Mendelssohn’s ‘Scottish’ Symphony, Riccardo Muti’s choice for his first orchestral recording, led Gramophone magazine to judge that: ‘Muti seems a natural Mendelssohnian … this could hardly be more auspicious … full of electricity and a sense of occasion.’ The ‘Italian’ Symphony was subsequently greeted as ‘a glowing, exhilarating performance’, while assessing the ‘Reformation’ Symphony, the reviewer stated: ‘I am immediately impressed’. Complementing the works by Mendelssohn in this collection are tone-poems by Liszt and Franck.