Gil French, American Record Guide, September/October 2015
“Francis conducted a truly triumphant concert…What an entertainment Mozart’s Serenata Notturna was! The orchestra had bite, the Viennese string quartet (violin, viola, cello, and string bass) was sweet, the timpani was boisterous, and all the strings were crisp and pungent with facetious pizzicatos. The quartet’s solos in the Finale were clever and hilarious without being corny, against Francis’s utterly elegant orchestra…
…Francis then served up a magnificent performance of Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony. The opening movement had an exuberant style but at a moderate tempo so that the strings’ and winds’ clear articulation never felt forced. The fugal development was perfectly balanced, and the forward flow created an unbroken continuity, allowing the melodies to soar lyrically.”
