Press

“This 10 year anniversary CD (2017) is a joy! By choice of music, excellent playing of the musicians and it's soulful expression.”

— Luister magazine,

“A top achievement of the Britten Youth String Orchestra... conductor Loes Visser achieves wonderful intonation, controlled tension, subtle dynamic phrasing - what could one ask more?”

— Klassieke Zaken magazine

“They touch the yearning, intense, melancholic atmosphere right in the heart. With a modest and sad, but rich and full sound, that becomes gradually more passionate, without ever exaggerating the pathos. Seldom Barber sounded this close to Mahler!”

— Thea Derks, Cultuurpers

“Remarkable is the wonderful and very mature approach of the music. This is a top orchestra at work!”

— Roel Sikkema, Nederlands Dagblad

“I am astonished about the level of playing, incredibly beautiful!”

— Hans Haffmans in a Live Radio Broadcast 'Haffnans' favorites'

“This CD is interesting for two reasons: First there is the very high level of playing of the orchestra. The repertoire is diverse and the orchestra gives every composition it’s own character whilst remaining true to it’s own sound which is full, transparent, very rhythmical, harmonic rather than polyphonic, very much aimed at phrasing and dynamics, and, however special, always true to the drama of the music.”

— Paul Janssen, Luister magazine

“Listen to this CD and you will hear it directly: the Britten Youth String orchestra is a brilliant string orchestra, and even more than that.” “At the end an arrangement of Dvorak Sonatine Op. 100 with a wonderful mixture of sweet melancholy and nostalgic happiness, that is so typical for his music. Fantastic!”

— Luister magazine, maart 2022

“The orchestra sound is well together, easy and balanced, with conductor Loes Visser as a strong but flexible binding element.”

— Stentor Newspaper

“Chapeau for this CD. Well done! This young talent really makes itself heard in an excellent way. I bow to them.”

— Hans Haffmans, Live Radio Broadcast on Dutch National Radio

“Mature depth by the Britten Youth String Orchestra (..) They are the star of the evening. Not only because of their disciplined playing together and balanced orchestra sound, but above all because of the mature depth that these young musicians led by Loes Visser achieve.”

— Stentor Newspaper

“Differentiated dynamics, agile exchange of voices, fast and meticulous pizzicato…Wonderful!”

— Britten’s Simple Symphony by the Britten Youth String Orchestra, Stentor Newspaper

“With renowned enthusiasm these 18 musicians play an exemplary Simple Symphony.”

— Thea Derks, music journalist

“The joy of playing radiates from this CD!...Conductor Loes Visser creates a wonderful saturated string sound…. The vivid and colorful interpretation could easily match with the interpretations heard from professional orchestras.”

— Thea Derks, music journalist

“An all-ruling musical leading woman with attention for every effort and every detail.”

— Leeuwarder Courant