José Luis Gomez / Reviews

“(Gomez) drew a performance of energy, clarity and vigour from the players, who already have a great pedigree in Shostakovich. The opening string recitative dripped with vibrato, pregnant with expectation, and throughout there was a clear narrative edge to the sound, be it in the bite of the violins in the faster passages or the skirl of the woodwinds as they strained at the leash.”

Jose Luis Gomez. Remember that name. This Venezuelan-born conductor is the real deal. And I daresay I’ve had a lifetime training in detecting real-deal conductors. Maestro Gomez seemed to contain the entire Kaddish score inside his body; I never heard a more rhythmically visceral performance.”