What the Critics Say…

… about the National Philharmonic:

"One of the finest musical groups dotting Washington's regional landscape…"  "...splendid Washington area ensemble..."

"…precise ensemble and transparent tone... balanced energy and delicacy…"  "...played with such grace and expressiveness…"

"...Jody Gatwood, the orchestra's concertmaster, soloed brilliantly and elegantly."

… about Piotr Gajewski:

"Conductor Piotr Gajewski knows what he wants and gets it. … Genial on the podium, and expressive, he can literally reach for a slight alteration of color or phrasing, and the orchestra responds. … His interpretations were always intensely musical and boldly contoured."

…about the National Philharmonic Chorale:

"...the chorus declaimed with thrilling mass and impact, lending the evening a genuine sense of grandeur. ...The 'Messiah' was one of the finest I've heard in Washington in many years."

"Consider the sumptuous program given … an account gleaming with clarity … a musical imagery for light."

… about Stan Engebretson:

"Engebretson uncovered depth in the work's structural coherence and visionary scope."