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For someone who had such a long career as a period-instrument violinist, Manze’s interpretations with the NDR Radiophilharmonie (of which he is now principal conductor) are surprisingly Romantic... — BBC Music Magazine, May 2019, 5 out of 5 stars More…

His background as a violinist and proponent of historically informed performance comes through in his conducting, and the start of the Prague Symphony, even though played on modern instruments,... — BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2021, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Clean playing, excellent speeds, a manageable reverberation time (around four seconds), intelligent introduction of dynamics where they are plainly lacking and sensitive phrasing with no mannered... — BBC Music Magazine, May 2017, 4 out of 5 stars More…

A consummate interpreter, Manze never plays fast and loose with tempos, nor with radically over-emphasised dynamics. The rigour of his period performance practice and expressive consideration... — BBC Music Magazine, April 2020, 5 out of 5 stars (Performance) / 4 out of 5 stars (Recording) More…

Sensitive phrasing is free of mannered rubato, and [Manze’s] choice of dynamic, where these are lacking, is intelligent…the timpanist, who was allowed full rein in the earlier disc, is here... — BBC Music Magazine, June 2018, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Mendelssohn’s Symphony-Cantata, the Hymn of Praise, is given a zesty and joyful performance. Manze encourages transparent textures and clean lines. — BBC Music Magazine, October 2018, 4 out of 5 stars More…

As Barinkay, Nikolai Schukoff has an agreeable swagger, even if his voice has a tendency to flare at the top. Claudia Barainsky is a red-blooded Saffi and Khatuna Mikaberidze provides depth... — Gramophone Magazine, May 2016 More…