‘His new contribution to the genre, receiving its world premiere in this concert, appeared to draw upon the wit and concentration of Haydn, the neo-classical elegance of Stravinsky and, in its pounding C in the basses, the driving force of Tippett. Overriding any such embracing of the symphonic heritage, however, was a refreshing individuality that is the mark of a fully-fledged creative artist … In its breezy ecclecticism, Hyde’s new Symphony ranges, hawk-like, over the entire symphonic tradition and reinvigorates it with a refreshingly quirkly approach to structure and notably limpid, uncluttered textures. There was a distinct feeling that the audience was witnessing the confident and ground-preparing first in a cycle rather than a one-off experiment. I look forward to the composer’s Second Symphony with eager anticipation.’
(Paul Conway, Musical Opinion Quarterly, July 2018)
‘… Thomas Hyde’s Symphony was a world premiere and the most immediately arresting of the evening’s pieces, its drama punctuated by congas and bongos, glissando trombones and some highly original writing for the strings.’
(The Herald, March 2018)
‘… driven by a gravitational relevance and personal belief.‘
(The Scotsman, March 2018)