Queen Symphony Reviews

Released in November 2002 Tolga Kashif’s Queen Symphony is still an outstanding success! It has currently sold in excess of 160,000 copies worldwide and is still riding high in Classical Top 20’s in the UK, Europe and Asia.

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"put a smile on the face of late lead singer Freddie Mercury's mother, Jer Bulsara, and brought unstinting praise from guitarist and group founder, Brian May."
Reuters

"The energy of the piece won a standing ovation... a triumph!
Kurier, AUSTRIA

"Queen's momentous and energetic rock transposed into celebratory symphonic form... wonderful."
Rheinische Post, GERMANY

"A fabulous symphonic interpretation."
Asahi, JAPAN

"I adored the concert and I think Freddie would have loved it too."
Jer Bulsara, Daily Express

"Pick of the Week. Rather than re-orchestrating Queen songs, composer/conductor Tolga Kashif uses the melodies as the templates for building a swirling, organic, multi-textured new work for symphony and choir."
Houston Chronicle, USA

"The symphony's grandiose opening movement employs massive orchestral tuttis and sweeping crescendos, dramatically enhanced by cymbals, tam-tam, and double chorus. The Royal Philharmonic performs here with enthusiasm and bravura under the composer's leadership. EMI's well balanced, large acoustic recording has impressive impact."
Classics Today

"Disc of the Month. ...my wish has been fulfilled. I give it two thumbs up."
WRR Classical 101.1FM (Texas)

"If you're looking for a change of pace, this is an interesting album that I think most film music enthusiasts will enjoy. If you like well-done symphonic arrangements of pop songs (a la "Moulin Rouge"), give this album a try. Quite a treat"
Tracksounds! Flashnotes

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Following a hugely successful European and Asian release, the CD was launched to great success in the US and recently in Australia and New Zealand. It has yet to be out of the UK Classical Top 10 – its highest position being No. 3 - and has been in the Netherlands Classic fM Top 10 since first week of release, and the Billboard Top 10 in the US. Tolga Kashif was front-page news on a recent visit to Turkey. The DVD of the world première concert was released in March in the UK and internationally, alongside world-wide television and radio broadcasts. In June the piece was performed as the opening concert of the International Izmir Festival. The Symphony has entered Classic fM’s Hall of Fame and was shortlisted for Record of the Year at the Classical Brits and the Amadeus Awards in Austria. The work received two sold-out performances at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the third movement was premiered by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra alongside the Scottish premiere of the entire Symphony by the Northern Scottish Philharmonic Orchestra in November. A second London performance also took place in April this year, with the Dutch premiere in October.