“Gardner’s fierce conducting and the magnificent playing is the best thing about the current performances of Dvorak’s Rusalka — a glorious score delivered with polish and passion, though there are fine voices too.” The Times
“We can rejoice that in Gardner we now have Tippett’s greatest living conductor.”
“Gardner’s interpretation was a thing of extremes. The quiet, penumbral opening Introit seemed to hover on the verges of sound and silence. Later, the roaring brass of the Dies Irae pinned you to your seat.”
“Uniting them all, Principal Conductor Edward Gardner was in complete control of his forces, leading the LPO in a richly textured reading of the score, abundant in both detail and drama.”
“Gardner was in his element with this opulent material, and coaxed the orchestra into bringing every scintilla of nuance to this work of shifting moods, controlling tempo, dynamic and texture with fluid but commanding gestures to bring us a sensuously warm string sound, and bright, clear woodwinds.”
“The London Philharmonic Orchestra were conducted by Edward Gardner with aplomb and determination, while the three choirs and two soloists left the capacity audience in delighted appreciation.”
“The evening ultimately belonged to Gardner, his orchestra, and those superb choirs.”