The „enormous inner calm and patience“ necessary for this supreme challenge paid off. The long silence afterwards was tribute to the impact.

 “A first-rate account (of Haydn’s Farewell Symphony) marked by rigorous attention to detail… Bihlmaier conjured a compelling account (of Mahler’s Lied von der Erde), one notable for drawing out the clarity of the orchestration in a persuasive performance rich in detail

The stormy opening movement (of Haydn’s Farewell Symphony) was cleanly and powerfully articulated; the Adagio was both graceful and stealthy, loping, catlike; the Minuet brisk, nicely sprung, with suave horns in the Trio. The finale proper went at quite a lick, full of rhythmic verve; Anja Bihlmaier’s batonless conducting throughout was fluid, balletic, but always clear… What of the orchestra? They were superb…The greatest compliment I can pay Bihlmaier as conductor is to say that I was not aware of her.”

“lively and imaginative…I loved her beautifully detailed and supple interpretation of Haydn’s Farewell Symphony, particularly the punchy accents of the opening allegro, the delicate playing of the muted strings in the slow movement, and the perfectly judged exit of the orchestra a the end…Here again (in Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde) the orchestral playing was impressive – bold and characterful”