Michael Cookson reviews the Carnegie Mellon Wind Ensemble and George Vosburgh’s recording of Strauss: The Happy Workshop & Serenade, Op. 7 for MusicWeb International:
“The Reference Recordings label is noted for the quality of its recordings and this new album presenting a pair of underrated and neglected works for wind ensemble by Richard Strauss is no exception. … the Carnegie Mellon Wind Ensemble under Vosburgh provides an engaging performance making a convincing case for this youthful serenade… [‘The Happy Workshop’] a substantial work, taking here just under thirty-one minutes to perform, and is technically demanding for the players, who face the significant challenge of balancing the different instruments and their various combinations, markedly woodwind with horns, especially in the higher reaches. … [the] ensemble displays satisfying unity, playing with impressive levels of concentration and a warm passionate spirit and clearly relishing the challenge… The qualities of colour and timbre it produces complement each other and are both natural and gratifying. … It is a glorious work, beautifully scored and performed and repeated hearings will certainly bring rewards. This is gratifying playing by Vosburgh’s wind ensemble”
—Michael Cookson, MusicWeb International