Bruckner: Symphony No. 1 / Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg
“He created moods from happy, Viennese lyricism in the adagio, with much feeling for the folk dance styles in the fast movements…Much cheering from the audience.”
Drehpunkt Kultur
Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 /Naxos CD
“Wildner's blood-and-thunder performance of the 1889 makes a strong impact, powerfully recorded.”
Gramophone
“Johannes Wildner gives a performance of the 1889 version that is refined and thoughtful, never over-ambitious or too red-blooded with just the appropriate amount of forward momentum. I liked the way the impressive Wildner accurately maintains a clarity of line all the way through to the Finale. The results are wonderfully expressive with Wildner using the large orchestral forces to colourful and potent effect, especially in the superbly articulated climaxes.”
Music Web International
Hänsel und Gretel / Landestheater Salzburg
“…the many subtleties of the score were savoured. Hurrah!”
Kurier
Mahler: Symphony No. 6 / London Philharmonic Orchestra
“Szymanowski ends with a march, Mahler’s tumultuous 6th begins with one. Wildner quickly registered that the remorseless tread of this music emanates from the underpinning of the string basses.”
The Independent
“…the conductor really made the concert, and the symphony in particular, his own. The greatest strength of his interpretation was the relentless drive of the outer movements. The first movement was slightly faster than usual, and with slightly less rubato, making the whole experience appropriately harrowing. The scherzo came second, and achieved some impressive aggression though the merciless switching between the driving rhythms and the calm interludes.”
Seen and Heard International
“With the LPO trumpets and horns in terrific form the cataclysmic finale had real drama.”
The Times
Mahler: Symphony No. 7 / State Philharmonic of Rhineland
“Johannes Wildner is a phenomenon. The GMD conducts with a huge heart. He chooses his interpretative style from the Jugenstil movement – expressive, colourful and poetic…There were cheers for the orchestra and for Wildner.”
WAZ
Die Entführung aus dem Serail / Landestheater Salzburg / APA
“Under the direction of Johannes Wildner, the Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg danced in lively fashion through Mozart’s Singspiel…”
APA
Johann Strauss: Complete Edition / Naxos CD
“…the perpetual freshness and elegance of Strauss's invention comes through to good effect in the unfamiliar Maxing-Tanze and Controversen. Moreover, of two performances of the polka-mazurka Aus der Heimat to reach me on the same day (the other being Uwe Theimer's on Denon-see above), Wildner's is altogether the more vital and enjoyable of the two. His Klipp-Klapp galop, too, has tremendous verve, and the atmospheric Nachtigall-Polka is a charming find.”
Gramophone
Szymanowski: Violin Concerto No. 2 / London Philharmonic Orchestra
“…Austrian conductor Johannes Wildner brought a sense of measured precision mixed with undoubted reliability to his interpretation. His approach resulted in a performance of the Szymanowski that was never overstated but always brimming with intensity (the second movement was particularly emotive in that respect), allowing the focus to fall, quite deservedly, on virtuoso violinist Leonidas Kavakos.”
Music OMH
Il trovatore: Musiktheater in Revier
“Musically, this Italian-language performance of the centrework of Verdi’s popular trilogy is a revelation…I have rarely heard a “Trovatore” such as this from Johannes Wildner and his exquisite New Philharmonic Orchestra. Wonderfully lucid, fascinating even, Verdi’s passionate musical language is beautifully delineated. However, this is by no means at the expense of over drilling the dynamics and the seething brio of Wildner’s admirable work creates an overwhelming dramatic impact. Yet, the conductor also serves as a good support to the singers.”
Buersche Zeitung