This is amazingly proficient music…the structure and development are masterful, the melodies attractive and varied.

The Chamber Symphony was written nearly forty years…later. Exuberance has given way to austerity, and extravagance to economy of means. It is by no means a less attractive or complex work, and it has an irresistible nostalgic charm in the right hands. In its organic development, and the brilliance of the flow of ideas, one can hear the distillation of the younger composer’s energy and virtuosity.

The Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra…is a fine ensemble with agile strings, strong woodwinds, and brass that is technically impressive…Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu leads them in performances notable for structural elucidation…

This new recording is recommended primarily for the quality of execution, though lucidity and precision are not its only virtues…Ondine’s promise of a new cycle of these brilliant symphonies is in itself gratifying. © 2013 Fanfare Read complete review

…Hannu Lintu and the Tampere Philharmonic offering the best performances of Enescu’s Second Symphony and Chamber Symphony No. 2 I have ever heard over the years. © 2012 Fanfare Read complete review

…this is the best version of both pieces that I’ve yet to hear. Hannu Lintu finds dynamics, points of accent, and a natural flow to the Chamber Symphony’s phrasing that breathe life into its stark lines. Yet the momentum never lags, and there’s a crispness to the Tampere musicians’ playing that prevents the work piece from sagging.

Lintu can’t do anything about the sharp drop in energy that comes between thematic statements in the Second Symphony, or the way the material often seems to move counter-intuitively to the composer’s own lyrical gift. But he does keep the textures clear, and the Tampere strings are a thing of great beauty. He also phrases and paces persuasively…this recording has good sound…

…fans of Enescu will surely want to add this to their collections. © 2012 Fanfare Read complete review