'For Knussen at 27 is a composer, who with unerring ear and musicianship appears to have synthesised the entire 20th century tradition of virtuoso orchestral writing… Here is that exciting, beautiful and short work which orchestral managers are always telling us they are looking for in order to do their bit for new music.'
Sunday Telegraph (Bayan Northcott), 9 September 1979

 
'…the overwhelming effect of Knussen’s use of the orchestra…gives his sound a vitality and physicality unequaled by any of his contemporaries that I’ve heard.'
Tempo (Peter Paul Nash), 7 September 1979
 
'...the symphony is the work of a modern Ravel'
Independent, 27 June 1988