‘An excellent pairing of two enduringly attractive works’ (Gramophone)

«Tout en souplesse, la lecture de Shelley supplante forcément celle d'Alfred Walter, par ses tempos plus amples et plus contrastés. En espérant que d'autres chefs donneront bientôt à ces musiques plus des rythmes et de relief, on trouvera ici une honnête version d'attente donc, accompagnée d'un superbe Caspar David Friedrich en couverture et d'un excellent texte de présentation» (Diapason, France)

‘The first two symphonies … are well worth an airing, and their finales in particular have a great deal of life … Howard Shelley's direction is highly effective’ (Manchester Evening News)

‘The Grand Concert Overture (1819) here receives its first recording. It is sonorous, spirited and beguiling … an enjoyable entrée into the symphonies recorded here as well as signalling the fine performances and sound to be found on this Hyperion release. These works show both ‘muscle’ and lyricism … Spohr’s construction and scoring is of a high order; the music trips lightly and curvaceously. The Second Symphony (1820) begins in dramatic fashion, the ‘introduction’ proving to be integral to the movement as a whole, its unhurried demeanour embracing dignity and lightness. The movements that follow once again contain ideas that make immediate attraction – a warm-toned Larghetto, a scurrying scherzo and a mercurial finale … there are ten symphonies by Spohr. Maybe Hyperion intends to record the cyclethe label has previously championed Spohr's chamber music)? It would be welcome … his music is genuinely enjoyable and not without novelty and Howard Shelley and this fine orchestra certainly have its measure’ (Classical Source)

‘The playing is generous in energy and rhythmic impetus, not to mention elegant, and the lines are beautifully wrought. The performances make as good a case for Spohr’s music as do the annotations’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘Howard Shelley and his skilled orchestra are attentive to the music's lyrical charm and colourful wind scoring’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘Shelley's triumphant achievement … expert engineering and highly informative notes complete a handsome presentation that suggests this will be a landmark cycle in the burgeoning recorded legacy of Louis Spohr’ (American Record Guide)

‘[Shelley] exhibits a keen understanding of Spohr’s music and also has the ability to effectively communicate this to his orchestra … playing is clean, clear and crisp—with tempos that allow the music to unfold comfortably. The aural perspective mimics concert hall realism, but it also allows for Spohr’s lovely wind coloration too. The result is another Hyperion release that offers us further insight into the process of Spohr’s symphonic development’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘Here is a follow-up to the recording of Louis Spohr's first two symphonies that I praised last October … there's a lovely anticipation of 'Forest Murmurs' from Wagner's Siegfried; similarly, the Larghetto of Symphony No 5 might put you in mind of Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony. Shelley gets both delicacy and passion from the excellent orchestra’ (Classic FM Magazine)

‘The Fifth Symphony … carries a weightier burden of grief in the wake of some personal losses … especially in the Larghetto, a dark movement beautifully scored with low strings and sombre brass … Howard Shelley and his orchestra give it a fresh and vivid performance’ (International Record Review)

‘Spohr the symphonist repays the attention this disc merits; his programmatic fourth symphony features a slow finale that set a precedent for Tchaikovsky and Mahler, while Shelley and his fine Italian players capture the expressive power of the turbulent fifth’ (The Observer)

‘Performed with commitment and style by instrumentalists well versed in Spohr's musical particulars under Howard Shelley's glint-in-the-eye direction … there is a charm and genuineness that is readily apparent and which is welcome. The recording is first class’ (International Record Review)