'This, [Sir Colin Davis's] last-ever Berlioz recording, demonstrates yet again his unique empathy with and understanding of Berlioz’s music as well as his authority in conducting it' (MusicWeb International)

‘‘Davis distils a lifetime’s practical expertise with Berlioz into a performance that is noble, thrilling, intimate and richly satisfying. His orchestra plays for him as if possessed and the massed choirs are exceptional in what they deliver. Tenor Barry Banks provides just the right combination of sweetness and power in the Sanctus, his one solo’’ (Choir & Organ)

‘‘In this live recording of Berlioz’s Requiem, made at last year’s City of London Festival, the enigmatic rising phrases that launch the work continue to reverberate hauntingly in the surrounding silences, and the tone of the combined LSO and LPO choirs—singing beautifully and bringing out the music’s profound sadness—is wonderfully enhanced. Colin Davis fits the work to the conditions with a master hand. Memorable’’ (The Sunday Times)

'The interpretation is masterly by a man who knows Berlioz perhaps better than any other conductor in the world. Everything about it is judged as just right, and Davis is one of the few who consistently realizes that the lyrical propensities of the composer are as important—especially in this work—as the more grandiose and bombastic passages. As an interpretation this is as good as it gets, the equal of any recording on the market’’ (Audiophile Audition, USA)

‘‘A magnificent valediction from the master Berlioz conductor … this utterly imposing performance of Berlioz’s grandest work was one of the last great triumphs of Sir Colin Davis’s long and illustrious career. That career, which spanned nearly sixty years, covered an astonishing breadth of repertory but he will be particularly remembered for his championing of Tippett, Sibelius and, of course, Berlioz … here is a recording to treasure which takes its place alongside Sir Colin’s 1969 recording and Paul McCreesh’s recent version as the very best in the catalogue’ (Australia)’ (Limelight, Australia)

'While no one will get rid of their previous versions, this one is an interesting alternative' (MusicWeb International)» More

'Valery Gergiev directs a red-hot performance here with the LSO and the London Symphony Chorus, augmented by the fresh-sounding Guildhall School Singers … it’s a strong team performance, driven by earthy passion’’ (The Scotsman)

'Cette version qui date de 2013 vous apportera beaucoup de bonheur. Entre le touchant et l’élégance, Gergiev, Le LSO et les interprètes font corps pour livrer une version qui met en valeur l’atmosphère mystérieuse et grave. Une grande réussite' (Journal de Quebec, Canada)» More

'It’s hard to imagine a better live performance of this classical masterpiece' (Classic FM)

‘‘Berlioz’s greatest interpreter of modern times recorded the Symphonie fantastique three times, but this most recent version is the most gripping and satisfying, deftly treading a fine line between self-revelation and self-indulgence. The volcanic outpourings of feeling are as intense as they should be, yet in the quieter moments—especially in the central ‘Scene in the Country’—Davis achieves a wonderfully expressive pianissimo, in which every detail seems to convey meaning, all caught splendidly by the live recording’’ (BBC Music Magazine)

'In this thrilling live recording, the music bristles with the excitement of a first encounter, yet one enriched by long experience' (The Sunday Times)

'This recording brings the trademark LSO Live sound quality and concert atmosphere to the opium-inspired musical love letter … the LSO are on top form … you can almost see the instruments dancing under Davis's command' (The Observer)