Textura Magazine reviews the Kansas City Symphony and Michael Stern’s recording of Barber, Sibelius, and Scriabin One Movement Symphonies:
“While each piece satisfies for different reasons, the fact that each can be experienced as a singular statement without pause is an appealing quality common to all. That they’re all performed by the Kansas City Symphony under the expert guidance of conductor Michael Stern also does much to recommend the release, as does its acoustically resonant sound quality. … While each piece satisfies for different reasons, the fact that each can be experienced as a singular statement without pause is an appealing quality common to all. That they’re all performed by the Kansas City Symphony under the expert guidance of conductor Michael Stern also does much to recommend the release, as does its acoustically resonant sound quality. Memorably capping the release is an exquisite reading of Scriabin’s Le poème de l’extase (The Poem of Ecstasy). … A great orchestra enables symphonic works, even too-familiar ones, to be heard anew, and certainly that’s the case here, and having these particular three together enhances the listening experience all the more. One Movement Symphonies is the ninth release the Kansas City Symphony has released with Reference Recordings, and given the outcome one can’t help but hope the relationship will carry on indefinitely.”
—Ron Schepper, Textura