Critical Acclaim

‘Outstanding … In every way this matches and even outshines the superb account which Sir Georg Solti recorded with the Chicago Orchestra on Decca … the vitality of the piece is superbly caught with the LSO [London Symphony Orchestra] even crispier in articulation than the Chicago players.’ Gramophone, London

‘Blond, young and fabulous are the words to describe the conductor Grzegorz Nowak.’ Il Tempo, Roma

‘Stylish and luminous… exquisitely poised… idiomatic and brilliant.’ The Financial Times, London

‘RPO [Royal Philharmonic Orchestra] season kicks off in real style. With conductor Grzegorz Nowak at the helm, it had an excellent start… a real rapport between conductor and orchestra was always apparent… Grzegorz Nowak’s intimate understanding of the music was communicated throughout to the orchestra, enabling a committed and ebullient performance.’ Eastern Daily Press

‘It would be difficult to imagine a more compelling presentation. The musicians of the Montreal Symphony seemed inspired.’ The Gazette, Montreal

‘It's the live recordings of this Argentine pianist [Martha Argerich] which one finds the most indispensable … above all, the recording from a 1992 concert in Warsaw with Grzegorz Nowak (Kos Records): a must!’ Diapason, Paris

‘The orchestra accompaniment was magnificent under Grzegorz Nowak's direction in both Glazunov's and Mozart's violin concertos [with Anne-Sophie Mutter] … Rarely has Tivoli Symphony Orchestra sounded with such a surplus of refinement and richness of color.’ Jyllands-Posten, Copenhagen

‘A great conductor. But, above all, he's a marvelous musician, alive and vibrant, intuitive, full of temperament, yet refined enough to always be the master of the moment … his incomparable way of breathing and narrating music and phrases, his suppleness with which his baton chains the rhythms and phrases … Sumptuous interpretation of Daphnis which has the supreme merits of not resembling any other, of being original without striving to be, and revealing the score in all its splendor, brilliant and luminous … Nowak has given us palpitations, his reading, his imposing culture which elevates all in his enthusiasm at the same time generous and precise … Nowak is truly a musician of high class!’ Journal de Genève

‘Grzegorz Nowak marvelously revived the tragedy of ‘Miraculous Mandarin’ arranging contrasting musical phrases with true mastery and presenting with brilliant passion the enormous tragedy contained in the orchestral suite.’ Deia, Spain

‘This is the finest recording of The Seven Deadly Sins currently available… The whole performance is simply marvelous… Nowak conducts the Kaiserslautern orchestra with a perfect feeling for Weill's brittle, sardonic idiom, and the recording has unusual clarity and impact… it would be difficult to imagine a snappier, more alert performance.’ David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

‘Grzegorz Nowak accompanied [Krystian Zimerman] ... with flexibility and joy … the conductor makes music with a clear vision, consequent concept and energy, challenging instrumentalists and obtaining excellent results.’ Der Bund, Bern

‘The Monte Carlo Philharmonic and Grzegorz Nowak… did marvels in the gleaming ‘Carnival’ of Dvorak and the grandiose triptych ‘Taras Bulba’ of Janacek.’ Nice-Matin

‘Nowak … uses the orchestra's obvious regard for him to build a series of truly panoramic high points.’ The Vancouver Sun

‘Grzegorz Nowak … not only has impeccable gestures but, above all, imprints his vision with hot expression …conducted with assurance, conviction, elegance … magnificent version.’ El Diario Vasco

‘Brilliant creations by Sinfonia Varsovia and Grzegorz Nowak’ Ruch Muzyczny, Warsaw

‘delightful… marvelously colorful… very memorable… you probably will be shocked at just how good the whole thing is… finely made music… these ebullient, fizzy, well-engineered performances by the clearly energized Kaiserslautern orchestra under Grzegorz Nowak make the best possible case for Czerny.’ Classics Today

‘You must get this disc… dispatched with panache and imagination by a conductor… playing of the orchestra is well up to the best. Had this collection been issued by Hyperion, music-lovers outside Poland would have been snapping this up in hundreds. Don't let this collection slip past.’ MusicWeb International

‘Nowak … had a firm grip on the score's potential for liquid line and colorful sonority … the performance virtually oozed with excitement.’ The Buffalo New

‘Nowak presented a magnificent vision of Franck Symphony … exemplary interpretation…’ El Correro Español

‘The orchestra, lead with a great sense of colors and atmosphere by Grzegorz Nowak, was impeccable… one of the great vocal discs of the year.’ Christophe Hus, ClassicsToday France

‘Symphony Comes Alive Under Nowak … Nowak elicited a brilliance and depth from the orchestra [San Diego Symphony] … restored the magic and innocent ebullience.’ Los Angeles Times

‘Mr. Nowak has the capacity to enchant the audience … exquisitely done.’ The Telegraph, Liverpool

‘Grzegorz Nowak’s sovereign baton obtained immaculate sound from the Warsaw National Opera Orchestra.’ Frankfurter Rundschau

‘One of the best. The very beginning of Saturday’s concert of the Warsaw National Philharmonic proved that Grzegorz Nowak, eminent Polish conductor working mostly abroad, can draw from this ensemble a superb, noble sound. The orchestra played with uncommon precision and determination… The symphonic poem ‘The Returning Waves’ of Mieczyslaw Karlowicz, full of thunderous culminations and beautiful musical details, was interpreted and performed impeccably, vividly and with excellent narrative pace. …As for Szymanowski’s violin concerto, while exposing ecstatic qualities to his interpretation, Grzegorz Nowak flawlessly guided the rhythmic discipline, ensemble precision and sound balance of the instrumental groups. As the result, we were treated to the best interpretation of this masterpiece on Polish concert stages in years. …Grzegorz Nowak also managed to present the changing and capricious character of Rachmaninoff’s last composition in a superb manner, skillfully contrasting light and graceful passages with dramatic sections. The entire work was thoughtfully paced, and the orchestra once again impressed with its noble sound as well as precision and energy.’ Gazeta Wyborcza, Warsaw

‘Edmonton Symphony Orchestra brought in numerous fine soloists, but most of the best moments involved just maestro Grzegorz Nowak and the ESO. Stravinsky’s Petrouchka, Brahms’ Tragic Overture, Berlioz’ Sinfonie Fantastique, Franck’s Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Fourth and Beethoven’s Eighth all received enthralling performances.’ Edmonton Sun

‘Stylish, brilliant and sovereign interpretation.’ Der Landbote, Winterthur

‘Standing ovation … Superb orchestra under a sovereign baton of Grzegorz Nowak was precise, immaculate and expressive.’ Wiesbadener Tagblatt

‘Grzegorz Nowak is certainly one of the most remarkable conductors Dutois ever invited… the galvanized orchestra [Montreal Symphony] gave a prodigious performance.’ La Presse, Montréal

‘Rising Star Grzegorz Nowak’ Neue Zürcher Nachrichten

‘A new Polish-born star’ Yomiuri Shimbun, Tokyo

‘Maestro Simply Divine’ Edmonton Sun