The New Zealand Herald wrote:
“From the rostrum, New made testing rhythms flow with innate naturalness, underlining the unswerving logic and structure of Cresswell’s hushed final pages.”
“The eternally vernal soundscape of Copland’s Appalachian Spring made for a crisp welcome, colours bursting through like buds on a bough. Gemma New caught much of the “blithe and beatific” identified by critic Virgil Thomson, as well as the exultant vigour of its folksong finale.”
“With singular virtuosity, De Pledge guided us through intricate tangles of notes, with diverse partners, at one point a jazzy walking bass. He balanced every delicate and chiming note in a crystalline chorale and brought out the laconic humour of dogged crotchets.”
“After the interval, Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony justified its Jovian nickname, the ceremonial grandeur of its opening Allegro vivace nicely invested with a touch of impishness. The lyrical outpourings of its Andante cantabile might well have descended from Olympus itself, with a dramatic outburst hinting at a playful Minuet ahead. The contrapuntal resonance of its celebrated finale ended the evening with a glow.”
Regional News wrote:
“A solo clarinet always sounds pastoral and the audience was transported immediately to a rural setting. The sequence of images continued to be clear, thanks to a stellar performance by the orchestra under the baton of principal conductor Gemma New.”
“The pianist brought every note to life, carefully crafting and presenting it like a Hodgkin abstract. It was an unmistakably modern piece but, at the same time, one with a familiar tone. De Pledge led us through the music – complex and multi-layered, sometimes noisy and perplexing – and we could see him clearly putting his heart and soul into the performance.”
“A highly skilled orchestra, in tune with a talented conductor, brilliantly interpreting a mature Mozart symphony combined to an impeccable performance. Our creative capital has plenty in the tank. It’s our job to get out there and enjoy it!”
New Zealand Arts Review wrote:
“Quiet and wistful vistas and activity merge into cheery dance-like passages echoing the early American folk tunes and Conductor Gemma New responded with a little dance, caught up in these lively rhythms”
“Even in the opening sequence which is full of drama she created contrasts so that the great melodies took on a more impressive sound with New seeing possibilities in the music that even Mozart may not have been aware of.”
“The mysterious quality of the second movement featured some beautiful balance between the woodwinds and orchestra while the energetic final movement with multiple themes and intricate playing demonstrated the orchestra’s superior musicality.”
