"Ruy Blas is something out of the ordinary, and not only because of its sleek lines and uncommonly fast tempi but in one or two textural anomalies ... Calm Sea ... subscribes to a similar interpretative formula, clean, driven and transparent ... I'm fairly convinced that Gardiner's way [with the Reformation] was also Mendelssohn's way. It's a powerful reading, solidly argued, often exciting and vividly played throughout".