Tchaikovsky: The Complete Ballets

"[Ehnes] is superb throughout...The Bergen Philharmonic offers the most polished playing, driven by Järvi at often faster than usual tempos...when it matters Järvi abandons his brisk manner for an understated yet manifest sensitivity to Tchaikovsky's poignant lyricism." BBC Music Magazine, Christmas Issue 2013 ***** [Swan Lake]

"The playing of the Bergen Philharmonic is crisp and powerful as required...Järvi always chooses apt tempi and he really has the music of Act 2 swinging along beautifully...the luxury casting of James Ehnes pays off with the absolute security and purity of sound of his playing in the Danse Russe." MusicWeb International, 12th December 2013 [Swan Lake]

"This is a lively and characterful Swan Lake...The Bergen Philharmonic savour the colour and contour of the dances and have been caught by the Chandos team in a recording that has bite and presence. Tchaikovsky's masterpiece in dance is presented in a compelling manner to please all the senses. A very fine swan indeed." Gramophone Magazine, March 2014 [Swan Lake]

"while Järvi admirably manages to avoid the sense of scramble that has previously characterised similar efforts, this is still way too fast for comfort. His conducting is characterful throughout, and particularly effective in the second half of act one, when the fairytale atmosphere turns scary. The Bergen Philharmonic's playing, meanwhile, is both virtuosic and impeccably detailed." The Guardian, 13th November 2014 *** [Nutcracker]

"His tempi are nifty, not-for-dancing leg-breakers, but he captures the delicacy, transparency and sheer magic of this miraculous score...wonderfully woozy string glissandi are sprinkled with celesta stardust as the Nutcracker Prince and Clara wend their way to Confiturembourg" Sunday Times, 4th January 2015 [Nutcracker]

"A magnificently realistic recorded performance which features an orchestra whose playing seems to go from strength to strength...this is a thoroughly engaging performance which will delight those who have collected the earlier releases in this Bergen/Tchaikovsky ballet series." MusicWeb International, January 2015 [Nutcracker]

"This is a good, practical interpretation of The Sleeping Beauty. The playing by the Bergen Philharmonic is strong and spirited: Jarvi's conducting is rational, adopting as it does the natural pacings and colouristic inflections from which it is possible to appreciate the character of the dances in one's mind's eye...in general Järvi does a sound job in sustaining the dramatic flow." Gramophone Magazine, January 2013 [Sleeping Beauty]

"You might find yourselves in two minds about it. Järvi's extreme speeds result in a performance to which you can't imagine anyone dancing...The playing is ravishing, though, and a couple of glamorous guest instrumentalists, James Ehnes and Robert deMaine, add real lustre to the concertante violin and cello solos respectively." The Guardian, 10th January 2013 *** [Sleeping Beauty]

"The Bergen Philharmonic proves an ideal instrument for one of Tchaikovsky's most magical scores. Neeme Jarvi's every demand is met with immaculate playing, recorded in a warm but not too resonant acoustic...That said, Jarvi chooses some quirky tempos...there is plenty here to delight lovers of this ballet." BBC Music Magazine, February 2013 **** [Sleeping Beauty]