Reviews

"Perhaps the most characteristic trait of the recording is the continuous breath. There is no artificial approach or articulation. Rather, Young is concerned with a unified gesture without hollow pathos in the fortissimo, but also without self-indulgent losing depth in the pianissimo. Thus, this Bruckner again sounds amazingly fresh and embedded in a larger symphonic context - and not as an untouchable erratic block" (FonoForum 7/2011)
"Simone Young approaches this 'giant symphonic serpent' fluidly, with a sense of suction and energy, allows the cellos to sing, the violins to warble with gossamer delicacy, brings the instrumental groups into an always transparent balance of forces, finely graduates the dynamic scale, and dispatches the infinite climaxes with the stature of a passionate Bruckner conductor." (Concerti 4/2007)
"Compared to the well-known second version, the Ur-'Romantic' dispenses with the popular hunting scherzo. Instead, there are more tempo variations, more dramatic intensifications, more daring harmonies, more drastic clefts. In this transparent and dynamic live recording, however, Simone Young not only unleashes raw drama, but contrasts delicate strings, warm woodwind colors. No matter which recordings you already have - this one belongs." (Audio 9/2008)
"With her soulfully performing Hamburg Philharmonic, Young has thus succeeded in creating an interpretation that is captivating in its dark monumentality and emotional intensity." (FonoForum 8/2015)
"The Bruckner cycle with Simone Young and the Hamburg Philharmonic is nearing completion, and though not all episodes have been equally convincing so far, the Australian-born conductor now presents an all-around convincing, at times even exciting interpretation with Symphony No. 6 ... her conducting captivates with the qualities that suit the symphony Bruckner called his 'boldest': freshness and youthfulness." (Fono Forum 2/2015)
"... Young's interpretation of the Seventh can hold its own well against the very large competition, especially in this work. The Australian allows the listener to bathe in the rich symphonic sound just as much as she does to eagerly anticipate the great climaxes and emotional climaxes that are still considered characteristic of Bruckner's style." (Fono Forum 5/2015)