“It was Flor and his Ravinia Festival debut that made the strongest impression. The magnificent performance [of Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony] by the 46-year-old German conductor and the CSO turned out to be even more riveting and powerful than the superb reading Rostropovich gave us last month. Flor appeared to connect with the CSO musicians in a way that few conductors do, and the musicians responded by playing with remarkable fury and commitment. The Chicago Symphony musicians played as if possessed, explosions nerve-jangling and the music driven with violent intensity. Rarely has the final movement sounded less affirmative, Flor’s underlining of the dark-hued counterpoint presenting a finale more wild and unhinged than energetically optimistic... the CSO responded terrifically, giving Flor everything he wanted in power and expressive force.” (Chicago Tribune)