Symphony no. 9

"It is a very interesting work and I have enjoyed getting to know it, but I don't think it exemplifies 'variety and flexibility' in any significant way. If there has been any fundamental growth in Glass's symphonic writing since the 'Low Symphony', I am not hearing it. Yes, the room has been redecorated, but it remains the same room. I suspect that most of Glass's enthusiasts will not care one bit ... All in all, I liked this, although it would be easy to make too great a case for it".

"What is it about number nine? ... It may be a little premature to admit Glass's Ninth into the number nine-select group of Beethoven, Bruckner, Mahler et al but he has without doubt composed a work of real substance here - in content, design and expressive weight. It is also one of his most unified and complete ... Glass's Ninth Symphony makes a convincing case".