"Armstrong and the orchestra were in glorious accord. Everything from richly blended strings to the spry and musing woodwind choir, the burnished French horns, blazing brasses and a pair of thundering timpanists combined in a singular performance. The orchestra sounded as fine as it ever has...With more performances like this one, the lights will shine in bright affirmation."

"[Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5] was wrenching in its anguish but also punchy and mighty."

"A musical activist of the highest order and in the best sense."