintained dramatic tension without sounding as driven as in the recording of this symphony by the orchestra under former conductor Riccardo Chailly. This turned out to be a vital, joyful performance that brought this lesser-known of Beethoven’s nine symphonies to the forefront.”