"Celibidache: musically-probing, acoustic-scientific, cosmos-related, mystical, demanding of much rehearsal time, demanding of the musicians, uncompromising in his approach. This Mahler/Strauss coupling is new ... It's an apt if sombre pairing that is musically compelling and enlightening ... Brigitte Fassbaender was another distinguished musician prepared to pool resources with the Romanian master, to mellow fruitfulness in the case of Mahler's Kindertotenlieder. Don't expect 'beautiful singing' but do expect a deep feeling for the words ... and a nuanced expression ... As for Richard Strauss's Death and Transfiguration, this expansive (thirty-minute) performance is thrilling and spine-tingling".